Chuck Dee Wilson, passed away on October 16th, while waiting for a liver transplant, he was 70 years old. He attended The University of North Texas at Denton, known for its music program, and still a jazz hot spot. In 1972 he joined Jerry Gray at the Fairmont hotel in Dallas. From 1977 to 1980 he played with Buddy Rich and was then a member of a series of notable big bands including those of Tito Puente, Gerry Mulligan, Bob Wilbur, Loren Schoenberg, Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton and Walt Levinsky. He was in a quartet with Howard Alden and Dan Barrett in the late 80s. After 1996 he led Chuck Wilson and Friends with Alden, Murray Wall, and Joel Helleny. He also appeared frequently in the studio, especially during the 1980s, appearing on clarinet and flute as well as saxophone.
In recent years he could often be heard sitting in with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks.
