Louella "Spanky" Wilson (born c. 1947)[1] is an American soul, funk and jazz vocalist, who has performed internationally and recorded several albums since the late 1960s.
Spanky Wilson
Spanky Wilson with the Quantic Soul Orchestra, 2006
Wilson was born in Philadelphia as Louella Wilson,[2] and was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reputedly gaining the nickname "Spanky" as a result of the spankings she received from her father.[3] Wilson started singing as a child and after an early marriage, began performing in clubs aged 17 with Stanley Turrentine. She was soon recruited by Jimmy McGriff for a national tour, which ended in 1967 in Los Angeles, California. There, she sang in clubs and was introduced to H. B. Barnum, who invited her to record. Wilson sang as a backing vocalist on records by Letta Mbulu, O. C. Smith, Lou Rawls and others, before releasing her first single, "The Last Day of Summer", produced by Barnum and released in early 1969.[4] This was followed by the album Spankin' Brand New (1969), on which all the songs were written by Howlett Smith.[4] Wilson released several further singles on Mothers Records, a label set up in Hollywood by Jay Ward, and two more albums, Doin' It (1969) and Let It Be (1970).[5][6] She also appeared on nationally networked TV shows, and made her international debut in 1970 at the Rio de Janeiro Song Festival in Brazil.[4][7]
Wilson has shared the stage with soul and jazz musicians such as Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr., organists Jimmy McGriff and Brother Jack McDuff, cornetist Nat Adderley, percussionist Willie Bobo, Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith.[3] In 1971 she moved to Detroit and sang in clubs before recording for Eastbound, a subsidiary of Westbound Records.[4] The 1974 single "Home" was again co-written by Howlett Smith, and Westbound released the album Specialty of the House the following year.[4] She returned to live in Los Angeles, and performed in clubs there for several years, before moving to France in 1985 and re-marrying.[4] During the late 1980s and 1990s, Wilson performed mainly in France, Germany and other parts of Europe.[4] In 2000, she released the album Things Are Getting Better with the Philippe Milanta Trio.[4] About the same time, several compilations of her earlier recordings were released in Britain.[4]
In 2000, after she had returned to live in California, Wilson was contacted by British DJ and record producer Will Holland of The Quantic Soul Orchestra, and they began working together.[4] They recorded several singles, and released the album I'm Thankful in 2006.[4]
Discography (partial)
Studio albums
Spankin Brand New, Mothers Records & The Snarf Company (1969)
Doin it, Mothers Records & The Snarf Company (1969)[8]
Let It Be, Mothers Records & The Snarf Company (1970)
Specialty of the House, 20th Century / Westbound Records (1975)
Singin and Swingin, Big Blue Records (1991)
Things are Getting Better, Jazz Aux Remparts (1999)
I'm Thankful with the Quantic Soul Orchestra, Tru Thoughts (2006)
T.G.I.F "Thank God it's Funky" with Ruckus Roboticus, Dance or Die Records (2012)
^"Unknown Singer Turns Boos To Cheers", Jet, 26 November 1970, p.57
^The legendary Spanky Wilson returns to Los Angeles: Her personal story. Musical Memoirs's Blog. Retrieved 18 January 2019
^ abBiography by Marisa Brown, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015
^ abcdefghijk"Spanky Wilson, She's Always Spankin' Brand New to Somebody", I Dig PGH, 3 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2015
^Spanky Wilson discography, Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015
^Mothers Records & The Snarf Company, Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015
^Henry Johnston, "Rio Fifth Pop Festival", Billboard, 7 November 1970, p.56
^Billboard - Volume 81 1969 "Superscope's initial product from H. B. Barnum will be the LP " Doin' It" by Spanky Wilson which originally came out on Barnum's Mothers label."
