Spanky Wilson -

Spanky Wilson (b. circa 1947) is an American soul singer from Philadelphia who released four albums between 1969 and 1975 and worked with Jimmy McGriff, H.B. Barnum, Lalo Schifrin, and Jimmy Smith.

Background

Louella “Spanky” Wilson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Pittsburgh. Her father sang and played guitar with the Four Blotches, a vocal-guitar group named after the Ink Spots. He taught Wilson songs on guitar when she was three or four. Wilson made a private two-song 78 with her father at a Philadelphia music store, with “Knock Me a Kiss” and “Without a Song” on opposite sides.

Wilson entered Pittsburgh club work as a teenager after local musicians recommended her to tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. He gave Wilson her first paid engagement, a weekend stand with brother Tommy Turrentine at a club on Fulton Street. Wilson left club work for family life, then resumed Pittsburgh engagements.

In 1967, organist Jimmy McGriff hired Wilson for a six-week national tour. The itinerary ended that June at Shelly’s Manne-Hole in Los Angeles, where arranger-producer H.B. Barnum heard Wilson with McGriff and invited her to Los Angeles for September sessions. Wilson rehearsed original material for five weeks at the LA home of pianist-composer Howlett Smith. Barnum also booked Wilson for background-vocal sessions with O.C. Smith, Lou Rawls, and Letta Mbulu. Wilson relocated her children to West Covina as Barnum and Smith prepared her first Mothers Records album, Spankin’ Brand New.

Discography: