A toast to Tim Wilson, a gentle Southern soul

Terry Meiners, Tim Wilson, and Rachel Platt on the set of WHAS-TV's "Great Day Live" -- November 21, 2012 — Terry Meiners, Tim Wilson, and Rachel Platt on the set of WHAS-TV’s “Great Day Live” — November 21, 2012

Tim Wilson passed away on February 26, 2014 of a massive heart attack. He delighted audiences throughout the midwest and southern states with songs and stories about his crazy life. He was 52 and is survived by his treasured wife Deidre “Sweetie” Wilson and two children from a previous marriage.

He sold more than 500,000 comedy CDs and DVDs, stuffed full of historical parodies, songs about hard times, and Southern culture.

Noting that his wife Deidre is African American and refined him to the ways of the modern world, Tim Wilson claimed to be the only white man in America who voted for both Mitch McConnell and Barack Obama.

Tim Wilson's "Gettin' My Mind Right" CD featured his first wife, a former Israeli soldier. The album title is a takeoff of a line from the film "Cool Hand Luke." — Tim Wilson’s “Gettin’ My Mind Right” CD featured his first wife, a former Israeli soldier. The album title is a takeoff of a line from the film “Cool Hand Luke.”

Tim appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and on the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire. He played clubs across America but always reserved two weeks in April to play Louisville during the Kentucky Derby season.

The rarest sight in the world was an empty seat at a Tim Wilson show.

He was scheduled to return to Louisville’s Laughing Derby club in April.

Tim Wilson, Terry Meiners, Lachlan McLean, and guitarist Scotty Bratcher at WHAS Radio studios, February 2013

Tim Wilson loved music and spent considerable studio hours with Southern musicians like Gregg Allman, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Levon Helm, and Dickie Betts. Jerry Reed supplied vocals on Tim’s song “I Married a Woman Who Talks Like Jerry Reed.”

In recent years, Tim Wilson hired guitarist Scotty Bratcher to be his opening act. Bratcher can make a guitar wail and Wilson repeatedly pitched him as the next Eddie Van Halen.

This song — Heaven on a Technicality — hits home now. If God has a sense of humor, Tim Wilson made it in…on a technicality.

In a serious swerve from comedy, Tim co-authored “Happy New Year – Ted,” a book detailing more crimes connected to serial killer Ted Bundy during his notorious spree in Tallahassee.

Tim Wilson — a comedy icon, lover of history, and gentle soul — will forever bring smiles to people enjoying recordings of his animated antics.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Thanks for being such a supportive, loving friend, Tim. [caption id="attachment_5021" align="alignleft" width="604"] Terry Meiners and Tim Wilson at WHAS Radio, February 2009[/caption]

My favorite Tim Wilson radio bits include his Uncle B.S. stories about a lying relative who inserted himself into pivotal moments in history, Tim’s various car trouble dilemmas, and the nuances of Southern accents.