Larry Jon Wilson
Encyclopedia
Larry Jon Wilson was an American
country
singer, guitarist
and musician
. He recorded "Through the Eyes of Little Children" and "I Betcha Heaven's on a Dirt Road".
, Georgia
, Wilson picked up the guitar and taught himself how to play. In 1975, he released his debut album
New Beginnings. Three more albums on the Monument record label
imprint of CBS Records
followed, Let Me Sing My Song to You (1976), Loose Change (1977), and The Sojourner (1979).
Despite Wilson's accolades and fans, no hit record
emerged. Wilson left the music industry in 1980. He returned in the late 1980s when other songwriter
s encouraged him to attend the Frank Brown International Songwriter's Festival in Perdido Key, Florida
. He began touring again in 1989, and by 2003 still accepted occasional engagements. Wilson remained devoted to his music, rather than to the marketplace.
Wilson appears in the 1981 documentary film
Heartworn Highways
where he is filmed recording the song "Ohoopee River Bottomland".
In 2008, Sony BMG released a new Wilson album, after a thirty year hiatus from recording. In 2009, Drag City
re-released the album in the US
.
Wilson died, following a stroke
in June 2010, at the age of 69.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He recorded "Through the Eyes of Little Children" and "I Betcha Heaven's on a Dirt Road".
Biography
Born in SwainsboroSwainsboro, Georgia
Swainsboro is a city located in Emanuel County, Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,943. The city is the county seat of Emanuel County.-Geography:...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Wilson picked up the guitar and taught himself how to play. In 1975, he released his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
New Beginnings. Three more albums on the Monument record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
imprint of CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
followed, Let Me Sing My Song to You (1976), Loose Change (1977), and The Sojourner (1979).
Despite Wilson's accolades and fans, no hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
emerged. Wilson left the music industry in 1980. He returned in the late 1980s when other songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s encouraged him to attend the Frank Brown International Songwriter's Festival in Perdido Key, Florida
Perdido Key, Florida
Perdido Key, Florida is an unincorporated community located in Escambia County, Florida, between Pensacola, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama. "Perdido" means "lost" in the Spanish language, and Perdido Key is sometimes called "Lost Key" by local residents and businesses.The community is located on...
. He began touring again in 1989, and by 2003 still accepted occasional engagements. Wilson remained devoted to his music, rather than to the marketplace.
Wilson appears in the 1981 documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Heartworn Highways
Heartworn Highways
Heartworn Highways is documentary film by James Szalapski whose vision captured some of the founders of the Outlaw Country movement in Texas and Tennessee in the last weeks of 1975 and the first weeks of 1976...
where he is filmed recording the song "Ohoopee River Bottomland".
In 2008, Sony BMG released a new Wilson album, after a thirty year hiatus from recording. In 2009, Drag City
Drag City (record label)
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
re-released the album in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Wilson died, following a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in June 2010, at the age of 69.
Discography
- New Beginnings (1975)
- Let Me Sing My Songs (1976)
- Loose Change (1977)
- The Sojourner (1979)
- Larry Jon Wilson (2008)
External links
- http://www.larry-jon-wilson.com/
- http://www.dragcity.com/press/press.html
- http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-larry-jon-wilson-larry-jon-wilson-1965-846153.html
- http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/090408/rho_471889.shtml
- http://www.selbytimes.co.uk/music-reviews/Larry-Jon-Wilson-Larry-Jon.4210927.jp
- http://www.hour.ca/music/spin.aspx?iIDDisque=5504
- http://www.timeout.com/london/music/reviews/5608/larry_jon_wilson.html
- http://metrospirit.com/index.php?cat=1993101070391298&ShowArticle_ID=11013006093982910
- http://www.the9513.com/larry-jon-wilson-the-intervie/
- http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13197-larry-jon-wilson/
- http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/07/larry-jon-wilson-larry-jon-wilson/
- http://listendammit.com/2009/06/25/larry-jon-wilson-cd-review/
- http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1686