Reuben Wilson

Reuben Wilson
Reuben Wilson
Born	Reuben Lincoln Wilson; April 9, 1935; Mounds, Oklahoma, U.S.
Origin	Pasadena, California, U.S.
Died	May 26, 2023 (aged 88); Harlem, New York, U.S.
Genres	Acid jazz, soul jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Hammond B3
Years active	1968–2023
Labels	Blue Note, Groove Merchant, Cadet, 18th and Vine

Reuben Wilson (April 9, 1935 – May 26, 2023) was an American jazz organist in the soul jazz tradition. Widely sampled and influential among acid jazz musicians, he is best known for his album Got to Get Your Own.

Biography

Wilson was born in Mounds, Oklahoma, and his family moved to Pasadena when he was 5. He played in Los Angeles with drummer Al Bartee, then moved to New York to begin a recording career. In addition to playing with jazz musicians Melvin Sparks, drummers Tommy Derrick and Willis Jackson, Wilson led the local band Wildare Express. He remained active into his late 70s, until developing dementia. He died of lung cancer in New York City, on May 26, 2023, at the age of 88.

Discography

As leader

On Broadway (Blue Note, 1968)
Love Bug (Blue Note, 1969)
Blue Mode (Blue Note, 1970) – recorded in 1969. also issued as Organ Talk (Vee Jay, 1974).
A Groovy Situation (Blue Note, 1970) – CD reissue: (Water Records, 2004)
Set Us Free (Blue Note, 1971)
The Sweet Life (Groove Merchant, 1972) – CD reissue: (Connoisseur Collection, 2000)
The Cisco Kid (Groove Merchant, 1973) – CD reissue (Connoisseur Collection, 2000)
Got to Get Your Own by Reuben Wilson and the Cost of Living (Cadet, 1975) – CD reissue: (Dusty Groove, 2008)
Live at SOB's – The Official Bootleg (Jazzateria, 1996)
Organ Donor (Jazzateria, 1997)
Down with it (Cannonball, 1998)
Blue Breakbeats (Blue Note, 1998) – compilation CD & LP
Organ Blues (Jazzateria, 2002)
Boogaloo to the Beastie Boys (Scufflin', 2004)
Fun House (Savant, 2005) – recorded in 2004
Movin' On (Savant, 2006)
Azure Te (18th & Vine, 2009)
Revisited by the Reuben Wilson Trio (American Showplace Music, 2011)

With the Wildare Express

Walk On By (Brunswick, 1970) – recorded in 1967–68

With the Godfathers of Groove

The Masters of Groove – Meet Dr. No (Jazzateria, 2001)
The Masters of Groove – Meet DJ-9 (Jazzateria, 2006)
The Godfathers of Groove (18th & Vine, 2007)
The Godfathers of Groove – 3 (18th & Vine, 2009)

As sideman

New York Funkies, Hip Hop Bop! (Meldac [jp], 1995) – with Stanley Turrentine, Ed Cherry
Grant Green, Jr., Jungle Strut (Venus, 1997)
Grant Green, Jr., Introducing G.G. (Jazzateria, 2002)
Melvin Sparks, What You Hear Is What You Get (Savant, 2001)

References

1 2 Rogers, Matt (2023-06-05). "Reuben Wilson, organist who helped usher in soul jazz, has died at 88". NPR. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
↑ Santella, Jim. "Organist Reuben Wilson". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-05-08.

External links

Reuben Wilson discography at Discogs

[:0-1] 1 2 Rogers, Matt (2023-06-05). "Reuben Wilson, organist who helped usher in soul jazz, has died at 88". NPR. Retrieved 2023-06-05.

[AAJ-2] Santella, Jim. "Organist Reuben Wilson". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-05-08.

v t e Reuben Wilson
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release, unless stated otherwise.
Albums	On Broadway (1968) Love Bug (1969) Blue Mode (1969) A Groovy Situation (1970) Set Us Free (1971) The Sweet Life (1972) The Cisco Kid (1973) Fun House (2004) Movin' On (2006)

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat
National	United States France BnF data
Artists	MusicBrainz
People	Deutsche Biographie
Other	SNAC

Reuben Wilson
Born	Reuben Lincoln Wilson (1935-04-09)April 9, 1935 Mounds, Oklahoma, U.S.
Origin	Pasadena, California, U.S.
Died	May 26, 2023(2023-05-26) (aged 88) Harlem, New York, U.S.
Genres	Acid jazz, soul jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Hammond B3
Years active	1968–2023
Labels	Blue Note, Groove Merchant, Cadet, 18th and Vine