Jackie Wilson That's Why

[tallyshark]

Whenever the discussion of who had the greatest voice of the rock era, several names are mentioned (Elvis, Roy O), but after a few minutes, someone will mention Jackie Wilson. This is met with silence and the uniforn nodding of heads. He was simply the best!!!

[4doororphan]

With all of the so-called docu-drama movies (Ray, La-Bamba, Lyman, Dream Girls, etc) they've made over the past twenty-five years, I fail to understand why a movie has yet to be to be made with an unbelieveable story, about an unbelieveable talent, with an unbelieveable voice, wrapped up in an unbelieveable tradgedy no screen write could ever devise. WHY NOT? For all the money Gordy made off of Wilson, HE (alone) should do it. Or maybe Nate Tarnabaums family? RIP great one!

[lander4545]

Love the clean decent apparel and Jackies hairdo! :)

[mg1hb]

Let's have more of these! What fun!

[marydwyer14119]

What a showman. You just don't see that anymore.

[gsdsteve]

Leon Russell on piano.

[grouchytiger1]

Jackie Wilson was awesome, love his dance moves!

[uszoninyc]

And you hear the 'singers' of today - who all sound like they're trying to pinch a loaf. It's NOT singing they're (now) doing. Mr. Wilson, Sam Cooke, Darlene Love, Aretha Franklin, and many, many more - WERE singers.

[Blackjesus3]

hes great

[Memorial080]

The guy is awesome!! ... Michael Jackson even said he got his moves from Jackie n James.. I mean it's evident check the way he's moving his feet and sliding.. Michael does the same thing.. BUT NEVER SAY THE COPIED FROM HIM...BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE MENTOR IN LIFE... and he was it for them... so acourse there will be similarities.

[logischdede]

partly it reminds me of the common elvis presley apearance. Might it be the hair and the pullover. but he's more in dance on the stage i think. ;-)

[ROGERIUS1000]

este cara é incrivel.......bons tempos.

[BabybluesLand]

@musiclover77able ...please then tell me from whom Elvis did steal his Rockabilly style? You know since 25 years I´ve got my Jackie Wilson records next to Elvis and Otis Reding records and also the musicians got along very well and respected each others work. Did you read James Brown´s Bio and that he was asking for some time to say goodbye to the death Elvis. Fool!!

[magcarril]

I got to see Jackie at the Brooklyn Paramount...and what an unforgettable experience, he in his white outfit, suit, tie, etc...Getting down on the floor, his handkerchief wiping his sweat...Slopping and bopping and dancing is what keeps us original Rock & Rollers young...Peace, love and a smile, MARIA GONZALEZ

[Brooklyn50s]

@magcarril Holy shit! I was at that show. I remember it like it was yesterday, walking thru Fort Green park, up to Flatbush avenue and the Brooklyn Fox theater. If my memory serves, I believe this was Alan Freed's "Rock n Roll Spectacular" before "Murray the K" took over and did his Holiday shows from the Brooklyn Fox theater a few blocks away. With all due respect to Motown who's music this Italian kid from Brooklyn loved, Jackie Wilson was the best of the best! Singing for the Angels now.

[PutOnASweater]

@Brooklyn50s This is from the TV show Shindig about 1965...in Los Angeles.

[Brooklyn50s]

@PutOnASweater I was responding to the woman above my post who also saw Jackie at the Brooklyn Paramount theater, not the performance in the You Tube Video post on here.

[magcarril]

@Brooklyn50s Good clean fun- what it was all about...Peace via Music..VIVA MARIA!

[dearestkela]

Michael Jackson's greatest inspiration. :) It's so hard to believe that there was apparently someone greater than Michael Jackson when he was only a kiddo! <3 Beautiful men with oodles of talent.

[estosiesmusica]

ufff

[williamg2552]

You mean "MR EXCITEMENT" .And ,you're right!! No one one could touch Jackie vocally . He had INCREDIBLE range and power !! And his talent transcended the outdated material Brunswick Records saddled him with. And , as an entertainer, neither Cooke or Gaye could touch him (though both were very good ). "AWESOME" seems an insufficient word to describe Jackie...he was a master showman and one of the most dynamic performers EVER !!! Marvin and Sam couldn't out sing or outperform him .

