Interview with Terry Wilson

Terry Wilson, born in Warren Arkansas. Raised in Deer Park, Texas just outside of Houston. Formed the band Blackwell in ’70 with John Rabbit Bundrick and recorded for Atco Records. Moved to New York in 1972 with the Bloontz All Stars to record Bloontz debut album on Evolution Records. Toured and recorded with Johnny Nash from 1972 to ‘74. Moved to London, England in ‘74 to play bass on John Rabbit Bundrick’s solo record for Island Records. Then joined Paul Kossoff’s Back St. Crawler on Atlantic Records. Became house bass player for Island Records (as the Texas rhythm section along with Tony Braunagel on drums).

“Hey Marco, I did meet Bob. I think it was around ‘73-’74, backstage in NY. Rabbit Bundrick was out with Free who was touring with Traffic. Bob was with Chris Blackwell hanging: he was very quiet. Seemed pretty shy. Very nice, soft spoken. We only met once. Rabbit played on a lot of the early Bob Marley stuff. Rab had already at that point had worked with Bob. Rab introduced us. I met the earlier version of the “Sons of the Jungle” in NY also when Johnny was touring. I think it was probably ‘72. About the time I had just moved there with our band at the time from Texas. The Bloontz All Star Blues Band. I know. It was mouth full. Tony Braunagel and I from that point after that, when the original “Sons’ broke up. Nash picked up what was the Bloontz band to form a new version of the “Sons”. He brought the horn guys back over from London: George, Eddie, Pete and Wilie on percussion. What a great combination! 3 guys from Texas, one guy from Oklahoma and four guys from Ghana!

We had a great time and it was an amazing learning experience for us. At the time I was not new to the reggae scene. I was just getting introduced to it largely from Johnny Nash. Rabbit was deeper into it because Johnny had taken Rabbit to Stockholm, Sweden to work on Johnny’s film soundtrack for the movie. From there Rabbit met the Free guys and Chris Blackwell. From that point, Chris brought Rabbit in to play on the early Marley albums that Rab did. The introduction to reggae for me…having been brought up in Texas on Texas blues, rock, country and southern radio. Growing up there and what we would hear on the local radio stations. You could hear George Jones, Jimmy Reed, Patsy Cline, Ray Charles and it was all mixed up. I met and started working with Nash in the late ’60s and Johnny started us listening to what he was hearing in Jamaica. It was both strange and exciting for us to try and understand the rhythms and to learn how to play them, especially from a bass player and drummer (Tony Braunagel) point of view. It made a very deep and lasting impression on my playing and understanding of how to break down grooves and dance rhythms. It truly changed my life and playing for the better. I saw the Wailers a couple of times, in London: very deep grooves and an incredible band. The best rhythm section around at the time, bar none.”

Terry Wilson