Joe Lee Wilson (December 22, 1935 – July 17, 2011) was an American jazz singer from Bristow, Oklahoma, who lived in Europe since 1977.

Biography

Part African-American and part Creek Native American, Wilson was born in Bristow, Oklahoma, to farming parents Stella and Ellis Wilson. He began singing with local bands in 1958 and toured the West Coast, where he sat in with Sarah Vaughan, and down to Mexico. Relocating to New York in 1962,

In 1977 he and his English wife Jill Christopher moved to Europe. Having had heart surgery in 2009, he died of congestive heart failure at his Brighton home in 2011, aged 75.

Discography

As leader

  • The Great City (Powertree, 1964)
  • Livin' High Off Nickels and Dimes (Oblivion, 1974)
  • What Would It Be Without You (Survival, 1975)
  • Shout for Trane (Trio/Whynot, 1976)
  • Secrets from the Sun (Inner City, 1977)
  • Without a Song (Inner City, 1978)
  • The Shadow (Cheetah, 1990)
  • Feelin' Good! (Big City, 2001)
  • Come and See with Jimmy Ponder (Explore, 2007)

As sideman

With Clifford Jordan

  • Inward Fire (Muse, 1978)

With Mtume

  • Alkebu-Lan - The Land of the Blacks (1972)

With Archie Shepp

  • Things Have Got to Change (1971)
  • Attica Blues (1972)
  • The Cry of My People (1972)
  • A Touch of the Blues (Fluid, 1977)

References

  • Elizabeth Mistry, "Joe Lee Wilson: Celebrated jazz singer who had his roots in the blues", The Independent, September 3, 2011
  • Obituary in The Guardian, July 18, 2011
  • Joe Lee Wilson at Discogs
  • Joe Lee Wilson's last public performance, at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in November 2010.