[Dee530]

@williamg2552 I agree with you one thousand percent, Jackie Wilson, Spectacular,

every...tv show, Nightclub performances, records- arenas....the live shows were the

best ever, then or today.... still the greatest, he was thrilling to watch... miss him very

much... no one could compare. williamg2552, every word you say is so true. M* x

I totally agree, MR. EXCITEMENT still rocks~~ Marcie

[hinata750]

@musiclover77able i doesnt matter about skin color becuz im black and i think the beatles were better then most black groups back and the day its all about who works the crowd

[Bella760205]

@hinata750 thank you...why does it always have to be about who is better. Talent is talent, we are all gifted.

[emb1st]

Jackie was Mr. Entertainment and no one has touched his talent since

[PutOnASweater]

@musiclover77able You just proved that that ignorance has no color! I knew Jackie very well, and he would have kicked your butt for a racist comment like that...I saw him do just that. He hated bigots or ANY COLOR...check yourself man.

[Tony7840]

That's Darlene Love (Blonde hair) in the middle of the trio of female background singers........

[8chevalier8]

Elvis didn't steal. He loved Jackie Wilson and openly admitted it to Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash and that moment is recorded on film. How can you not want to be Jackie Wilson? It wasnt Elvis's fault that white performers did better than black ones, but it was no less a tragedy.

[8chevalier8]

@8chevalier8

I didn't say "were better." I said "did better," meaning that they took black artist's music and made more money than the black performers. Making more money doesn't mean better at all: nobody is listening to Pat Boone's covers of Little Richard now. That's why I said it was and still is a tragedy. It was unfair and racist, but neither black performers nor white performers who performed black music could do a thing about it.

[drayrepus]

wow Jackie always a step ahead with a double dance split

[latinbuybx]

He WAS original! He was Elvis. He was also original because he was white. No other white performer at the time could do what Elvis did... And I agree. Elvis can't compare to many of the black entertainers of the time. But there's no denying his incredible charisma and presence.

[yungsyk]

charisma? Elvis made a history off of stealing black peoples music.. he was a great entertainer, but he should atleast have given credit to where it was due

[brgilbert2]

To Meriamen, myleftnuts and modelmanagerdude. Your IGNORANCE and apparent HATRED in trying to redefine the past is nothing more then PATHETIC. Let it be known that musicians of that era such as Presley, Jackie Wilson, Roy Hamilton had a great deal of RESPECT for each other, black and white and your trying to put words in Jackie Wilson, Roy Hamilton or any of the other black entertainers is nothing more then RACIST.

[SharaabiNo1]

amazing JW & JB went from boxers 2 singers

[modelmanagerdude]

elvis only covered black folks songs they also were his song writers , he clearly had no talent he talked to music and had only minor dance moves and at a rare ocassion sang very well was just timing for him is all he got very lucky

[tumsabai1]

I could use some of Elvis' luck. Heh, heh!!!

[Makiba08]

Burner1966... Elvis did not improve black singers music....sorry he could not outsing those people

[Makiba08]

Michael, Elvis, James Brown and Frankie Lymon were all influenced by Jackie Wilson....Michael and Elvis stated that fact and if you youtube Baby Work Our by Jackie Wilson you can see his influence on them.

[uszoninyc]

Awsome! LOVE Shindig! Having Darlene Love & The Blossoms as the in-house female backup singers was BRILLIANT (and considered 'daring' at the time)

[Barbara9490]

@uszoninyc "I agree"

[oldbiddie]

I watched this show "Shindig" every week while I did my homework.

[oldbiddie]

What is offensive> I didn't see it.

[lensfridge]

Whoa! The female background singer in the center is Darlene Love!

It doesn't get better than this!

[laurenjaynecoffeeice]

So true!!!!!

How fabulous that music was.

[hotdog12ify]

My dear Jackie, i've loved your music for many yrs about 50+. So sad you left so soon. Your music will always me mine.

[hotdog12ify]

Why is my pass word not used correctly it's not that bad is it ??

[TheJamestollison]

I believe that Jackie Wilson is the best singer there ever was. Im not sayinglike he had the best songs. But he definately delivers better and damn he has a voice. Like an angel man. guys awesome.

