A pioneer of the fusion of 1950s doo-wop, rock, and blues styles into the soul music, Jackie Wilson is credited as one of the forefathers of soul.

Admired by Elvis Presley, loved by Michael Jackson, respected by Prince and a host of other artists, Wilson was a two-time Grammy Hall of Fame inductee for his contributions to American music.

Curiously, Gordy used some of the money he earned from the hits he wrote for Wilson to launch the Motown Label and it’s said Wilson’s fusion of smooth pop styles with African-American idioms influenced many of that label’s early successes.

Wilson, possessing repertoire of music ranging from blues, opera, rock and roll, and soul was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 after his death.

Three books have been written on his life, Lonely Teardrops, Jackie Wilson: The Man, The Music, The Mob, The Black King of Rock and Roll.