Tim Wilson (comedian)

Timothy Collins Wilson (August 5, 1961 – February 26, 2014) was an American comedian and country music artist, whose act combined stand-up comedy and original songs.[1]

Tim Wilson
Birth nameTimothy Collins Wilson
Born(1961-08-05)August 5, 1961
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 2014(2014-02-26) (aged 52)
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
GenresCountry, comedy, parody
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, comedian
InstrumentsVocals, acoustic guitar
Years active1984–2014
LabelsSouthern Tracks, Capitol Nashville
Associated actsJeff Foxworthy, Toby Keith, Pinkard & Bowden, Billy Gardell

He released more than a dozen comedy albums, including several for Capitol Records Nashville, and made frequent appearances with Wilhite and Wall, John Boy and Billy, Big D and Bubba and Bob and Tom Show. Wilson also appeared on numerous television programs, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and American Revolution Country Comedy on CMT. In 2011, Wilson appeared on CMT's Ron White's Comedy Salute to the Troops.

In 2012, Wilson appeared on the Showtime comedy special, Billy Gardell's: Road Dogs, with Gardell hosting along with comedians Ben Creed and Kenny Rogerson.[2]

Life and career

Wilson was born August 5, 1961, in Columbus, Georgia, and attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, as an English major.[3] His parents were school teachers. He was a self-described libertarian, and sometimes included his political standpoints in his comedy routines.[4] He co-wrote several parodies for the 1980s comedy duo Pinkard & Bowden, as well as comedian Jeff Foxworthy's 1996 single "Redneck 12 Days of Christmas."[1] He wrote and recorded the novelty songs "Garth Brooks Has Ruined My Life" and "The Ballad of John Rocker."[5]

Wilson began his recording career in Atlanta, on the Southern Tracks label with music publisher Bill Lowery. Members of the Atlanta Rhythm Section played on many of Wilson's early recordings, with ARS keyboardist Dean Daughtry producing.[1] Wilson later recorded extensively in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. He co-produced Allnight Allstars with Muscle Shoals engineer Steve Melton. The project appeared on Capitol Nashville and includes Levon Helm, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Hall, Bobby Whitlock, and members of both the Atlanta Rhythm Section and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.[6]

In 2009, Wilson and Roger Keiss wrote a detective book entitled Happy New Year – ted, about serial killer Ted Bundy.[7] He can be heard discussing his research and his book in great detail while visiting the Off The Air Podcast, hosted by Chick McGee of the Bob and Tom Show.

Wilson was posthumously inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in September 2015.[8]

Death

Wilson died of a heart attack on February 26, 2014. Early reports stated that he died in Nashville, Tennessee; however, his longtime friend and manager Chris Dipetta clarified that he had been traveling, but had made it to his hometown of Columbus, Georgia, before he died.[9] More details from the referenced story state: "Wilson, 52, drove to Columbus from a gig in Michigan to visit his brother en route to a weekend show in Birmingham, Ala. when he started feeling ill, said Dipetta, who worked with Wilson for 30 years. Dipetta continued, "I talked to him yesterday afternoon and he said he felt bad, was short of breath, and I said, "get to the hospital now!" Wilson's brother rushed him to a nearby hospital and Wilson suffered a massive heart attack and died at 9:15 p.m. Wilson left behind his wife and two children.[10][11]

Tribute show

On May 9, 2014, The Bob and Tom show sponsored a tribute comedy show to honor Wilson and help provide an education for his son.[12] This three-and-a-half-hour show was presented at the Paramount Theatre (Anderson, Indiana). The announced lineup included the Bob and Tom show personalities (Bob Kevoian, Tom Griswold, Kristi Lee, and Chick McGee), as well as Dr. Gonzo, Heywood Banks, Drew Hastings, and Donny Baker. Surprise guests were introduced during the show and included, Duke Tumatoe, Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee, Rickey Rydell and Scotty Bratcher. Additional music talent was provided by Steve Allee, keyboard and PJ Yinger, trumpet. Additionally, Bob Kevoian did an emotional solo performance of a Tim Wilson tribute song on ukulele. Wilson's last appearance on The Bob and Tom Show was on December 10, 2013.

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Country US Comedy US Heat
Waking Up the Neighborhood
  • Release date: July 26, 1994
  • Label: Southern Tracks
Tough Crowd
  • Release date: July 15, 1995
  • Label: Southern Tracks
Low-Class Love Affair
  • Release date: September 18, 1995
  • Label: Southern Tracks
Tuned Up
  • Release date: May 6, 1997
  • Label: Southern Tracks
It's a Sorry World 44 31
Road Comedy 101
  • Release date: February 16, 1999
  • Label: Southern Tracks
Gettin' My Mind Right
  • Release date: October 5, 1999
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
28 28
Hillbilly Homeboy
  • Release date: June 6, 2000
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
48
I Should've Married My Father-In-Law
  • Release date: October 23, 2001
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
64
Super Bad Sounds of the 70's
  • Release date: May 20, 2003
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
57
The Real Twang Thang
  • Release date: January 25, 2005
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
11
Church League Softball Fistfight
  • Release date: November 22, 2005
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
12
But I Could Be Wrong
  • Release date: March 20, 2007
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
61 4 42
Mr. Wilson Explains America
  • Release date: October 20, 2009
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
13
Caffeine Wired, Nervous & Pale
  • Release date: June 11, 2013[13]
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak positions
US Country
Songs for the Musically Disturbed:
His (Almost) Greatest Hits
  • Release date: November 26, 1996
  • Label: Southern Tracks
Certified Aluminum: His Greatest
Recycled Hits, Volume 1
  • Release date: August 13, 2002
  • Label: Capitol Nashville
62
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
1993 "Garth Brooks Has Ruined My Life" 70 Tough Crowd
2000 "The Ballad of John Rocker" 66 Hillbilly Homeboy
2002 "The Jeff Gordon Song" Certified Aluminum
2003 "Booty Man" Super Bad Sounds of the 70's
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. Ankeny, Jason. "Tim Wilson biography". Allmusic. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  2. "Clean and Sober Comedy!". Recoverycomedy.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 472. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  4. "Tim Wilson – Libertarian". TheAdvocates.org. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 377. ISBN 0-89820-203-5.
  6. "ALL NIGHT ALL STARS". Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  7. Kinslow, Gina (August 6, 2009). "Comedian Tim Wilson to perform at Plaza Saturday". Glasgow Daily Times. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  8. Associated Press. "Georgia Music Hall of Fame inducts Gregg Almman, 8 others". savannahnow.com. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  9. Fernandez, Maria Elena (February 27, 2014). "Comedic country singer Tim Wilson dies at 52". NBC News. Today. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  10. Stallings, Amy (February 27, 2014).Report: Comedian Tim Wilson dies after suffering heart attack Archived March 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine whas11.com; retrieved February 27, 2014.
  11. "Join us for the Tim Wilson Benefit Show". bobandtom.com. April 21, 2014. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  12. "Caffeine Wired, Nervous & Pale by Tim Wilson on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
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