Probably best known for his work with Benny Goodman, pianist Teddy Wilson was born on November 24, 1912 in Austin, Texas. During his career he also played with Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and worked as a leader for more than fifty years. Wilson was one of the first Black musicians to be featured with predominantly white groups.

Teddy Wilson studied piano at the Tuskegee Institute and had early gigs with Spud Webb, Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter before being hired to play piano in Benny Goodman’s trio in 1935. The group later expanded to a quartet including Wilson, Goodman on clarinet, drummer Gene Krupa and vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. This group played during intermissions at performances by the hugely popular Benny Goodman Orchestra during the mid and late 1930s.

After leaving Goodman's employ Wilson briefly led his own big band but spent most of his time working in small group settings with some of the giants of the swing era including Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Lester Young, Buck Clayton and Red Norvo. He also was supportive of left-wing causes and played at fund raising events for Russian War Relief during World War II. Wilson appeared as himself in a few films and was for a time the music director for the Dick Cavett television program.

Later in life Teddy Wilson taught at Julliard and received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in 1979. Wilson was known for his light touch and elegance at the piano and was influential for many later keyboard artists. He died of cancer in 1986 at the age of 73.

Here is a link to Teddy Wilson playing the standard All of Me with his trio:

"ALL OF ME"