Teddy Wilson

About Teddy Wilson

Teddy Wilson was the definitive swing pianist, a solid and impeccable soloist whose smooth and steady style was more accessible to the general public than players like Earl Hines or Art Tatum. He picked up early experience playing with Speed Webb in 1929 and appearing on some Louis Armstrong recordings in 1933. Discovered by John Hammond, Willie joined Benny Carter's band and recorded with the Chocolate Dandies later that year. In 1935, he began leading a series of classic small-group recordings with swing all-stars that on many occasions featured Billie Holiday. That was also the year that an informal jam session with Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa resulted in the formation of the Benny Goodman Trio (Lionel Hampton made the group a quartet the following year). Although he was a special added attraction rather than a regular member of the orchestra, Wilson's public appearances with Goodman broke important ground in the long struggle against segregation. Between his own dates, many recordings with Benny Goodman's small groups and a series of piano solos, Teddy Wilson recorded a large number of gems during the second half of the 1930s. He left B.G. in 1939 to form his own big band but, despite some fine records, it folded in 1940. Wilson led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944, taught music at Juilliard during the summers of 1945 to 1952, appeared on radio shows, and recorded regularly with a trio, as a soloist, and with pick-up groups in addition to having occasional reunions with Goodman. During the '60s, he worked as music director for the Dick Cavett Show, and he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music in 1979. Teddy Wilson died of stomach cancer on July 31, 1986 at the age of 73. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi