Tim's Top 50

A.L. "WILLIE" WILSON

  No boy ever had a finer daddy

 My father was an elementary school math teacher and

PE Coach who later became a Junior High School

Assistant Principal. He was instrumental in the lives

of many kids in Columbus, Georgia, coaching Little

League and Pop Warner Football and organizing youth

Basketball Leagues around town. He was a College and

High School Basketball referee and worked games all

over. For 13 years he ran a summer day camp for kids

at Lake Walter Richards for the Tom's Foods Co.

employees where he was a lifeguard in the summers,

teaching swimming and life saving. Eventually my

brother took over his responsibilities there and my

father went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education.

 He spent many years training Racking Horses and he

and my sister won many awards showing horses. He was born on a farm on Jan. 23, 1928,in the small community of Napoleon AL, the youngest of 10 children.

 He graduated from Jacksonville State and played guard

on the football team. My daddy started in the second

football game he ever saw.

 My old man was competitive and demanding and would

put your ass to work in a heart beat. He was honest as

the day is long and expected the same out of anybody

around him. My daddy would give you his opinion on any

topic and I often hear my father in a my comedy

routine. After my mothers death, my daddy stepped up

during a traumatic time in his life and expected us to

carry on without excuses or feeling sorry for

ourselves.The most important thing I learned from my

father was that a man never quits taking care of his

folks, ever.

  He passed away in 1990 but he is with me every day.

FLOREED C. "FLO" WILSON

  My mother understood the creative side of me. I

think my mother knew I would end up in show business.

She made sure I had drawing lessons and would force me to take piano lessons. She would would make us watch Porter Wagonner, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, Glen

Campbell and any variety shows that had musical acts.

  A school teacher herself who had also earned a

Masters Degree, my mother used to drag me to her

school and I'd do shows for her classes. She was

basically my first agent.

  My mother was born in Morganton, Georgia in November of 1937. A very pretty woman, my mother was a very likeable and outgoing person. She had lots of friends and made people feel very comfortable around her. She worried about other people more than herself for too long.

 Unfortunately, she also struggled with depression and

after bouts in and out of hospitals, she took her own

life when I was 16. I miss her. She would have dug

going to Vegas.

CHRIS DIPETTA

  My manager for about 20 years. I met Chris after my

first open mic night and he sent me to do my first

paid week of comedy. He is a comedians best friend and

is much more interested in the creative end rather

than the bean counting part of the comedy club

business.

  He has managed Foxworthy, Steve Harvey, Me and Billy

Gardell and alot of other acts over the years.

  Chris is a guy you can trust with your dream.

EVERETT AND FLOYD "EBB&ZEBB" COLLINS

  These guys were my uncles and they were both

accomplished musicians and bluegrass sidemen. As a

team they played the medicine show circuit and later

the Wheeling Jamboree Ebb played with Charlie Moore

and Bill Napier while Floyd worked with Jimmy Martin

and the Sunny Mountain Boys. There is a Picture of

Jimmy Martins Band in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of

Country Music and Floyd is the Comedian on Bass. Both

inspired me when I was little.

DERRILL RICE

  My best friend in life and the smartest person I've

ever met. Derrill is a self made man and through

intense hard work and belief in himself went from a 13

year old employee at Shakey's Pizz , helping his

mother pay bills to the CEO of a major fabricating

corporation. If he had wanted to, he could have been

President of the United States. No Doubt. Helped me

immeasurably.

SANDRA & LA WILLIAMS

  Derrill's Aunt and Uncle who were early patrons of

mine. They helped me finance a recording session when

I didn't have a dime. First Class people.

BOB MURRAY

  My High School offensive line coach. An exceptional

person who carried himself the way I wanted to.

He was an English major at Presbyterian College and I

figured "what the hell" Thats what I'll do.

BOB DURIE

  Junior High chemistry teacher who threw great dinner

parties at his home and would employ me and friends to

play guitars and entertain. He graduated West Point

and was a big supporter of my being in show business.

DR. JAMES A. MONTGOMERY

  My partner in Crime in College. Jim would set up

gigs in bars I wasn't really qualified to play, but we

would pull down $200 on the weekends. When the crowds got bored with the music, I'd do comedy bits to get us

thru. We wrote alot of songs together and Monty was

like my manager. He became a MaxcialFacial Surgeon

and I would sleep at his house later in between comedy

gigs.

ROY YEAGER

  Former Drummer of Lobo and The Atlanta Rhythm

Section. Produced my first real studio session and

introduced me to serious show business.

DEAN DAUGHTRY

  Songwriter extraordinaire and key board player.

Dean is like my brother. He produced my first comedy

albums and I've never made a record without Lean Dean.

STEVE STONE

  Guitarist for the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Served as

my roomate during my divorce days and has played

comedy guitar for me for years. Most honest man I

know.

