He influenced so many musicians with his great stage presence and magnificent voice.

A truly amazing performer.

Wilson ought to be recognized with the same legendary status as Elvis.

Deeply talented man but also a deeply disturbed man who lived a fucked-up life. His biography was mind-blowing.

He had a great voice but Patti Labelle claims he attempted to rape her just before a performance many years ago.

Timmy84 said:

Deeply talented man but also a deeply disturbed man who lived a fucked-up life. His biography was mind-blowing.

I heard he was a golden gloves boxer before he started singin. Etta James said in her biography he knocked out a couple of dudes tryin to strong arm her.

[Edited 8/11/10 14:01pm]

diamondpearl1 said:

Timmy84 said:

Deeply talented man but also a deeply disturbed man who lived a fucked-up life. His biography was mind-blowing.

I heard he was a golden gloves boxer before he started singin. Etta James said in her biography he knocked out a couple of dudes tryin to strong arm her.

[Edited 8/11/10 14:01pm]

He joined Billy Ward and the Dominoes after his boxing stint. His vocals were influenced by Clyde McPhatter, who had left the Dominoes to form the Drifters.

I'm actually sad right now because I'm looking at some pictures of Jackie AFTER he went into a coma following a 1975 stage collapse. He appeared to be alert but it was like there was no soul in him. He looked as if he wanted to go "just let me go home". I found it on JET online.

Timmy84 said:

Deeply talented man but also a deeply disturbed man who lived a fucked-up life. His biography was mind-blowing.

I haven't had a chance to read his biography, but I've read a few things about his personal life that were very shocking. Someone already mentioned the Patti Labelle rape accusation. I also read he was shot by a woman he was having an affair with. It's sad how so many amazingly talented people seem to have such troubled personal lives. And it's awful how he passed away after being in a coma for so long.

PerryMoore11 said:

Timmy84 said:

Deeply talented man but also a deeply disturbed man who lived a fucked-up life. His biography was mind-blowing.

I haven't had a chance to read his biography, but I've read a few things about his personal life that were very shocking. Someone already mentioned the Patti Labelle rape accusation. I also read he was shot by a woman he was having an affair with. It's sad how so many amazingly talented people seem to have such troubled personal lives. And it's awful how he passed away after being in a coma for so long.

He also had gang affiliations in his early singing career from what I read. Yeah he lived a fucked up life. You should see pictures of him nearly stable but not fully recovered from '76. After that article with the photos was posted in JET, he fell apart and never recovered.

Timmy84 said:

PerryMoore11 said:

I haven't had a chance to read his biography, but I've read a few things about his personal life that were very shocking. Someone already mentioned the Patti Labelle rape accusation. I also read he was shot by a woman he was having an affair with. It's sad how so many amazingly talented people seem to have such troubled personal lives. And it's awful how he passed away after being in a coma for so long.

He also had gang affiliations in his early singing career from what I read. Yeah he lived a fucked up life. You should see pictures of him nearly stable but not fully recovered from '76. After that article with the photos was posted in JET, he fell apart and never recovered.

Damn I would've never imagined he had gang affiliations. I would love to see some sort of movie made about his life if there hasn't been one made already. Seems like it would be a great movie. I just saw those photos too. Heart wrenching stuff. You're right it's like he was there but he really wasn't there.

PerryMoore11 said:

Timmy84 said:

He also had gang affiliations in his early singing career from what I read. Yeah he lived a fucked up life. You should see pictures of him nearly stable but not fully recovered from '76. After that article with the photos was posted in JET, he fell apart and never recovered.

Damn I would've never imagined he had gang affiliations. I would love to see some sort of movie made about his life if there hasn't been one made already. Seems like it would be a great movie. I just saw those photos too. Heart wrenching stuff. You're right it's like he was there but he really wasn't there.

Yeah he was friends with someone who ran this tough gang in Detroit called the Shakers. He'd hire them to look after him while he and a singing group, I think the Thrillers (pre-Royals, pre-Hank Ballard and the Midnighters), to be booked at "unsafe gigs". I don't think he was a full member of the gang but he had connections that made him able to mingle with anyone.

'Higher and Higher' is right up there in my favourite songs of all time.

Maybe top ten. It's pretty much a perfect a song as you can get.

PerryMoore11 said:

Timmy84 said:

He also had gang affiliations in his early singing career from what I read. Yeah he lived a fucked up life. You should see pictures of him nearly stable but not fully recovered from '76. After that article with the photos was posted in JET, he fell apart and never recovered.

Damn I would've never imagined he had gang affiliations. I would love to see some sort of movie made about his life if there hasn't been one made already. Seems like it would be a great movie. I just saw those photos too. Heart wrenching stuff. You're right it's like he was there but he really wasn't there.

You should read the autobiography and someone should make a movie about him because he was one talented hell raiser. The mob, woman, drugs, and gang affilations would make for a hell of story.

PerryMoore11 said:

Timmy84 said:

Deeply talented man but also a deeply disturbed man who lived a fucked-up life. His biography was mind-blowing.

I haven't had a chance to read his biography, but I've read a few things about his personal life that were very shocking. Someone already mentioned the Patti Labelle rape accusation. I also read he was shot by a woman he was having an affair with. It's sad how so many amazingly talented people seem to have such troubled personal lives. And it's awful how he passed away after being in a coma for so long.

i was a little girl when i read about his stroke in jet; don't remember the pix, though. i also remember when he died around the time mj won those awards at the american music awards or grammys in '84. he praised jackie. now they're both gone .