Soul singer Al Wilson dies

Al Wilson, a soul singer and songwriter who had a number of 1970s hits, including 'Show and Tell' has died at the age of 68.

Wilson died of kidney failure at Kaiser Permanente Medical Centre in Fontana, California, his son, Tony Wilson, said.

“He was always singing,” his son said. “He would call me in the middle of the night with a new song that he had written.”

Wilson was born on June 19, 1939, in Meridian, Mississippi. He sang in the church choir as a boy and had his own spiritual singing quartet. His family moved to San Bernardino in 1958 and he found work as a postman, office clerk and janitor.

He toured for four years with the group 'Johnny “Legs” Harris and the Statesmen' before joining the US Navy.

Following a two-year stint, he moved to Los Angeles and played with the Jewels and their successor group, the 'Rollers'.

A drummer, he also worked with the instrumental group the 'Souls'.

In 1966, he was spotted by manager Marc Gordon, who introduced him to singer Johnny Rivers, who signed him to his Soul City label.

Wilson’s first single, 'The Snake' in 1968, was a hit and was followed by 'Do What You Gotta Do'.

Show and Tell was released in 1973 and the next year was No 1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.

Wilson charted with several other 1970s singles, including 'La La Peace Song', 'I’ve Got a Feeling (We’ll Be Seeing Each Other Again)' and 'Count the Days'.

In addition to his son, Wilson is survived by his wife, Patricia, daughters Alene Harris and Sharon Burley and 13 grandchildren.