Frank Wilson (musician)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2011) |
Frank Wilson | |
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Motown Records |
Frank Edward Wilson (December 5, 1940 – September 27, 2012)
Biography
In 1963,
He also launched his own publishing firms, Traco Music and Specolite Music, Ascap and BMI companies. During the next four years, Wilson recorded, released and published more than 40 copyrighted compositions, including, "It Must Be Love", by Judy Wieder & John Footman, "Stares and Whispers" by Terry McFadden and John Footman, "Star Love" by Judy Wieder and John Footman, and "You Got Me Running" by Judy Wieder and Clay Drayton. Earlier, Wilson had also tried his hand at being a recording artist himself, recording the single "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" for release on the Motown subsidiary label 'Soul.'[2] Supposedly 250 demo 45s were pressed, but by that time Wilson decided he would rather focus on producing and he had the demos trashed. Somehow at least two known copies survived, one of which fetched over £25,000 in May 2009.[3]
Because of the scarcity of the original single and the high quality of the music (it was one of the most popular records in the Northern soul movement),[4] it is one of the rarest and most valuable records in history[5] (along with other extremely rare records by such acts as Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and the Five Sharps).
Wilson left Motown in 1976 and became a
Books
Wilson is the author of The Master Degree-Majoring in Your Marriage and Unmasking the Lone Ranger, a best seller for men. Both were published by Harvest House Publishers. He conducted Unmasking the Lone Ranger and Master's Degree seminars nationally and internationally based upon his books. Wilson has also appeared on numerous television talk shows including, Two on the Town, The Other Half, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.[2]
Early and personal life
Wilson was born on December 5, 1940, in Houston, Texas, to James Wilson and Samanther Gibbs.[6] Wilson attended Southern University in Baton Rouge but only for one year; he had participated in a civil rights protest and lost his scholarship in his sophomore year.[6] While still in his teens, he moved to Los Angeles, California.
His first marriage was to singer Barbara Jean Dedmon, however she died in 1966.[6] His second wife was Bunny Wilson, together they had four daughters including the author, Fawn Weaver. He also had one son from a prior relationship.[6]
Wilson died on September 27, 2012, in Duarte, California, after a long battle with prostate cancer, at the age of 71.[1][7][6]
Discography
Year | Title | Album title | Album type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1965 | Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) | Single | L.P. | Approx. only 250 45s of the song were pressed
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1966 | Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) / Sweeter As The Days Go By | L.P. 7" | Soul Records | |
1978 | Anatole | |||
1999 | Songs Of Dayspring (album) | Songs Of Dayspring | Audio CD | Gospel album, Ava-Avalon Label Group |
2002 | "My Sugar Baby" | A Cellarful of Motown! (various artists) | Audio CD | Previously unreleased Motown Records recording, issued on album A Cellarful of Motown! (UK only) |
2016 | "My Sugar Baby" | Northern Soul All-Nighter (various artists) | Audio CD boxset | On the album Northern Soul All-Nighter, various artists |
2016 | "I'll Be Satisfied" | One Track Mind! (various artists) | Audio CD | Kent Records UK. Previously Unreleased Motown recording cut in L.A. with the Wrecking Crew. |
Songwriting and song production highlights
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Albums
Year | Album production title | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | The Temptations in a Mellow Mood | The Temptations | |
1968 | Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations
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Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations | |
1970 | New Ways but Love Stays | The Supremes | |
1971 | Touch | The Supremes | |
1977 | The Two of Us | Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. | Frank Wilson as album composer.[8] |
1994 | Motown Comes Home | Various artists | Motown Record Company |
Singles
Year | Songwriting title | Artist(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1963 | "Stevie" | Patrice Holloway | |
1965 | "Castles In the Sand" | Stevie Wonder | [2] |
1965 | "Somebody Needs You" | Ike & Tina Turner | Catalog number Loma 2015 |
1965 | "I'm So Thankful" | Ikettes | [2] |
1965 | "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) | Frank Wilson | |
1965 | "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" | Chris Clark | |
1966 | " Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You) "
|
The Miracles | [2] |
1966 | "It's Easy to Fall in Love With a Guy Like You" | Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
|
|
1967 | "Just Look What You've Done" | Brenda Holloway | |
1967 | "You've Made Me So Very Happy" | Brenda Holloway, later covered by Blood, Sweat & Tears | [2] |
1967 | "All I Need" | The Temptations | [2] |
1967 | "I Can't Turn Around" | The Marvelettes | [2] |
1967 | "Chained" | Marvin Gaye | [2] |
1967 | "Every Now and Then" | Marvin Gaye | |
1968 | "All Because I Love You" | The Isley Brothers | |
1968 | "Love Child" | Diana Ross & the Supremes | [2] |
1969 | "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" | Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations | |
1969 | "I'm Livin' in Shame" | Diana Ross & the Supremes | [2] |
1970 | "Up the Ladder to the Roof" | The Supremes | [2] |
1970 | "Everybody's Got The Right To Love" | The Supremes | |
1970 | "Still Water (Love)" | Four Tops | [2] |
1970 | "Stoned Love" | The Supremes | [2] |
1970 | "It's Time to Break Down" | The Supremes | |
1970 | "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | The Supremes | |
1971 | "It's the Way Nature Planned It" | Four Tops | [2] |
1971 | "Nathan Jones" | The Supremes | |
1971 | "Touch" | The Supremes | Mary Wilson shared vocals with lead singer Jean Terrell |
1971 | "This Is The Story" | The Supremes | |
1971 | "Here Comes The Sunrise" | The Supremes | Written by Clifton Davis |
1971 | "Can I" | Eddie Kendricks | |
1972 | "If You Let Me" | Eddie Kendricks | |
1972 | "Girl You Need A Change of Mind" | Eddie Kendricks | |
1973 | "Love Train" | The Supremes | |
1973 | "Darling Come Back Home | Eddie Kendricks | |
1973 | " Keep on Truckin' "
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Eddie Kendricks | [2] |
1974 | "Boogie Down" | Eddie Kendricks | [2] |
1975 | "Down to Love Town" | The Originals
|
|
1977 | "If I Didn't Have You" | Lakeside | |
1977 | "I'll Be There Knocking" | Lakeside | |
1977 | "It Must Be Love" | Alton McClain and Destiny | |
1977 | "Deeper" | New Birth | |
1977 | "Choosing You" | Lenny Williams | |
1977 | "Love Magnet" | Freda Payne | |
1978 | "Cause I Love You" | Lenny Williams | |
1978 | "Stares and Whispers" | Renee Geyer
|
|
1978 | "Be There in the Morning" | Renee Geyer | |
1978 | "You Got Me Running" | Lenny Williams | |
1978 | "When I'm Dancing" | Lenny Williams | |
2002 | "Lights, Camera, Action" | Mr. Cheeks | |
2006 | "Each Day Gets Better" | John Legend | |
2012 | "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" | Angelica |
References
- ^ a b c "BBC News - Frank Wilson, Motown producer and singer, dies". BBC News. September 28, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Hamilton, Andrew (December 18, 2000). "Frank Wilson - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
- ^ "Record price for rare Motown disc". BBC. May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- ISBN 0-09-189115-9.
- ^ Perrone, Pierre, "Frank Wilson: Motown writer and producer behind the world's rarest record" (obit)," The Independent, October 2, 2012
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ "Frank Wilson : Duarte, California : Dec 5, 1940 – Sep 27, 2012 (Age 71)". Legacy.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ "The Two of Us - Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Jr. Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 29, 2018.