Gerald Stanley Wilson (born September 4, 1918) is an Americanjazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer/arranger, 8 time Grammy nominee, and educator. He has been based inLos Angeles since the early 1940s.
Wilson was born in Shelby, Mississippi, and went on to graduate from Cass Technical High School in Detroit. Wilson joined theJimmie Lunceford orchestra in 1939, replacing its star trumpeter and arranger Sy Oliver. While with Lunceford, he contributed numbers to the band's book, including "Hi Spook" and "Yard-dog Mazurka," the latter being a big influence onStan Kenton's recording "Intermission Riff." In addition to leading his band, Wilson has written arrangements for others including Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson to name a few.
