Jackie Wilson was one of the most inspirational artists of his time. Many, including the late great Elvis Presley and James Brown, copied his moves and sounds. In the 50’s and 60’s, Wilson was one of the most acclaimed African American artists. His style of music ranged from opera to R&B and he was able to captivate millions of African Americans as well as many other Americans. Some of his most famous songs include "To Be Loved" and "Lonely Teardrops". Jackie Wilson was one of the greatest entertainers of his time and his story was brought to life at the Apollo Theater.

At first when I walked into the world famous Apollo Theater I did not know what to expect. I had heard of Jackie Wilson, but was unfamiliar with his music. The show begins with a bang, and two opening musical numbers had the audience cheering. However there were some major glitches in the sound so the singers' voices sounded muffled. I thought to myself, " I will not be able to sit here for two hours with the terrible acoustics taking away the good aspects of the performance". However, the performances greatly made up for the faulty sound. The stage actors' voices were unbelievable. They were hitting notes that one would only hear on pre-recorded music. The costumes were very reminiscent of those of the 50’s and 60’s. The shiny suits and bright dresses really brought the characters to life.

One aspect that did bother me though, was the one set that never changed. There was just one big background throughout the entire performance that was occasionally covered. This contributed to the confusion where the characters were at that point – inside or outside.

The musical itself was extraordinary. The actor who played Jackie, Chester Gregory II, was brilliant. He had audience members chanting "Jackie, Jackie" as if he really was the man. His tremendous dance moves, with all the splits and jumping around, made me wonder if he was drinking "Gatorade" in between scenes. Chester's twists and turns brought an old era back to life. You could tell the mainly adult audience knew about Jackie Wilson. However, being a teenager myself, I felt that I could not fully enjoy and feel the same things that the rest of the audience felt. The musical was definitely aimed at a more mature audience who could appreciate every part of the musical. Some parts were cheesy and hard to relate to. But the vocal talents that the singers revealed saved the show.

The story was not really acted out; rather it was narrated by people who were part of Jackie's life. The story did not flow as well as one may have expected it to. There was virtually no plot. However, the crowd participation was unparalleled. Chester would sing to women in the audience and sometimes even called them up to the stage. He gave one woman a big juicy kiss as well as two of his handkerchiefs. Chester caused a frenzy within the female audience when he took off his shirt. Those type of moments kept me on the edge of my seat and laughing hysterically.

Overall, the musical was an educating experience. I learned many things about how African American singers were treated during this era, and about the legend that is Jackie Wilson. He was great during his time, but nowadays he is unappreciated. The actors wanted to make sure that Jackie's legacy lived on and that he should be known as an integral part of Rock and Roll. The Jackie Wilson story is a must see for teenagers, because it gives them a chance to see what their parents and grandparents listened to back in the day. These days atists like Jay-Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent plague the radio waves. The actors want to show us that Jackie was just as important to them, as these artists are to us.

For More Information:

Jackie Wilson Information
The Jackie Wilson Story--The Man, The Music and The Mob