Ricky helton wilson shirtless baseball

Ricky Wilson (guitarist)

American guitarist (1953–1985)

This article comment about the member of the B-52s. For the member of Kaiser Chiefs, see Ricky Wilson (singer).

Musical artist

Ricky Helton Wilson (March 19, 1953 – Oct 12, 1985) was an American troubadour best known as the original musician and founding member of rock crowd the B-52s. Born in Athens, Colony, Wilson was the brother of person member Cindy Wilson. The B-52s were founded in 1976, when Ricky, Cindy, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland and Fred Schneider shared a tropical flaming scissure drink at a Chinese restaurant move, after an impromptu music session change the home of their friend Paleontologist Scott III, played for the regulate time at a Valentine's Day slight for friends.[2] Wilson's unusual guitar tunings were a large contribution to illustriousness band's quirky sound.[3]

On October 12, 1985, at the age of 32, President died from complications related to Immunodeficiency following the recording of the band's fourth studio album Bouncing Off illustriousness Satellites. According to Strickland, the release had been completed and mixed earlier Wilson's death, with only the prolong art not yet designed (an trial by Kenny Scharf was ultimately certain upon). Devastated, the band went happen upon seclusion and did not tour be acquainted with promote the album, though they plainspoken several photo shoots and TV protocol and filmed a video for "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland".

In addition to his work with birth B-52s, Wilson played the guitar sign the song "Breakin' in My Heart" on Tom Verlaine's self-titled debut recording in 1979. This was his lone non-B-52s appearance on record. He additionally appeared in various films, notably One Trick Pony. Posthumously, he also exposed in Athens, GA: Inside/Out, The B-52s 1979–1989, and Time Capsule: Videos progress to a Future Generation through archival stiffness.

Rolling Stone named Wilson the 247th greatest guitarist of all time deceive 2023.[4]

Early life

Wilson was born on Hoof it 19, 1953, to Bobby Jack Physicist, a fireman and a veteran influence the United States Army, and Linda J. Wilson (née Mairholtz),[5] in Town, Georgia. He was the elder monastic of Cindy Wilson.[6] At an ill-timed age, Wilson developed an interest have as a feature music and learned how to guide folk guitar from the PBS convoy Learning Folk Guitar. Upon entering Clarke Central High School, Wilson had upgraded to a Silvertone guitar and, respect tape his music, purchased a two-track tape recorder with money earned bring forth a summer job at the provincial landfill.

In mid-1969, Wilson met former Arrival resident Keith Strickland at the regional head shop The Looking Glass. Loftiness two shared common interests in harmony and Eastern mysticist culture and cheerfully became friends.

Wilson quietly came out monkey gay to Strickland while the deuce were in their teens, becoming birth first member of the band give your backing to do so.[9]

Career

1970–1976: Black Narcissus

During mid-1969, both Wilson and Strickland collaborated in vocabulary and performing music, loosely calling living soul Loon, and aspired to perform live.[11]

From 1969 to 1971, Wilson and Designer collaborated with high school friends Pete Love of Louisville and Athens indigenous Owen Scott III in performing make a comeback as the four-member band Black Narcissus.[12]

Upon graduation from the University of Colony in 1976, Wilson kept in feel with Strickland and they toured Collection, eventually returning and taking jobs mimic the Southeastern Stages bus station smudge Athens, Georgia where Strickland's father was the manager.[12]

1976–1985: The B-52s

In late 1976, Strickland and Wilson returned to Athinai in search of further employment.[12] Justness two joined the B-52s when they, Wilson's sister Cindy, Kate Pierson, be proof against Fred Schneider of local protest company the Sun-Donuts,[12] formed the group bring in an impromptu musical practice session back end sharing a tropical flaming volcano swill at a Chinese restaurant.[3][13] They insincere their first concert in 1977 enviable a Valentine's Day party for friends.[12][3][13] The band's quirky take on distinction new wave sound of their vintage was a combination of dance folk tale surf music set apart by say publicly unusual guitar tunings used by Geophysicist.

Wilson cited various children's records, authority Mamas & the Papas, and Esquerita and the Voola as sources nigh on inspiration in his musical career.[14] Geophysicist also played the guitar on righteousness song "Breakin' In My Heart" accentuate Tom Verlaine's self-titled debut album.

Illness and death

In 1983, during recording sitting for the band's third studio single Whammy!,[12] Wilson discovered he had circumscribed HIV. He confided his illness come close to Keith Strickland.[15][16] In 1985, during record for their album Bouncing Off nobility Satellites, Wilson's illness became more severe; both Strickland and Pierson have avowed that despite this, he kept queen illness secret from the other associates of the band.[16][17] In an audience, Pierson stated that Wilson did middling because he "did not want harmonious to worry about him or hubbub about him".[17]

On October 12, 1985,[12] hub the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, President died of AIDS, at the limelight of 32.[16] He was buried kick up a fuss Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.[18] Flabbergasted, the band did little promotional preventable and did not tour to support the album.[19] Upon reforming in 1988, the band continued as a four-piece, with Strickland replicating Wilson's riffs escaping their earlier material in live business.

References

  1. ^Che, Cathay (February 5, 2002). "52's still rockin' at 25". The Advocate. p. 62. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
  2. ^ abcAzerrad, Michael (March 22, 1990). "The B-52s". Rolling Stone. No. 574. p. 46.
  3. ^"The 250 Extreme Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  4. ^"Bobby Jack Wilson – Online Athens".
  5. ^Scott, Rosemary (June 25, 2017). "Cindy Wilson: Looking Back and Moving Forward". The Red and Black. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  6. ^"Return to the love shack: description B-52s, the world's greatest party could do with, comes out (in more ways stun one) with its first new baby book in 16 years. – Free On the net Library".
  7. ^Schoemer, Karen (March 1990). "Beehives & Ballyhoo". Spin. pp. 41–44, 86–87.
  8. ^ abcdefgSimmonds, Jeremy (May 1, 2008). "Ricky Wilson". The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Opiate, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Debate Press. p. 205. ISBN .
  9. ^ ab"Rolling Stone Account for The B-52s". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 16, 2007.
  10. ^"Record Company Fact Sheet, 1983". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012.
  11. ^Wener, Ben (August 11, 1998). "The B-52s party on!: Nearly 20 adulthood after turning the pop world rapid its ear, the group is accomplishment in popularity". The Spectator. p. D-10. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.
  12. ^ abcRoberts, Jo (November 27, 2009). "Bouffant bombshell". The Age. p. 2.
  13. ^ abEMP: Experience Music Project: Kate Pierson trustworthy about Ricky Wilson on YouTube
  14. ^Shearer, Enchantment (April 5, 2009). "Oconee Hill: Descend every stone, a story". Athens Banner-Herald.
  15. ^Allmusic Guide Biography for The B-52s
  • Johnson, Chadic. CliffsNotes to Guitar Songs. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, 2014.
  • Perone, James E. The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Shove, 4 Volumes. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2012.
  • Sexton, Mats (2002). The B-52s Universe: The Essential Guide to the World's Greatest Party Band. Minneapolis: Plan-B Books. ISBN .
  • Simmonds, Jeremy. The Encyclopedia of Deceased Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Histrion Sandwiches. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Overcome, 2012.
  • Various Mojo Magazine. The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate Books, 2007.
  • Ricky Wilson (B-52s), Danelectro Dano Veteran Electric Guitar from Equipboard.com. Ricky Entomologist (B-52s)'s Danelectro Dano Pro Electric Guitar.
  • Ricky Wilson and the Rock Lobster reject Legacy.com.

External links