Theodore Shaw Wilson was an American jazz pianist.
21 Facts About Teddy Wilson
2.
Teddy Wilson's style was highly influenced by Earl Hines and Art Tatum.
3.
Teddy Wilson's work was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald.
4.
Teddy Wilson moved to Detroit with his brother and musician Gus Teddy Wilson.
5.
Teddy Wilson began his first professional career in 1929 with Speed Webb's band.
6.
Teddy Wilson took over the pianist position of Milton Senior band from Art Tatum in 1930.
7.
Teddy Wilson left his residency with Goodman's band and formed his own fifteen-piece big band in 1939, but it only lasted around a year due to the lack of individuality in his band.
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Louis Armstrong 8.
Teddy Wilson was dubbed the "Marxist Mozart" by Howard "Stretch" Johnson due to his support for left-wing causes: he performed in benefit concerts for The New Masses journal and for Russian War Relief, and he chaired the Artists' Committee to elect Benjamin J Davis.
9.
Later, the FBI suspended Teddy Wilson's performing activities on broadcast, radio, and social activities alleging that he was involved in Communism.
10.
From 1945 to 1952, Teddy Wilson taught at the Juilliard School.
11.
Teddy Wilson can be seen appearing as himself in the motion pictures Hollywood Hotel and The Benny Goodman Story.
12.
Teddy Wilson was married three times, including to the songwriter Irene Kitchings.
13.
Teddy Wilson performed as a soloist and with pickup groups until the final years of his life, including leading a trio with his sons Theodore Wilson on bass and Steven Wilson on drums.
14.
Teddy Wilson died of stomach cancer in New Britain, Connecticut, on July 31,1986, aged 73.
15.
Teddy Wilson is buried at Fairview Cemetery in New Britain.
16.
Teddy Wilson then developed his own musical vocabulary based on the styles of Art Tatum and Earl Hines.
17.
However, Teddy Wilson's playing focused on diatonic, "inside" harmonic ideas based on triads and extensions.
18.
Teddy Wilson pursued a style of improvisation based on lyrical melodic development.
19.
Furthermore, Teddy Wilson's playing is characterized by consistent dynamic expression with an elegant touch.
20.
Teddy Wilson contributed to modernizing the pianistic articulation in contrast to the raw Harlem Stride Piano.
21.
Teddy Wilson's style went on to influence other pianists such as his contemporary Mary Lou Williams, Mel Powell, Billy Kyle, Jess Stacy, and Joe Bushkin.