A stunning deep soul performance by George Wilson, who Discogs claims was a 'prolific local soul performer from Pittsburgh' but I believe from reading some comments that he was actually from Lancaster PA. A couple of groups that he performed with were The Ember Soul Band, G.L. & The Vestors and Daddy C & The All-Stars.
Apologies for poor quality of photo cropped and enlarged from small photo on Daddy C 12" from 1983 as only photo I can find in public domain.
UPDATE 11 Nov 2020 information received from Joe Siebert
George died in 1989 from cancer (see obit below found on 'Rendezvous For Happy Hearts'). As the lead singer for The Embers he sang with Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin and in groups, The Chell-mars and The Chirstaleers. As a member of the Butch Cornell Organ Trio, he played with the likes of Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross and Martha and The Vandellas. He graduated from Lancaster McCaskey High School in 1958.
He recorded If She’s Your Girl with G.L. & The Vesters (I can't find anything on this group) and also a 45 with The Chell-Mars Roamin' Heart / Feel Alright - he co-wrote both sides with Harold Vern.
He only released 2 45s and the flip side of this one is an instrumental version. I find this difficult to understand as his voice is amazing but I suppose it wasn't 'commercial' but much loved by soul connoisseurs years later. This is not expensive (yet) and you should be able to find on for £30-£40.
Black Circle was a Pittsburgh label which ran from 1971-72 and seems to have released only 5 (listed) 45s. However, there is a gap in Cat No. between 6002 and 6006 so perhaps there are some unlisted?
George Wilson [1969] - Come Back To Me [Stang ST 5007]
His only other (listed) release is from 1969 on Sylvia Robinson's Stang label out of Englewood, New Jersey with Come Back To Me c/w Everything Will Be Fine claimed by some to be one of the rarest, thus hardest to find, 45s on Stang and seems to sell between £200-£250 as sought after by lowrider scene.
George Wilson [1969] - Everything Will Be Fine [Stang ST 5007]
The Embers Feat. George Wilson [1969] - If You Loved Me [Unreleased]
Now, isn't YouTube a great place! I have managed to find an unreleased track he recorded with The Embers in 1969 posted by Joe Seibert. This is not the Carolina beach group but one from Lancaster PA, a 10 piece group (all white except Wilson) that featured George Wilson (lead vocals), Richard Rankie, Buddy Swords, Tony Mann (background vocals), Michael "Fuzzy" Weirich (guitar), Drew Pontz (bass guitar), Dale Myers (saxophone), Bobby Lynes (trumpet), Bobby Fish (drums), Barry Stumpf (Hammond organ).
I think the full title for the band may have been The Ember Soul Band.
Daddy C & The All-Stars Feat. George Wilson [1983] - I've Been Trying [Llist 303071]
I found this after reading a comment on the YT clip for 'Here Stands' from Daddy C who stated that George Wilson recorded with him in before his death from cancer in 1989. It's a superb cover of the Curtis Mayfield song. George is on backing vocals for 3 tracks (incl this one) on this 4 track 12" E.P. It's actually Thom 'Daddy C' Colson on lead. He gets credit for 'finger snaps' on the other track😃
It was also released on CD 'Daddy's Home' which you may be able to purchase from Thom Colson if you message him on his YT channel DaddyClb although he's not been active on YT for 4 years! His channel is well worth a visit as loads of live videos from the many blue-eyed soul / beach groups he's performed with and comments left by many artists such as the recently demised Ronnie Walker, Ray Dahrouge, Dave Bupp (Magnificent Men) to name just a few on a single post.
The Chell-Mars [1963] - Roamin' Heart [HiMar 505 / Jamie 1266]
The Chell-Mars released Roamin' Heart on Hi Mar in 1963 and it got national distribution by Jamie, although I'm not whether it was actually release as only promoes seem to be around and even the label only scan of the issue I've seen has 'Not For Sale' stamped across it.
The song was co-written by George Wilson and Harold Kern.
The Chell-Mars [1963] - Feel Alright [HiMar 505 / Jamie 1266]
The flip side is 'Feel Alright', also written by George Wilson & Harold Kern, starts off as if it's going to be a deep gospel song and then kicks in with a rocking R&B tune.
1 comment:
Thanks for a great write up about George. I still think of him after all these years.
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