[auaiao9]

@TheJamestollison Jackie Wilson had some mighty good songs. It's impossible to sit still to his swingin' tunes.

[amensupremera]

@TheJamestollison I wish he had been able to sign with Motown b/c Brunswick really held him back. And for some reason they've gone out of their way to bury his legacy. He was supposed to be featured in a documentary show on TV One and they wouldnt release the music or any footage they owned.

[flyingmojo5]

Hey! That was Stewie Griffin at the mic b4 Jackie came on!

[ChoctawHU]

It's you obvious U Know nothing about "Mr. Excitement"aka Mr. Jackie Wilson... How many Hits did stewie WHo...have???

[flyingmojo5]

dude, it was a joke. The guy on the mic who said something about "Patti Duke singing along with the Rolling Stones" sounds almost exactly like Stewie Griffin....a cartoon character. Chill out

[Cologero85]

I wish i was born in his time, i heard his voice on one of my dads cds and thought it was elvis, hes like the elvis that dances better then. I also heard he can move his hands pretty good too! but when you sing like that you dont need to box.

[SpeedTriple59]

Awesome again from Mr reet petite,what a show man..

[KingBooKelly2489]

HE SANG HIS A** OFF

[marcbonnie2008]

You know what I think--?-- Sam Cook had one of the best voices in soul music, Marvin gay had both a voice and good looks, but Jackie Wilson was one of the greatest "entertainers" dance and style wise of the soul era. This guy could "sell" the song on stage. This guy knew what the old Vaudville people always talked about "really putting on a show". Marc.

[MyREDTAIL]

@marcbonnie2008 Just listen to Jackie sing Danny Boy & tell me that some Irish tennor could do it any better, I DON'T THINK SO '

[lexcordis]

Whoever has film footage of Jackie Wilson live in concert has the find of the century. Michael Jackson and Elvis both worshipped him. By all reports he is the most powerful live entertainer of the 20th century. TV cannot capture these performances.  For on thing, he used to throw himself headlong into his audiences. Lord, let there be footage.

[maxdashu]

He was great, but let's not forget James Brown and Aretha Franklin!

[SpeedTriple59]

If thats the case check out Cab Calloway,the Nichollas bros,etc,etc,no one an claim to be the inventer,their are so many good artists out there,they all gave input into their own breed of entertainment.Just a pisser i missed these fantastic performers from years gone by..NO one can touch these ole kats...

[j1008h]

Wow! check out Jackie go go go, know wonder micheal learned his moves.What a showman! He was smoooooth!

[shanedo26]

wish i could have been a teenager in those days, too dam bad i wasnt born til 1980, but i get to live thru my momma! heyyy get it now jackie!!!!!!

[wendydale1]

Man is he great! Such fun and sucks you right in! We need more of h is stuff on YouTube.

[bbatgirl]

Everyone is influenced by something or someone. What is important is you build on what you learned. MJ did that and he NEVER took credit for what he learned from the greats before him. Only reason young people like me know who Jackie Wilson is is because MJ ALWAYS talked about him.

Elvis on the other hand STOLE, he didn't follow. Don't put MJ in a category with Elvis. MJ created his own brand after learning from those before him.

[PAULOcbi]

your full `o nonsense ,Elvis covered songs and put his own style to it ,MJ covered songs and put his own style to it,but Elvis is a thief ? but not MJ?? your just a hater of Elvis,why dont you just say "I dont like Elvis`s stuff as much as mJ`s" instead of being a ponce

[elmatadorwangmachino]

You do realize that Jackie Wilson thought very highly of Elvis Presley?

[MzPeachez1980]

Jackie Wilson (the innovator) thought highly of Elvis (the imitator/impersonator)? Ummm sure ;)

[elmatadorwangmachino]

This is a direct quote from Jackie Wilson's wiki page: "Wilson also admitted he was influenced by Presley too, saying 'A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black mans music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis.' " Elvis also regularly visited Jackie Wilson's death bed. Go look for yourself, there is a bibliography.

