Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (Austin (Texas), 24 november 1912 - New Britain (Connecticut), 31 July 1986) was an American jazz-pianist who by partnering with, among others, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.
In his youth years Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After this, he began playing in the bands of Chick Webb and Louis Armstrong. In 1933 he joinedBenny Carter's chocolate to Expanded in 1935 to move over to the Benny Goodman Trio (with Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa. A year later, there also still Lionel Hampton to vibraphonist added). This trio initially started only as a studio project, but when eventually it was decided to give Wilson was the first black musician who played gigs with clear colleagues.
Wilson played In the 1930s and 1940s on more than fifty albums. He worked with Lena Horne and Helen Ward and had an important share in the many successes of Billie Holiday. He also played many sessions with influential swing musicians such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.
In 1939 he formed short time still own big band, but during the Second World War , he played mainly in pubs with a sextet. In the 1950s, Wilson founded a teaching at the Juilliard School. Wilson until his death in 1986 was still regularly featured at solo-and guest appearances.