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Al Wilson, sang hit 'Show and Tell,' dead at 68

The Associated Press

April 24, 2008

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FONTANA, Calif. - Al Wilson, a soul singer and songwriter who had a number of 1970s hits, including "Show and Tell," has died. He was 68.

Wilson died Monday of kidney failure at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana, said his son, Tony Wilson.

The elder Wilson was born June 19, 1939, in Meridian, Miss. He sang in the church choir as a boy and had his own spiritual singing quartet. His family moved to San Bernardino in 1958 and he found work as a mail carrier, office clerk and janitor.

Wilson toured for four years with the group Johnny "Legs" Harris and the Statesmen before joining the Navy. Following a two-year stint, he moved to Los Angeles and played with the Jewels and their successor group, the Rollers. A drummer, he also worked with the instrumental group the Souls.

In 1966, he was spotted by manager Marc Gordon, who introduced him to singer Johnny Rivers, who signed him to his Soul City label. Wilson's first single, "The Snake" in 1968, was a hit and was followed by "Do What You Gotta Do." "Show and Tell" was released in 1973 and the next year was No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.

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