Al Wilson No Longer Showin’ Or Tellin’ (1939-2008)
Al Wilson, the soul singer who brought to life Johnny Mathis’ song Show And Tell in 1973, died Tuesday from kidney failure in Fontana, California. Wilson was 68.
Wilson was born in Meridian, Massachusetts on June 19th, 1939. By age twelve, he had formed his own spiritual quartet. In his adult life, he held a job as a mail carrier, office clerk and a janitor before joining the United States Navy, enlisting in the men’s chorus.
After leaving the Navy, Wilson began hitting the Los Angeles nightclub circuit, where he sang and performed percussion for various bands. In 1966, his solo career was launched when Johnny Rivers signed him to the record label Soul City. There, Wilson had hits with The Snake and I’ve Got A Feeling (We’ll Be Seeing Each Other Again).
His final chart-topper, Count the Days saw the end of Wilson’s recording career (excluding his re-record of Spice of Life in 2001). From then on, Wilson largely toured clubs and lounges. Even in his two decades of touring, Wilson continued to write songs. “He was always singing,” his son told the Associated Press. “He would call me in the middle of the night with a new song that he had written.”
Wilson is survived by his wife, his three children, four siblings and thirteen grandchildren.
In my past life, I was a tree or something. If not a tree, something that grew old and didn't move very much. I'm pretty convinced of this.