BUDDY BUIE

  Legendary songwriter and producer. ARS was Buddy's

Band and he has always been very kind to me and my

music dream. He would let me hang in the studio when

ARS recorded and I learned a ton. A Southern Gentleman

would can get tough when he has to. Deep down, I want

HIS job.

RODNEY MILLS

  Engineer#1 and Producer of 38 Special. Rodney Edited

and Mastered all my early comedy CD's and would let me

use his clout to get some great musicians. A real

professional and one of the genuinely best people I

ever met in music.

BILL LOWERY

  Mr. Lowery is the standard by which I judge people

in show business. He discovered and cultivated so much

musical talent. Truly a genius music publisher and

truly a great man.

 

BUTCH LOWERY

  My boss in the record business. Without Butch my

music career never would have happened. Butch is my

Sam Phillips. And one of my best friends.

BUDD FRIEDMAN

  Mr. Friedman invented the Improv and basically got

me to Hollywood for a while. If Bud thinks you're

funny

it helps. Very kind to me.

RALPH EMERY

  In my opinion one of the most underrated people in

TV history. Ralph Emery put me on TV about 30 times

and never once asked me what I was going to say. Great

for Comedians.

BILL TURNER

  Produced the Porter Wagonner Show and Ralphs show.

A very thoughtful man who was a huge help to me in

Nashville. He would always tell me, "Tim, lets keep it

down to 2 hells and a damn this next show"

TOM SOBEL

  Invented the Comedy business in the Mid West.

Straight Shooter. He opened up Louisville Kentucky and

the Kentucky Derby to me and helped me become a draw. Extremely organized and will talk your ear off. No one has helped Tim Wilson more than Tom Sobel.

ROB KERSTING

  Basically worked as my publicist in Kentucky and

helped me become a draw in that area. A really good

friend of mine who understands radio and TV promotion

like no one else. Helped me start this web site.

TOM BECCI

  My Boss at Capitol Records. He saw me in a club in

Nashville and has been treating me like Elvis ever

since.

BETSY MORLEY

  When I become dictator, Betsy Morley will take care

of the details. She has single handedly taught me the

business of the music business. Their is no nicer

human being in Tennessee.

LYNN GANN

  Single Handedly got me my big record deal. He called

me on the phone and started bringing record people out

to my shows. Introduced me to Capitol. A pro music

publishing man and a brave daddy.

CHARLIE CHASE

  A television talent. Always treats me like a friend

and puts you at ease on the air. Highly Underrated.

Seriously pro sense of humor.

BOB & TOM

  Tom Griswald and Bob Kevoian are the best friends

stand up comedians ever had. Tom produced my first

album for Capitol and these guys help us day in and

day out.

JOHN BOY & BILLY

  If it were not for John and Bill I would still be

struggling to get known as a comedian. No body has

taken me under their Radio Wing like these men. They

are like my cuzzins and have been extremely unselfish

with their help. Also Randy Brazell and Jackie Curry

Lynch. Fine people.

RHUBBARB JONES

 Rhubbard put me on the radio when I couldn't get

arrested. If there is a man who has helped sick

children more than Rhubbarb, I want to meet him.

Should be the Governor of Georgia.

STEVE MITCHELL

  A great patron of mine. Helped me edit my first

comedy tape, put me on the radio hundreds of times and

produced my first DVD. A true friend to a comedian

like me.

PINKARD & BOWDEN

  Sandy and Richard recorded the first song I ever had

on a major label. Co-wrote many songs with them. They

taught me alot about the behind the scenes music

business.

STEVE MELTON

  My Right Arm in the music business. I don't ever

plan to make a record without him. Engineer at Muscle

Shoals for 30 years and has forgot more about the

studio than I'll ever know. We produced the All Night

ALL Stars together and will be on the phone with each

other today. My Best Friend.

THE MUSCLE SHOALS SWAMPERS

  David Hood, Clayton Ivey, Larry Byrom, Owen Hale and

and others. These guys make your ideas sound alot

better. Whoever coined the phrase Turd Polishers knows

these boys. Legendary musicians who have helped me

countless times.

DANNY SIMPSON

  My other Brother. Danny and I have written a slew of

songs together and have ridden the interstate no

telling how far. Very little about me that he don't

know about. A 1st Class individual. If I ever run for

president, I'll have to have Danny assasinated.

JESSE DEESE

  One of my favorite people. An accomplished acoustic

guitarist and a born music person. Jesse can will

things to happen. He built a studio in Atlanta and we

would stay up all night working on some syrupy shit

I'd written. I cut the Twang Thang in that studio. Now

he owns one of the premier studios in Georgia, The

Loft in Columbus. Go to war guy.

JIM LIGHTMAN

  Computer genius and a fan of comedy. Jim owns the

Track House in Nashville and has saved my ass on

numerous occassions.