[Burner1966]

Elvis took the music to masses, he made it acceptable for white folk, he never stole, none stole they either covered or put their own feel and touch to popular music. MJ was a talent , any artist to be around and remembered as long as Elvis or MJ or JW etc has talent. Sure Elvis covered a lot of other artists songs but so too did thousands of other singers SO WHAT...9 times outta 10 it was an improvement. Elvis took care of Jackies family and paid medical expenses when Jackie was hospitalized...

[KhemuLuxons]

.9 times outta 10 it was an improvement. Elvis did not improve Ray Charles "What I Say" Did not improve Jerry Butler's "Only The Strong Survive" , Did not improve Little Walter's "My Babe", not "Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man", not "Browned Eyed Handsome Man", "Earth Angel", "High Heeled Sneakers, "Hound Dog", "He'll Have to Go", Ketty Lester's Love Letters, "Tutti Fruitti", Long Tall Sally, "I got A Woman:, list goes on and on with songs he did not improve.

[Burner1966]

We shall have to agree to disagree. Cheers.

[tumsabai1]

Yes Elvis improved all of those songs!!!!!!

[KhemuLuxons]

If by improvement you mean removing all traces of soul and passion, then you might be right!

[yungsyk]

improved ha ha, elvis could never be jackie or james

[playgirlc]

as much as i love elvis.... wrong!

[Burner1966]

How immature, Elvis found what was popular and ran with it, there is no wrong in that......He had what it took to go where he did.Popular music of the day was localised until Elvis took it state and nationally. He burst the bubble for all artists white black blue and green...

[myleftnutts]

burner boy are u,on that redneck juice???.u been drinkin that redneck koolaid.u did get one part right when u said,he ran with it,that's what u do when u steal something.

[Meriamen]

what is u talkin' bout? I suggest u look that up because I cannot find any reference to what you are referring to.

[Meriamen]

by 'localisation' do you mean racism? Because THAT is what kept black music from the national airwaves. I have watched quite a few interview with artists from that time, and they all say the same thing, even the white commentaries, which is that radio stations WOULD NOT play black music purely because they were black, not because they were LOCAL as you suppose. Elvis was popular bcause he could do what the BLACKs were doing, and which white WANTED to do, but couldnt bcause of society.

[missVeemack]

@Meriamen I agree with you. elvis could copy which alot of whites could not do. And the white people loved (well most). But he does not impress most blacks. When you see Jackie sing Lonely Teardrops, you can really see how elvis copied his singing mannerisms. Only props he gets is that he could actually sing and he was good looking. but he could of been more original.

[Meriamen]

@missVeemack  thanks, im glad someone can see the point I'm trying to make. A lot of white people do not want to admit that E.Presley was influenced by black people.

[Meriamen]

@Burner66 oh yes by the way Elvis did not take what was popular, he INTRODUCED that style to white audiences. The style was a black WASNT popular which is why Elvis was POPULAR, and why he was deemed so SHOCKING at the time.

[loquaciousthe3RD]

Is there any REALLY good footage of Jackie Wilson dancing on youtube? I'd love to see it...damn that man had soul.

[516me]

I had the great opportunity of seeing Jackie Wilson perform life as part of Murray the K's annual holiday show at the Brooklyn Fox. I've even travelled upstate to see him perform. Michael Jackson, as good as he was, was a follower, as was Elvis. They both learned from him (Prince did too), and they idolized him. He never received the recognition he deserved. Seeing him perform, hearing that magnificent voice and natural soul was memorable.

[andrewals]

Mr Excitement. Gone way to soon

[MikeyL]

Jackie had a lot of talent. A talent gone too soon.

[stripemister]

Such pure talent, and one hell of a good man.

[1motsi2]

we love u grandaddy your the best!

[rghaggertyjr]

SIMPLY AWESOME. Makes you want to get up and grooove!!!

[buzzardsbass]

Back in the early 60s I learned to play bass along with Jackie . . . sweet . . . lots of fun . . .

[RomanianRaven12]

I agree with the below! "The Jackie Wilson show"

It was a crime he didn't have his own show!!!

[GUYSLOVEDEMITOO]

MAN JACKIE SHOULD'VE

HAD HIS OWN SHOW

[ddawne]

love him!

[akytilop]

Jackie Wilson was the most dynamic act I ever saw. I worked at an amusement park in PA and saw many free rock and roll shows with lots of legends and Jackie was the best.

