The Jamaica Observer’s Entertainment Desk continues with the fourth in its series during Child Month highlighting some of Jamaica’s young performers who shot to stardom.

Ernest Wilson is hailed by singer Freddie McGregor as one of the greatest vocalists in the history of Jamaican music.

“He was the best. That was my singer. He’s one of the finest to come out of Jamaica…Ernest has lots of singles, but there’s one he did titled Let True Love Be (Your Right Hand Man), and it’s one of the finest pieces of work to ever come out of Jamaica. If somebody listens it and disagrees, then I don’t know what to tell them,” McGregor, longtime friend of the late Wilson, told the Jamaica Observer.

Wilson emerged as a member of ska duo The Clarendonians, during the early 1960s.

McGregor said Wilson’s transition from child star to ‘adult star’ was seamless.

“Sometimes, you see people every day and you don’t take notice of the little things. But, you notice when songs come out there are some differences. When we talk about vocals and voice, talent, that was Ernest. He is magnificent,” he added.

Wilson’s solo career produced other hits such as Undying Love, Money Worries, Storybook Children, and I Know Myself. With The Clarendonians (which included Peter Austin), he had a number of hits at Studio One including You Can’t be Happy, Rudie Gone A Jail, Shu Be-Do, Rudie Bam Bam, and You Won’t See Me.

McGregor and Wilson hail from Hayes in Clarendon, with the latter four years older. McGregor described him as a big brother.

“I was his smaller brother. He was responsible for me during my time when I just moved to Kingston. Both our moms are very good friends, so that tradition continued through us, and he was my teacher. Everything that I know in music, I learnt from him,” he said.

Wilson, who battled personal problems in the last 20 years of his life, died in November 2021 at age 69.

McGregor stressed that although he is no longer here, his impact is perpetual.

“For me, his legacy would be that he’s one of the best singers and songwriters to come out of Jamaica, but didn’t get the chance to show it off on a global scale. In your country, you don’t get the respect you deserve sometimes…I know that was his downfall. Coupled with drugs, he didn’t get to show off his talent to the world,” he added.