Precious Wilson

Precious Wilson
Born (1957-10-18) 18 October 1957
Origin Spanish Town, Jamaica
Genres Dance-pop, dance, soul
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 1975–present
Labels Hansa Records, Jive Records
Associated acts Eruption, Boney M.

Precious Wilson (born 18 October 1957 in Spanish Town, Jamaica) is a soul singer.

Background

Precious Wilson started out as a backing singer for the all-male group Eruption. The group enjoyed their first minor success when they won a talent competition in 1975, and then went on to record the song "Let Me Take You Back in Time". Shortly after, the lead singer left the group, and Precious Wilson stepped forward to front the band.

The group then relocated to Germany in 1976, and the following year in 1977, while on the road touring in Germany, Eruption was introduced to German producer Frank Farian who booked them to work with Boney M as their backing band, and as their support act on Boney M's first European tour. Frank Farian then went on to Sign them to Boney M.'s label, Hansa Records, Farian released the single "Party Party" but it was their disco cover version of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain" from their first album which broke big, giving them a UK #5 hit and a US #18 hit. After a second album and another hit single with Neil Sedaka's "One Way Ticket" (UK #9), Precious Wilson left the group to pursue her solo career.

Solo career

Wilson's debut single as a solo artist was a cover version of Sam & Dave's "Hold On I'm Coming", released in August 1979. Produced by Frank Farian and set to a funky disco-beat, the single reached #45 in the Dutch charts.[1] The song was also included in Boney M.'s No. 1 album Oceans of Fantasy[2] which also yielded a guest performance by Wilson on the opening track "Let It All Be Music".

She co-wrote the title song of her debut album "We Are On the Race Track", also produced by Farian, was completed during 1980 on Hansa Records. It was released in October, heralded by the single "Cry to Me" which Wilson performed on TV, backed by the band that she created called Sky Train. The single reached number 3 in Switzerland.[3] The album's second single, "We Are on the Race Track", reached #11 there in early 1981.

In October 1981, she released a cover version of "I Need You" which peaked at #6 in Switzerland where her popularity was strong. In Germany, it reached #39. In the summer of 1982, the electro-pop track "I Don't Know" was released, followed by her second album "All Coloured in Love". The album was released with a different track selection in the UK, Italy and France under the name Red Light followed by several different single releases in the various territories.

Hot on the heels of the then Aerobic craze and Farian's success with Sydne Rome's current album Aerobic Fitness Dancing, the theme song "Let's Move Aerobic (Move Your Body)" was rush-released with Wilson's vocals in March '83. Her third album "Funky Fingers" (December 1983), consisting of two side-long medleys of soul standards, was released with minimal support. In 1985, she signed with Jive Records and teamed up with multiple producer teams for the album, including American songwriter, Monte Moir, a musician and song-writer, best known as a member of Prince's band The Time.

The following year Precious Wilson released several singles; launching "I'll Be Your Friend" (a U.S. Top 40 R&B hit), the theme song from the Michael Douglas movie "The Jewel of the Nile",( which was the sequel to the movie "Romancing The Stone"), and "Nice Girls Don't Last" ("Love Can't Wait" in the U.S.). A dance cover of Jerry Butler's "Only the Strong Survive" in 1987, produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. After another of her co-written songs, was the single with "I May Be Right 4U" in 1990, she achieved two major hit singles in the early 1990s with a cover of Sheila and B. Devotion's "Spacer" (a hit single in France, 1992) and a cover of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" (a UK #19 hit single with techno group Messiah, 1992). Since then, Wilson has been touring extensively internationally, and also frequently tours as Eruption featuring Precious Wilson.

She is passionate about singing and performing, and also helps and mentors aspiring singers on their path to success in the music business. Its her way of giving back. Wilson lives in London, the UK.

Precious Wilson is the legal owner of the trademark Eruption.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Chart positions
GER[4] SWI[5] NL[1] UK US R&B
1979 "Hold On, I'm Coming" - - 45 - -
1980 "Cry To Me" - 3 12 - -
1981 "We Are on the Race Track" 11 - - - -
"I Need You" 39 6 - - -
1982 "I Don't Know" 33 - - - -
"Raising My Family" 61 - - - -
"Red Light" (FR) - - - - -
1983 "Let's Move Aerobic (Move Your Body)" - - - - -
1984 "River Deep, Mountain High" /
"Funky Fingers"		 - - - - -
1985 "I'll Be Your Friend" - - - - 40[6]
1986 "The Jewel of the Nile" - - - - -
"Nice Girls Don't Last" - - - - -
"Love Can't Wait" (US) - - - - -
1987 "Only the Strong Survive" - - - - -
1990 "I May Be Right 4U" - - - - -
1992 "I Feel Love" (Messiah feat. Precious Wilson) - - - 19[7] -
"Spacer" (Funky French Guy & Precious Wilson) - - - - -

Filmography

Precious Wilson along with the other members of Eruption, and Boney M were all featured in the 1979 German movie "Disco Fever". She performed 'Raising my family' and 'The night the music died' on programme called Coeur En Fête, broadcast on LIVE on 16 March 1983 channel TSR1, Switzerland, 23:25

See also

References

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