Fitzroy Ernest Wilson (18 November 1951 – 2 November 2021) was a Jamaican reggae singer who found fame as a member of the Clarendonians before working as a solo artist. Wilson formed the Clarendonians in 1963 with Peter Austin, the duo going on to become one of the most popular groups of the ska and rocksteady era, and having several Jamaican number one hits. Wilson embarked on a solo career in 1967, releasing the "Money Worries" single. Further singles followed, with "Undying Love", "Storybook Children", and "If I Were a Carpenter" in 1968 (all produced by Coxsone Dodd), "Private Number" (for Joe Gibbs), and "Freedom Train" (for Lee "Scratch" Perry - one of the first Jamaican singles ever to be released in stereo) in 1969. In 1969, he got back together with sometime Clarendonian Freddie McGregor in the duo 'Ernest Wilson & Freddy', releasing the singles "Sentimental Man" and "Love Makes the World Go Round", and later "What You Gonna Do About It" and "Let Them Talk". One of Wilson's biggest international hit singles, "Let True Love Be", (1976), was done alongside Harold Butler & Four Corners. It was featured on Butler's 1978 album, "The Butler Did It". Wilson was also briefly a member of The Techniques.
He contributed backing vocals to tracks by Beres Hammond, Inner Circle, Jimmy Reid, Jimmy Riley, Johnny Osbourne, and Kiddus I. He was also a multi-instrumentalist, having played piano on the Umoja album as part of the DEB Music Players, bass guitar on Gregory Isaacs' Cool Ruler album, and guitar on several recordings including tracks by Tinga Stewart and Kiddus I.
Wilson died in Kingston, Jamaica on 2 November 2021, at the age of 69.
Links to Peel[]
According to available playlists on the site, it seemed Peel didn't play any of Ernest Wilson and his former band, the Clarendonians on his shows during the 60's and 70's. However, by the early 80's, Peel's track listings started to show Ernest Wilson records being played, with the Clarendonians later joining in the 90's and beyond.
Shows Played[]
- 04 October 1980 (BFBS): Give The People What They Want (7") High Note
- 07 April 1981: Who You Going To Run To (7") Gorgon Records
- 02 January 1985: Why Oh Why (7") Studio One
- 20 January 1986: Why Oh Why (7") Studio One
- 11 June 1986: Every Day With You (7") Techniques
- 24 May 1989: Right Girl For Me (7") Techniques
- 08 March 1990: Them Free Mandela (7") Jammy's
- 20 March 1990: Them Free Mandela (7") Jammy's
- 09 November 1991: Do Dem Sup'm (7") Techniques
- 08 December 1991: Do Dem Supm (7") Techniques
- 07 May 1993: The Night Owl (7") Green Door
- 06 August 1993: 'Rudy Bam Bam (Compilation CD-Rudies All Round)' (Trojan)
- 14 August 1993 (BFBS): Rudie Bam Bam (v/a album - Rudies All Round) Trojan
- 31 October 2001: Rude Boy Gone Jail (v/a LP – Tougher Than Tough) Trojan
- 15 November 2001 (Radio Eins): Rude Boy Gone Jail (v/a LP – Tougher Than Tough) Trojan