![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() He put together his own band in late 1944, which included Melba Liston, and replaced the Duke Ellington band at the Apollo Theatre when they hit New York. When the Navy sent him to its Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago, he found work in Willie Smith's band. In California, he worked in the bands of Benny Carter, Les Hite, and Phil Moore. He took Sy Oliver's place in the Jimmie Lunceford band in 1939, remaining in the seat until 1942, when he moved to Los Angeles. As a professional trumpeter, his first jobs were with the Plantation Club Orchestra. The family moved to Detroit in 1934, enabling him to study in the noted music program at Cass Tech High School. Wilson started out on the piano, learning from his mother, then taking formal lessons and classes in high school in Memphis, Tennessee. His arrangements influenced many musicians that came after him, including multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy, who dedicated the song "G.W." to Wilson on his 1960 release Outward Bound. His band was one of the greats in jazz, leaning heavily on the blues but integrating other styles. ![]() Gerald Wilson's use of multiple harmonies was a hallmark of his big bands, earning him a reputation as a leading composer and arranger. ![]()
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