Orlandus "Dad" Wilson

Orlandus Wilson (August 27, 1917 in Chesapeake, Virginia – December 30, 1998 in Paris) was one of the longest standing members of the Golden Gate Quartet and the group's bass singer.

He joined the Golden Gate Jubilee Singers in 1934 and only announced his retirement from the quartet in October 1998. Apart from a forced break in 1944 when he was drafted and temporarily replaced by William Langford, Wilson supplied the basis for the quartet. Wilson managed the formation, and supplied a majority of the arrangements and some compositions. His rhythmic feel has been said to be essential to the group's "jump, glide, bounce and swing".

Birth and Death Data: Born August 27, 1917 (Chesapeake), Died December 30, 1998 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal

Notes: Wilson is listed in Victor ledgers as "Arlandus Wilson."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 60 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-042901 10-in. 10/6/1939 Alone Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042902 10-in. 10/6/1939 He said He would calm the ocean Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042903 10-in. 10/6/1939 Hide me in Thy bosom Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042904 10-in. 10/6/1939 If I had my way Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042905 10-in. 10/6/1939 I looked down the road and I wondered Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042906 10-in. 10/6/1939 'Way down in Egypt land Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042907 10-in. 10/6/1939 Our Father Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042908 10-in. 10/6/1939 You'd better mind Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042909 10-in. 10/6/1939 I'm a pilgrim Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042910 10-in. 10/6/1939 Every time that I feel the Spirit Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042911 10-in. 10/6/1939 Whoa babe Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042912 10-in. 10/6/1939 Stormy weather (Keeps rainin' all the time) Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042913 10-in. 10/6/1939 The devil with the devil Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042914 10-in. 10/6/1939 Julius Caesar Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042915 10-in. 10/6/1939 Timber Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-042916 10-in. 10/6/1939 Jonah in the whale Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-046124 10-in. 12/26/1939 My walking stick Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-046125 10-in. 12/26/1939 Darling Nellie Gray Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-046126 10-in. 12/26/1939 What's new? Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-046127 10-in. 12/26/1939 My prayer Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-046128 10-in. 12/26/1939 What did Jesus say? Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-046129 10-in. 12/26/1939 The valley of time Golden Gate Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-051295 10-in. 6/14/1940 Pick a bale of cotton Golden Gate Quartet ; Leadbelly Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and guitar vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-051296 10-in. 6/14/1940 Yellow gal Golden Gate Quartet ; Leadbelly Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and guitar vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-051297 10-in. 6/14/1940 Whoa, back buck Golden Gate Quartet ; Leadbelly Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and guitar vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 60 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wilson, Orlandus "Dad"," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/351208.

Wilson, Orlandus "Dad". (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/351208.

"Wilson, Orlandus "Dad"." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/351208

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