Precious Wilson

Precious Wilson (born 18 October 1957) is a Jamaican soul singer.

Background Precious Wilson was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. She started out as a backing singer for the singing group Eruption. The group enjoyed their first minor success when they won a talent competition in 1975, and then went on to record the song "Let Me Take You Back in Time". Shortly after, the lead singer left the group, and Precious Wilson stepped forward to front the band.

The group relocated to Germany in 1976. The following year, while on the road touring in West Germany, Eruption was introduced to German producer Frank Farian, who booked them to work with Boney M as their backing band, and as their support act on Boney M's first European tour. Farian then went on to sign them to Boney M.'s label, Hansa Records, and Farian released the single "Party Party". However, it was their disco cover version of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain" from their first album that broke big, giving them a UK No. 5 hit and a US No. 18 hit. After a second album and another hit single with Neil Sedaka's "One Way Ticket" (UK #9), The song was also included in Boney M's fourth album Oceans of Fantasy which also yielded a guest performance by Wilson on the opening track "Let It All Be Music".

She co-wrote several tracks, including the title song of her debut album We Are on the Race Track, also produced by Farian, The album's second single, "We Are on the Race Track", reached No. 11 in Switzerland in early 1981.

In October 1981, Wilson released a cover version of "I Need You", which peaked at No. 6 in Switzerland. In Germany, it reached No. 39. In the summer of 1982, the electro-pop track "I Don't Know" was released, followed by her second album All Coloured in Love. The album was released with a different track selection in the UK, Italy and France under the name Red Light, followed by several different single releases in the various territories.

Hot on the heels of the then Aerobic craze and Farian's success with the album Aerobic Fitness Dancing, the theme song "Let's Move Aerobic (Move Your Body)" was rush-released with Wilson's vocals in March 1983. Her third album Funky Fingers, consisting of two side-long medleys of soul standards, was released in December 1983. In 1985, she signed with Jive Records and teamed up with multiple producer teams for the album, including American songwriter, Monte Moir, a musician and songwriter, best known as a member of The Time.

The following year, Wilson released several singles; "I'll Be Your Friend" (a U.S. Top 40 R&B hit),

A dance cover of Jerry Butler's "Only the Strong Survive" in 1987, produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

In 2018, Wilson was one of 12 co-authors of a book titled Mission Critical Messengers: How to Deliver a Difference.

Her most recent release is a version of the song "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart", released in July 2022.

Discography Solo albums On the Race Track (October 1980) All Coloured in Love (July 1982) – released as Red Light in France and UK. Funky Fingers (December 1983) Precious Wilson (Jive Records, 1986)

Singles Year TitleChart positions GER SWI NL US R&B 1979 "Hold On, I'm Coming" — — 45 — — 1980 "Cry to Me" — 3 12 — — 1981 "We Are on the Race Track" 11 — — — — "I Need You" 39 6 — — — 1982 "I Don't Know" 33 — — — — "Raising My Family" 61 — — — — "Red Light" (FR) — — — — — 1983 "Let's Move Aerobic (Move Your Body)" — — — — — 1984 "River Deep, Mountain High" / "Funky Fingers" — — — — — 1985 "I'll Be Your Friend" — — — 87 40 1986 "The Jewel of the Nile" — — — — — "Nice Girls Don't Last" — — — — — "Love Can't Wait" (US) — — — — — 1987 "Only the Strong Survive" — — — — — 1990 "I May Be Right 4U" — — — — — 1992 "I Feel Love" (Messiah feat. Precious Wilson) — — — 19 —"Spacer" (Funky French Guy & Precious Wilson) — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.