Ricky Wilson (American musician)
| Ricky Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Ricky Wilson. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ricky Helton Wilson |
| Born | March 19, 1953 Athens, Georgia, United States |
| Died | October 12, 1985 (aged 32) New York City, United States |
| Genres | New Wave, post-punk, rock, pop |
| Occupations | Instrumentalist, musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Backing vocals, bass, electric guitar, organ, smoke alarm, keyboard |
| Years active | 1973–1985 |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Reprise, Island |
| Associated acts | The B-52s, Black Narcissus, Loon, Tom Verlaine, The Zambo Flirts |
| Website | www.theb52s.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Mosrite Silvertone |
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Ricky Helton Wilson (March 19, 1953 – October 12, 1985)[1] was an American instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and musician. He was best known as the original guitarist and founding member of New Wave rock band the B-52s. Born in Athens, Georgia, Wilson was the brother of fellow member Cindy Wilson.
He originally joined the B-52s in 1977, when he, his sister Cindy, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland and Fred Schneider shared a tropical Flaming Volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant and, after an impromptu music session at the home of their friend, Owen Scott, III, played for the first time at a Valentine's Day party for friends.[2]
As a self-taught guitarist, Wilson created his own tunings, grouping the strings of his Mosrite guitar into a bass course (usually tuned to fifths for strumming) and a treble course (often tuned in unison), removing the middle two strings entirely, though sometimes he played with five strings as well. Together with keyboard bass played by organist Kate Pierson, the band achieved a solid rock and roll sound without a bass guitar.
On October 12, 1985, at the age of 32, Wilson died from AIDS/HIV-related health complications following the recording of the band's fourth studio album Bouncing off the Satellites. Devastated, the band went into seclusion and did not tour to promote the album. Prior to his death, Wilson played the guitar on the song "Breakin' In My Heart" on Tom Verlaine's self-titular debut album. He also appeared in various films, namely One Trick Pony, Athens, GA: Inside/Out, The B-52's 1979-1989, and The B-52's Time Capsule: Videos for a Future Generation 1979-1998, the latter three of which featured archive footage of Wilson.
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[edit] Childhood
Wilson was born on March 19, 1953 in Athens, Georgia. He was the brother of fellow band member Cindy Wilson. At an early age, Wilson developed an interest in music, and learned how to play a folk guitar from the PBS series Learning Folk Guitar.[3] Upon entering Clarke Central High School, Wilson had upgraded to a Silvertone guitar and, to tape his music, purchased a two-track tape recorder with money earned from a summer job at the local landfill.[3]
In mid-1969, Wilson met former Comer resident Keith Strickland at the local head shop Looking Glass.[4] The two shared common interests in music and Eastern mysticist culture, and quickly became friends.[3]
[edit] Musical career
[edit] 1970–1976: Black Narcissus
During mid-1969, both Wilson and Strickland collaborated in writing and performing music, loosely calling themselves Loon, and aspired to perform live.[5][6]
From 1969 to 1971, Wilson and Strickland collaborated with high school friends Peter Love of Louisville and Athens native Owen Scott, III in performing together at the four-member band Black Narcissus.[7]
Upon graduation from the University of Georgia in 1976, Wilson kept in touch with Strickland and they toured Europe, eventually returning and taking jobs at the Southeastern Stages bus station in Athens, Georgia where Strickland's father was manager.[7]
[edit] 1976–1983: The B-52s
In late 1976, Strickland and Wilson returned to Athens in search of further employment.[7] The two joined the B-52s when they, Wilson's sister Cindy, and Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider of local protest band The Sun-Donuts,[7] formed the group in an impromptu musical practice session after sharing a tropical Flaming Volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant.[8][9] They played their first concert in 1977 at a Valentine's Day party for friends.[7][8][9] The band's quirky take on the New Wave sound of their era was a combination of dance and surf music set apart by the unusual guitar tunings used by Wilson.
