Wilson, Teddy

Wilson, (Theodore Shaw) Teddy

(1912–86) jazz musician; born in Austin, Texas. He was a brilliant pianist who became the first black musician to work with a prominent white band when he joined Benny Goodman in 1936. He led numerous all-star recordings in the 1930s, fronted a big band and combo in the 1940s, worked on the staff of CBS in the 1950s, and free-lanced as a soloist and conservatory teacher thereafter.