RICK & BUBBA

  Two syndicated radio boys in Alabama who know how

to treat people. Getting famous on the radio is one

thing. Doing it while keeping your soul intact is

another. These two have been some large white soul

brothers to me.

DEWAYNE CAMPBELL

  Dewayne came to my show about 35 times and we

finally went to eat BBQ and now he is one of my best

friends. An expert in Southern Rock and a damn good

singer. He sang on the All Night All Stars with Amy

Helm and taught her the background parts. One of those

people who makes you better.

VEDA RADANOVICH

  Sometimes you just know somebody has star quality

and Veda is one of them. We have been writing and

recording for a couple of years together and one day I

hope what I already know will be true for Veda in

Nashville.

LEVON HELM

  Sometimes God sneaks in and you get to work with

your heros. Levon was kind enough to sit in on two

comedy albums with me playing drums and mandolin.

But when Levon offered to help Steve and I with the

All Night All Stars, it gave us the star power we

needed to get the record made.You'll be shocked who'll

show up when Levon's on a record. A great American!

JIMMY HALL

 If Jimmy had lived in the old west he would have been

a quiet gunslinger. The most professional singer I

ever met and hell on sax and harmonica. Jimmy lifts

everybody up a notch. He got famous in Wet Willie but

he's played with everybody. A class act and a

tremendous person!

BOBBY WHITLOCK

  When I was a teenager I thought I was a Clapton fan.

I was actually a bigger Bobby Whitlock Fan! Layla

changed my life. I wrote my senior term paper about

it. Then a hung out with Whitlock when I was 18 at Studio One for a few days. 22years later he helped me make the All Night All Stars and reminded me why Bobby

Whitlock is my favorite musician. He emotional and

Powerful!!! God made one Whitlock.

EDDIE COLLINS

  My cousin Eddie was one of THE funniest people I

ever met. He built a house with me and gave me loads

of ideas for material. He gave me the title 'Haircut

Malpractice".He treated my children as his own and

made me proud to be a Collins. Eddie, like Levon Helm,

beat throat cancer. But his heart gave out after a

long battle last year. A master carpenter and

fiddle builder. What a person!

BRUCE COLLINS

  My cousin Bruce has been extremely important to my

life and career. Like Eddie, Bruce is funny as hell

and full of enthusiasm. He gave me the title to "Beer

Belly Blues" and has been like a promotion man for me

over the years. Nobody loves music,football,helping

kids and talking to people more than Bruce Collins!

RONIT ZENYA HASSAN

  I was married to her for about 14 years and she made

countless sacrifices for my little career. She told me

to put the guitar into my act and talked me into

making my 1st comedy album. Ronit helped me

immeasurably. Mother of my kids! She's the beautiful

model on the cover of "Gettin My Mind Right".

SOPHIA WILSON

  My beautiful and talented daughter. She is in acting

school in New York. She'll tell me the truth!

ARI WILSON

  Eight Year Old Heir to the Empire!

LYNN WILSON

  My sister, who is the brains of the outfit! She is

an actress and an attorney in L.A.. She worked in

business affairs at FOX for about 15 years and at DMX

Radio and Disney! She appears in Adam Sandler's

"Little Nicky" as the lady at the end with the baby

stroller whose baby turns into a midget and attacks

her.

TONY WILSON

 My brother who travels with me selling merchandise

after 25 years in the Ambulance business. He has saved

no telling how many peoples lives over the years. Now

he lives in Nashville,enjoying some peace and country

music. Alot of my songs I wrote specifically to make

him laugh.

DEIDRE ELAINE WILSON

  The woman I will live with and love the rest of my

life!

BRIAN DORFMAN

  Owns Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville! Makes you feel

like Richard Pryor. Has helped me and my family over

the years! Got me a lawyer when a show went a little

south one night! I hope my daughter marries his kid!

MARK DORMINY

  Worked with me at Southern Tracks with Butch.

A chemist, a musician, and computer whiz who digs

helping musical comedians with album covers and

whatever needs doing.

You rarely run into people who lift you up like

Dorminy can!

RICK KNIGHT

  Legendary Macon Radio Man! It's embarrassing how

much Rick Knight has played my records! Good guy who

can keep your show biz ass in perspective.

GERRY MARSHALL & LAURA STARLING

  Morning Radio folks in Macon who treat you like

gold! Gerry edited my reunion bit to help it get more air

play! Laura Starling oughta be running Nashville! She

is my sister in Middle Georgia!

TERRY MEINERS

  LOUISVILLE'S WHAS has my favorite talk show host.

Terry is such a staple in Louisville he could run for

mayor or governor and win, if he wanted to take a pay

cut. The Prince of Kentucky!

KERRI COATES

  My new webmaster who is a sweet heart and an expert

at explaining modern technology to stupid comedians

who are living in 1977. I always save the great ones

for last!