Shadow Wilson

Rossiere "Shadow" Wilson (September 25, 1919 – July 11, 1959) was an American jazz drummer.

Much of Wilson's early work was with swing jazz orchestras. He played with Frankie Fairfax's Campus Club Orchestra in 1936, with Lucky Millinder in 1939, and following this, with Benny Carter, Tiny Bradshaw, Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, Count Basie, and Woody Herman. Later in his career, he played with Illinois Jacquet, Erroll Garner, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Newman, Lee Konitz, Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods, Gene Quill, and Tadd Dameron. The drummer was known to sit in at the famed Minton's Playhouse. His nickname came from "his beautiful light touch with brushes," in the words of bassist Peter Ind. Wilson died of meningitis in July 1959. He never recorded as a leader.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 25, 1919 (Yonkers), Died July 11, 1959 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1943 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-2854 10-in. 12/18/1947 Jet propulsion Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2855 10-in. 12/18/1947 King Jacquet Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2856 10-in. 12/18/1947 Try me one more time Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet ; Russell Jacquet Jazz octet, with vocal refrain instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2857 10-in. 12/18/1947 Embryo Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2889 10-in. 12/19/1947 Riffing at 24th street Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz nonet instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2890 10-in. 12/19/1947 Mutton leg Illinois Jacquet Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2891 10-in. 12/19/1947 Symphony in Sid Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor D7VB-2892 10-in. 12/19/1947 A Jacquet for Jack the bellboy Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz nonet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71818 3/1/1944 How high am I? Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71820 3/1/1944 The truth of the matter Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71821 3/1/1944 Hey! Now let's jive Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 75147 8/17/1949 'Tain't nobody's business if I do Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 75148 8/17/1949 Baby get lost Billie Holiday instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88963 11/7/1955 Theme for a mellophone Don Elliott Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88964 11/7/1955 Vibes impressions Don Elliott Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88965 11/7/1955 Strike up the band Don Elliott Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88966 11/7/1955 Beans again Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88967 11/7/1955 The man I love Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88968 11/7/1955 Foolin' around-1 Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88969 11/7/1955 Time on my hands Coleman Hawkins Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88970 11/8/1955 Alpha Jerome Richardson Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88971 11/8/1955 Misty Jerome Richardson Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88972 11/8/1955 O.W. Jerome Richardson Quartet instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88973 11/8/1955 Tony's blues Tony Fruscella instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 88974 11/8/1955 I can't get started with you Tony Fruscella instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3204 10-in. 10/4/1943 Ration blues Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3205 10-in. 10/4/1943 Is you is or is you ain't my baby Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3206 10-in. 10/4/1943 Deacon Jones Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 3207 10-in. 10/4/1943 The things I want I can't get at home Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  
Decca N 1797 10-in. 3/1/1944 I like 'em fat like that Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wilson, Shadow," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/351214.

Wilson, Shadow. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/351214.

"Wilson, Shadow." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/351214

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