Wilson cited various children's records, The Mamas & The Papas, Esquerita's The Voola as sources of inspiration in his musical career.[10] Wilson also played the guitar on the song "Breakin' In My Heart" on the Tom Verlaine's self-titled debut album.
[edit] Illness and death
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In 1983, during recording sessions for the band's third studio album Whammy!,[7] Wilson discovered he had contracted AIDS/HIV-related health complications.[11][12] In 1985, during recording for their album Bouncing off the Satellites, Wilson's illness became more severe; despite this, he kept his illness secret from the other members of the band[12][13] says Keith Strickland;[12] in an interview, fellow band member Kate Pierson stated that Wilson had kept his illness secret from his fellow band members because he "did not want anyone to worry about him or fuss about him."[13]
On October 12, 1985,[7] in the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, Wilson finally succumbed to the illness, at the age of 32.[12] He was later buried in Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.[14] Devastated, the band did little promotional work and did not tour to promote the album.[15]
[edit] Contact with fellow B-52s
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[edit] Cindy Wilson
Being Wilson's sibling, Cindy joined The B-52s after an impromptu musical practice session after sharing a tropical Flaming Volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant,[8][9] described by the band as being "old enough" to join.[7]
[edit] Reaction to Wilson's death
Cindy was naturally shocked at her brother's death; in an interview with The Age, she was described as being the "hardest hit" by his death.[12]
[edit] Keith Strickland
Strickland and Wilson had been very close friends. Soon after Wilson's death, Strickland, who had previously been the band's drummer, moved to play guitar in place of Wilson.[12]
[edit] Legacy and influence
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The epitaph on Wilson's tombstone reads: "The breeze of grace is always blowing; set your sail to catch that breeze."
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | One Trick Pony | Himself | Credited alongside The B-52s as The B-52's |
| 1987 | Athens, GA: Inside/Out | Himself | Archive footage Credited alongside The B-52s as The B-52's |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sexton 2002, p. 75.
- ^ Chau, Cathy (February 5, 2002). 52's still rockin' at 25. http://books.google.be/books?id=0GIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62&dq=52%27s+still+rockin%3B&hl=en&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
- ^ a b c Sexton 2002, p. 28.
- ^ Sexton 2002, p. 29.
- ^ Sexton 2002, p. 30.
- ^ Schoemer, Karen (March 1990). "Beehives & Ballyhoo". Spin: pp. 41–44; 86–87.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Simmonds, Jeremy (May 1, 2008). "Ricky Wilson". The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-55652-754-8.
- ^ a b c Azerrad, Michael (March 22, 1990). "The B-52's". Rolling Stone (574): 46.
- ^ a b c Rolling Stone Biography for The B-52s
- ^ Record Company Fact Sheet, 1983
- ^ Wener, Ben (August 11, 1998). "The B-52s party on!: Nearly 20 years after turning the pop world on its ear, the group is gaining in popularity". The Spectator: p. D-10. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/509127881.html?dids=509127881:509127881&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+11%2C+1998&author=Ben+Wener&pub=The+Spectator&desc=The+B-52s+party+on!%3A+Nearly+20+years+after+turning+the+pop+world+on+its+ear%2C+the+group+is+gaining+in+popularity.&pqatl=google.
- ^ a b c d e f Roberts, Jo (November 27, 2009). "Bouffant bombshell". The Age: p. 2. http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/bouffant-bombshell/2009/11/26/1258824784842.html?page=2.
- ^ a b EMP: Experience Music Project: Kate Pierson talking about Ricky Wilson
- ^ Shearer, Lee (April 5, 2009; updated April 4, 2009). "Oconee Hill: Under every stone, a story". Athens Banner-Herald. http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/040509/new_425975796.shtml.
- ^ Allmusic Guide Biography for The B-52s
[edit] References
- Sexton, Mats (2002). The B-52's Universe: The Essential Guide to the World's Greatest Party Band. Minneapolis: Plan-B Books. ISBN 978-0965274593.
[edit] External links
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