I don't know what Bornwith a BA means by racism; Jackie always got a hugh audience of white kids. After he was injured Dick Clark paid most of his medical bills.

The record industry stole a lot of Jackie's royalties as they did from hundreds of rock stars of the time.

[Sonofdarighthand]

How did he pass away? Also how did he get injured?

[akytilop]

Jackie had a heart attack on stage when he was performing in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. After that he had other complications and became an invalid. Look up Wikipedia under his name they have a lot of information on his life.

[Sonofdarighthand]

Man, that is a shame. Talented brother.

[hawaiianmusicfan]

...I thought he was in a coma for almost 9 years. I'm making sure my health directive says "Pull the plug!" RIP Jackie - what an awesome talent...

[akytilop]

I agree on Jackie and the pulling of the plug for myself. I worked at an amusement park in Pennsylvania in the late 1950s to 1961 and got to see a lot of acts for free. They were all good, some better than others, but Jackie was the greatest. He was non stop action.

[mrernesth]

He had a massive stroke and a heart attack on stafe in Cherry Hill, N.J. in iirc,1975, and died from complications app. 9 yrs. later, never having regained complete consciousness. A real tragedy.

Don't let anyone tell you M.J. invented the moonwalk, it was Jackie. The best performer I have ever had the honor of seeing perform live. He was indeed one of a kind.

[Sonofdarighthand]

Hmmm.......Man that's sad. I wish I could've had a chance to see him perform in person. Thanks for the info.

[tfw23]

What are you talking about Jackie invented the moonwalk! Bill Bailey did it years before him. Search Bill Bailey Moonwalk on youtube. God is the only inventor and He inspires man at different times and ages with the same gifts just tweeked differently. THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.

[skeetabix36]

Jackie Wilson is a legend

[bluesgirl62]

Fantastic!

[DanielSchmidt94521]

After watching this I have loved Jackie Wilson and never heard this song until recently. I am amazed that this has 70,000 views, and not to mention the great Dance Moves back then. When I watch and listen to this music I think to myself how crappy music is today. Nothing today compares to music like Motown and the 50's and 60's. So sad the way Jackie Wilson died. RIP

[doo58wop]

@DanielSchmidt94521 Thank you for expressing what I have felt for decades: The music of today, for the most part, doesn't compare to that of the '50's & '60's. I am fortunate enough to have grown up in that era; have many of the records to this day. The quality of sound in the newer formats doesn't compare to the sound of vinyl especially with performances like that of Jackie's. We miss you. RIP

[kustomflex]

this dude personifies rock/motown music he a fuckin legend

[dannyodoul]

Yes, Elvis did pay for the bills for Jackie Wilson's medical/lodging expenses after Jackie no longer could.

Sincerely,

The Legendary Danny O'Doul

[Quixote010]

I may bemistaken, but I thought it was Dick Clark who paid for Jackie's care for some time.

[LaMamaAng]

It was Dick Clark.

[DanielSchmidt94521]

No it was Elvis

[LaMamaAng]

Wikipedia says it was Dick Clark. Don't get me wrong, I love Elvis. I read that Elvis visited him while Jackie was comatose.

[northportdave]

if you read many elvis books elvis was crazy about jackie and jackie about him

[ddanze]

Wow! Thanks to you for posting this!! Absolutely LOVE it! I was 13 when this

tune came out - used to swing dance to it

in the junior high cafeteria. What a voice!!

[drwhatson]

Those Go-Go dancers though.... they crack me up! :-D

[Jibbie49]

Those dancers look funny today but those tight outfits and "moves" was really over-the-top then as it was "family entertainment" on TV. I know my mom would have been telling my dad "Put your eyeballs back in your head, you dang fool."

[Karen56]

One of the best movers and shakers and the absolutely best singer in the business!

I love him!!!!!

[PabloZaragoza]

is there a film about a black singer in the 50's in EEUU ? he is on drugs and finally die..

anybody knows the name of this film ?

[bornwithaBA]

If you're referring to the film about Frankie Lymon called "Why do Fools Fall in Love?"

Halle Berry, Lela Rochon, Viveca Fox....I forgot who played Frankie Lymon!!!

Like Jackie Wilson's story, a hearbreakingly sad tale. Racism, racism, racism.

