A fine stride pianist, Garland Wilson spent much of his career in Europe which led to him being underrated. After studying at Howard University, he came to New York in 1929 and played regularly in Harlem for the next three years, recording as a soloist starting in 1931. The following year he went to France as singer Nina Mae McKinney's accompanist, and he played regularly overseas in both Great Britain and France, recording as a leader and with Nat Gonella. Due to World War II, Wilson returned to the U.S. in 1939, where he worked in nightclubs until going back to Paris in 1951. ~ Scott Yanow