Alex Wilson (lead ’n’ rhythm guitar, vocals)
Matthew Wilson(bass guitar, vocals)
Marc Wilson (drums)
Influences
Magic Sam, B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T-bone Walker, Tiny Grimes, Charlie Christian, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rodgers, Eddie Taylor, Little Walter, Big Walter, Buddy Guy, Otis Spann, Pinetop Perkins, Sunnyland Slim, Memphis Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Jimi Hendrix, Lee Gates, Stokes, Milwaukee Slim, Jim Liban, Otis Rush, John Brim, Elmore James, Lowell Fulson, Jonny Cash, The Doors, The Beatles, Leadbelly, Ray Charles, Etta James, Martha Davis, Dinah Washington, Mabel Lee, Dorthy Dandridge and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. That's all I can think of off the top of my head for now.
Charlie Musselwhite & The Alex Wilson Band - Movin&Groovin
ALEX WILSON grew up in a family of talented musicians.
Alex's grandmother, Rosa Saviano was a renowned professional jazz singer in Chicago in the 1940's and 50's. Tom Wilson, Alex's father, is a multi-faceted musician who has had the distinct pleasure of accompanying nearly every blues performer to pass through the Milwaukee/Chicago music scene in the last thirty years. Marc Wilson, Alex's uncle AND drummer, is one of the most sought after drummers in the country. He's played with B.B.King, Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Susan Tedeschi, Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers to name but a few.
Alex picked up the guitar at five years old and never put it down. Immersed in the Milwaukee blues scene, Alex was surrounded, and influenced by such local luminaries as Stokes, Lee Gates, Jim Liban and Milwaukee Slim.
Alex formed his own garage band at thirteen. By seventeen he began to dig deep into the blues, learning the songs and styles of masters such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix and Magic Sam.
At seventeen Alex began playing professionally and by twenty-one he had joined Milwaukee's Blue Rubies and was performing regionally while still playing part-time with his own band. Playing up to 25 gigs a month, Wilson honed and sharpened his skills as a singer/songwriter, guitar player and over all entertainer.
In '05 and '06 Alex began to focus solely on his own project, booking shows, finding his own sound and the right players from the mid-west music scene to take his show on the road.
With Alex's uncle Marc Wilson on the drums, and Alex's brother Matthew singing harmonies and playing bass, Alex is running with one of the toughest bands on the scene today. It's no surprise that they won the 2007 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) Award for blues group/artist of the year.
After playing a series of shows for the Chinese New Year in Beijing with Grammy nominated blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, Alex returned to the states to find himself a triple nominee for the WAMI Awards in 2008!
A versatile musician, Alex effortlessly switches between genres. He plays everything from sweet Beale Street blues to West coast swing. From hard Texas grinders to stone cold Chicago grooves with a feeling that's said to be timeless. Alex's style and tasty originals matched with his undeniable stage presence and unmistakable guitar style will drive you to the dance floor.
His long-awaited and freshly nominated debut CD, Tell Me Why, has been released on "Rathskeller Records".
To say that Alex Wilson is one to look out for down the road is an understatement. Taking the Midwest by storm, this young musician is a force to be reckoned with.
MARC WILSON, born in Chicago, raised in Milwaukee, picked up his first drum stick at age 12. With "Stone-Cohen Blues Band" his first band in high school to the "Alex Wilson Band" today, Marc has been in the blues business for 30 + years.
Marc got a solid foundation early on, traveling with an inner-city gospel group, playing churches through out the Chicago/Milwaukee area. Soon after this time, Marc joined the popular regional band "Brian Lee Band".
In 1978 Marc moved to Lincoln, Nebraska and started playing with the "Heart Murmurs", the house band for the infamous "Zoo Bar". At the "Zoo Bar" Marc had the unique opportunity to play with all the great touring blues bands of our time. This is where he met Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers which led his path to Texas, where he toured extensively throughout the US and Europe with "Anson and the Rockets", winning 4 WC Handy awards in 1988. During this period Marc also recorded on Black Top records with many other blues artists.
In 1989 Marc hooked-up with another guitar slinging band, "Mike Morgan and the Crawl" which was also very successful in the US and overseas, and had their tunes recorded on some national TV shows. Marc also played with Marcia Ball while in Texas.
Coming full circle, Marc moved back to his roots in the Chicago/Milwaukee area to play with his old friend, harmonica great, Mathew Skoller and the "Mathew Skoller Band". With family in Milwaukee, Marc also found himself playing with his two nephews in the "Alex Wilson Band". This band is 100 percent Wilson, featuring Marc's two talented nephews Alex and Matthew Wilson, creating a very special family affair.
Marc has traveled to 4 continents and recorded tracks on over 50 CD's which include critically acclaimed records by Anson and the Rockets, Snooks Eaglin , Joe Guitar Hughes, Nappy Brown, Henry Qualls, and Robert Ealey to name a few. Marc also has recorded some tracks on a major motion picture "China Moon".
Marc has had the privilege to play on stage with blues masters, contemporaries and rockers such as BB King, Buddy Guy, Big Walter Horton, Jimmy Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Vaughn, Susan Tedeschi, Boz Skaggs, Donovan, Charlie Musselwhite, and Johnny Johnson, and the beat goes on and on.
MATTHEW WILSON was born in to a world of music. Surrounded by roots music and musicians from the time he was in the cradle, Matthew has led a life of musical privilege. As a small child, he was in regular attendance of the performances of his father and uncle. By 5, Matthew was given drum sticks and had been taught basic rhythms and beats that would only continue to grow stronger with age. These experiences planted a seed that would eventually blossom into a talented, young musician.
With a foundation in the blues, Matthew developed a grade school love of the Beatles. This relationship was interrupted when a friend gave him Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced". Within a year, Matthew formed his first band.
At the same time, Matthew began to frequent his father's open blues jam at Milwaukee's Up 'n' Under Pub, where he began regularly performing with his father Tom and brother Alex. By age 10, he was sitting in, playing guitar and bass and at 14, he became part of the house band, playing with such local luminaries as Stokes, Lee Gates, Milwaukee Slim, Jim Liban and blues legend Hubert Sumlin. These weekly jams are where Matthew first cut his teeth, playing guitar, bass and drums.
In 2006, Matthew began singing and playing bass with his brother, Alex Wilson. Since then Matthew has been privileged to play with WAMI award-winning drummer Craig Panosh, funk drummer and pioneer Clyde Stubblefield, formerly with James Brown, two time W.C Handy award winning drummer AND uncle, Marc Wilson, and most recently with Grammy nominated blues legend, Charlie Musselwhite.
Things have been going very, VERY well for this bright, young musician and the future only looks brighter!
Helloooooooo Alex''' Thanks ya for the New friendship!!! You Betcha I'll be at the slippery Noddle''I just gotta see ya 'You Rock them BLUES!!! GOD SPEED""MY FRIEND!!!!HUGGESSS & KISSES""
Let me know when and where I didn't see them on your space only Wisconsin, Iowa etc... I work Saturday so hope you get a Friday gig not too far from me.