External links
Biography at a1artists.net
Quantic website
Ruckus Roboticus & Spanky Wilson "T.G.I.F. (Thank God It's Funky)"
January 14, 2023
spanky, wilson, louella, spanky, wilson, born, 1947, american, soul, funk, jazz, vocalist, performed, internationally, recorded, several, albums, since, late, 1960s, with, quantic, soul, orchestra, 2006background, informationbirth, namelouella, wilsonbornc, 19. Louella Spanky Wilson born c 1947 1 is an American soul funk and jazz vocalist who has performed internationally and recorded several albums since the late 1960s Spanky WilsonSpanky Wilson with the Quantic Soul Orchestra 2006Background informationBirth nameLouella WilsonBornc 1947 age 74 75 Philadelphia United StatesGenresJazz funkOccupation s SingerYears active1969 present Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography partial 2 1 Studio albums 2 2 Compilations 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditWilson was born in Philadelphia as Louella Wilson 2 and was raised in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania reputedly gaining the nickname Spanky as a result of the spankings she received from her father 3 Wilson started singing as a child and after an early marriage began performing in clubs aged 17 with Stanley Turrentine She was soon recruited by Jimmy McGriff for a national tour which ended in 1967 in Los Angeles California There she sang in clubs and was introduced to H B Barnum who invited her to record Wilson sang as a backing vocalist on records by Letta Mbulu O C Smith Lou Rawls and others before releasing her first single The Last Day of Summer produced by Barnum and released in early 1969 4 This was followed by the album Spankin Brand New 1969 on which all the songs were written by Howlett Smith 4 Wilson released several further singles on Mothers Records a label set up in Hollywood by Jay Ward and two more albums Doin It 1969 and Let It Be 1970 5 6 She also appeared on nationally networked TV shows and made her international debut in 1970 at the Rio de Janeiro Song Festival in Brazil 4 7 Wilson has shared the stage with soul and jazz musicians such as Marvin Gaye Sammy Davis Jr organists Jimmy McGriff and Brother Jack McDuff cornetist Nat Adderley percussionist Willie Bobo Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith 3 In 1971 she moved to Detroit and sang in clubs before recording for Eastbound a subsidiary of Westbound Records 4 The 1974 single Home was again co written by Howlett Smith and Westbound released the album Specialty of the House the following year 4 She returned to live in Los Angeles and performed in clubs there for several years before moving to France in 1985 and re marrying 4 During the late 1980s and 1990s Wilson performed mainly in France Germany and other parts of Europe 4 In 2000 she released the album Things Are Getting Better with the Philippe Milanta Trio 4 About the same time several compilations of her earlier recordings were released in Britain 4 In 2000 after she had returned to live in California Wilson was contacted by British DJ and record producer Will Holland of The Quantic Soul Orchestra and they began working together 4 They recorded several singles and released the album I m Thankful in 2006 4 Discography partial EditStudio albums Edit Spankin Brand New Mothers Records amp The Snarf Company 1969 Doin it Mothers Records amp The Snarf Company 1969 8 Let It Be Mothers Records amp The Snarf Company 1970 Specialty of the House 20th Century Westbound Records 1975 Singin and Swingin Big Blue Records 1991 Things are Getting Better Jazz Aux Remparts 1999 I m Thankful with the Quantic Soul Orchestra Tru Thoughts 2006 T G I F Thank God it s Funky with Ruckus Roboticus Dance or Die Records 2012 Compilations Edit The Westbound Years Westbound Records 2007 With Teddy Edwards La Villa Live in Paris Verve Gitanes 1993 Gallery Edit References Edit Unknown Singer Turns Boos To Cheers Jet 26 November 1970 p 57 The legendary Spanky Wilson returns to Los Angeles Her personal story Musical Memoirs s Blog Retrieved 18 January 2019 a b Biography by Marisa Brown Allmusic com Retrieved 4 October 2015 a b c d e f g h i j k Spanky Wilson She s Always Spankin Brand New to Somebody I Dig PGH 3 October 2011 Retrieved 4 October 2015 Spanky Wilson discography Discogs com Retrieved 4 October 2015 Mothers Records amp The Snarf Company Discogs com Retrieved 4 October 2015 Henry Johnston Rio Fifth Pop Festival Billboard 7 November 1970 p 56 Billboard Volume 81 1969 Superscope s initial product from H B Barnum will be the LP Doin It by Spanky Wilson which originally came out on Barnum s Mothers label External links EditBiography at a1artists net Quantic website Ruckus Roboticus amp Spanky Wilson T G I F Thank God It s Funky Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spanky Wilson amp oldid 1116633903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
