Ricky Wilson (American musician)
| Ricky Wilson | |
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Ricky Wilson
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ricky Helton Wilson |
| Born |
March 19, 1953 Athens, Georgia, United States |
| Died | October 12, 1985 (aged 32) New York City, United States |
| Genres | New wave, post-punk |
| Occupation(s) | Instrumentalist, musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1973–1985 |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Reprise, Island |
| Associated acts | The B-52's, Black Narcissus, Loon, Tom Verlaine, The Zambo Flirts |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
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Mosrite Silvertone |
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Ricky Helton Wilson (March 19, 1953 – October 12, 1985) was an American musician best known as the original guitarist and founding member of rock band the B-52's. Born in Athens, Georgia, Wilson was the brother of fellow member Cindy Wilson. The B-52's was founded in 1977, when Ricky, his sister Cindy, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland and Fred Schneider shared a tropical Flaming Volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant and, after an impromptu music session at the home of their friend Owen Scott III, played for the first time at a Valentine's Day party for friends.
On October 12, 1985, at the age of 32, Wilson died from complications related to AIDS following the recording of the band's fourth studio album Bouncing off the Satellites. According to Keith Strickland, the album had been completed and mixed before Ricky's death, with only the cover art not yet designed (an illustration by Kenny Scharf was ultimately decided upon). Devastated, the band went into seclusion and did not tour to promote the album, although did several photo shoots and TV appearances, as well as filming a video for "Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland".
In addition to his work with The B-52's, Wilson played the guitar on the song "Breakin' In My Heart" on Tom Verlaine's self-titled debut album in 1979. This was his only non-B-52's appearance on record. He also appeared in various films, namely One Trick Pony. Posthumously he also appeared in Athens, GA: Inside/Out, The B-52's 1979-1989, and The B-52's Time Capsule: Videos for a Future Generation 1979-1998 through archival footage.
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