I wish I knew Berry Gordy, Jr. He and one of his ex-wives wrote for Jackie Wilson. I'd ask him,"What was it like, penning songs for Jackie Wilson?" Never mind that he was the founder of Motown!!!!

RIP Jackie Wilson and so many others.

[trueiopian]

Great vocal range and versatility!

No wonder why they called him Mr. Excitement!

[e37a]

One of the greatest performers that ever existed!!!!! R.I.P., my brother...

[SomethinKindaTwizted]

I am eternally grateful to my Grandmother for exposing me to such great music! Thanks, Nana!!! :)

~Rachel~ (aged 24)

[bishop23d]

good

[bearlag]

A fantsstic American peformer. underrated and ignored.

[swobet]

Is it true that Elvis paid his nursing home bill after Jackies insurance ran out? I can see Elvis doing just that

[mmjaljs]

Awesome!

[GLOBALREFINISHING]

It is true they were good friends, who deeply admired each other.

[esmereldatitswallop]

brilliant!

[terrapyn99]

Great video, but the 1950's version was better.

[door2yourheart]

Wow! I used to have this single before my sister stole it! 1958 if i remember rightly!

[smilersweetness]

Lovely, thanks:)

[5121949]

Elvis had ask the great Jackie Wilson to teach him some dance moves for this song. You can actually see Jackie Wilsons influence in this video. Yes! it is priceless

ON "Return To Sender" song in the movie 'GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS" He stopped the studio to say hello and watched this scene as part of the audience. If you watch Elvis' facial expressions and eyes, he's making eye contact with Wilson and also imitating him. Priceless!!!!

[Seanryan2001]

Jackie Wilson was on an Elvis filmset but i dont think it was Girls!Girls!Girls!, it was the 1967 film Double Trouble.

[lanticsurf1976]

Agree, classic, thanks Bob

[djdeitch]

Cool video,.ktf.

[motown250]

classic jackie wilson

[DDTVSOUL]

love it ktf

[iGuy101]

Great classic clip Bob

[Dee530]

Right on, mismooth, there is only ONE--

MR. EXCITEMENT, you know it, hey it's MM.

Glad you are still loving Jackie's Great

Work! Remember you wrote me?? And I answered

your question?? Yes, HE was very Exciting!

Peace--& Best, MM

[mismooth]

there is only one mr.excitment!!!!!!!!!!!

[CarlitoBrigante33]

wat a tragic end to the life of a truly sensational performer

[gporgie]

elvis would watch jackie move and try to copy his moves ..

[realbeautyness25]

that's right

[bluesgirl62]

Great thanks

[lazlopanoflex]

this song is so, so, so, so great!

[isleyrundgren]

This song along with Baby Workout, are my favourite Jackie Wilson songs, even if you arent in the mood for dancing, you cant help but tap your feet. Iam sure my hero Ronnie Isley of the Isley Brothers was influenced vocally by Jackie, I love the way he goes into the falsetto to sing 'take it easy' at 1.33, and then the scream and the end, that just blows me away. Ive heard that type of vocal in quite a few Isley songs

[bigmsky]

Darlene love singing backup

[Karen56]

it is so cute the way Jackie walks onto the stage and he is looking for something - I guess the camera! But then Jackie always knew where that was. If you watch his performances he follows the camera so well. :) He had it all! love this guy!

[Karen56]

always looking a this clip - I love it - I love Jackie!

Does that guy next to the announcer kind of look like George Bush?

[j43ms]

that feller's name is jack good. a bit of a twit (as you can see) but he introduced rock 'n' roll to british tv in the late 50s

[Karen56]

Love him! There will NEVER be another like Jackie the many had sooo much talent it was unbelievable. Gosh, I wish he was still around! I love James Brown too they both sure can move but Jackie was more graceful in his steps. I guess it was the booxing influence. JW sure was MR. Excitement!

[GFY1954]

Thank you, seeing Jackie's stage performance puts a new light on this great man, flawless!

[dsgb1973]

does any one have the shin dig videos , she's alright, sing, danny boy, i'll be i love on.

[Karen56]

I have them all on Jackie and will try to post soon! Love Jackie!

[dsgb1973]

R.I.P. Mr.Excitment