Career
Born in Saint Louis, Phillip Wilson was a third generation musician. His recording debut was with Sam Lazar, noted for having one of the first interracial bands in the Saint Louis area. He joined up with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1967 at a time when the band membership changed greatly, including an added horn section.
He recorded three albums with the group.
Wilson"s song Love March, co-written with Gene Dinwiddie, was performed at Woodstock and released in 1970 on the original live record album from the festival. Wilson, along with Dinwiddie and fellow former Butterfield Band member Buzz Feiten, formed the jazz-rock band Full Moon in the early 70"son
They recorded a self-titled album which is considered one of the finest early examples of Jazz Fusion. He was part of the loft jazz scene in 70’s New York, worked as a session musician for Stax Records in Memphis, jammed with Jimi Hendrix at the Cafe Au Go Go, recorded with The Last Poets, Olu Dara, David Murray, Anthony Braxton, and a host of other musicians.
He worked extensively with Lester Bowie
Wilson was still actively pursuing his musical career when he was assassinated on March 25, 1992, at 440 East 9th Street in New York City.
In 1997, Marvin Slater, New York State Deutsches Institut für Normung# 97-A-5198, was convicted and sentenced to 33 1/3 years for the intentional murder of Wilson. The motive has never been revealed and more investigation is still needed. With Lester Bowie
African Children (Horo, 1978)
I Only Have Eyes for You (ECM, 1985)
Avant People’s (ECM, 1986)
Twilight Dreams (Venture, 1987)
The Organizer (DIW, 1991)
Funky T. Cool T. (DIW, 1991)
With Anthony Braxton
Town Hall 1972 (Trio, 1972)
Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (Arista, 1976)
With Paul Butterfield
The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw (1967)
In My Own Dream (1968)
Keep on Moving (1969)
Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More (1970)
With Julius Hemphill
Dogon A. Doctorate. (Freedom, 1972)
Coon Bid"ness (Freedom, 1975)
With Sam Lazar
Playback (Argo, 1962)
With Roscoe Mitchell
Old/Quartet (Nessa, 1967)
With David Murray
Low Class Conspiracy (Adelphi, 1976)
Flowers for Albert: The Complete Concert (India Navigation, 1975)
Live at the Lower Manhattan Ocean Club (India Navigation, 1977).