Gerald Wilson

Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer/arranger, and educator.  He was from Los Angeles. He began his career since the early 1940s. Wilson was born in Shelby, Mississippi.

Wilson joined the Jimmie Lunceford orchestra in 1939, replacing its star trumpeter and arranger Sy Oliver.  While with Lunceford, he contributed numbers to the band's book, including Hi Spook and Yard-dog Mazurka. Wilson has written arrangements for many other famous artists including Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson and many more.

Wilson died on September 8, 2014 from pneumonia in Los Angeles, California at the age of 96.

References

Other websites
Mack Avenue Artist Page 
 The Legacy of Gerald Wilson - Panel Discussion  on Detroit JazzStage - Jazz Extras
 "Twelve Essential Gerald Wilson Recordings"  by Jeff Sultanof
 "Track Listing, Personnel & Recording Dates for The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings of Gerald Wilson"  at Mosaic Records
 Interview by Jason Crane (Part 1) from The Jazz Session Podcast Series
 Interview by Jason Crane (Part 2) from The Jazz Session Podcast Series

Category:1918 births
Category:2014 deaths
Category:Deaths from pneumonia
Category:American jazz musicians
Category:American conductors
Category:Musicians from Mississippi
Category:Musicians from Los Angeles