The Last Teardrop Has Fallen:
The Life of Bobby Wilson Bobby Wilson revives the musical legacy of his father, Jackie Wilson, against all odds. By Wayne Trujillo
Jackie Wilson Bobby Wilson
The Last Teardrop is a doc-
umentary about the remarkable journey of Bobby Wilson, a singer who gained critical acclaim for his uncanny impersonation of R&B soul singer, Jackie Wilson. Directed by Tony Grier, it is a story of redemption that discusses the complexities of the foster care and adoption systems in America. Riddled with anomaly and irony, the film features two protagonists – one whose story begins in a foster home, and another whose story ends in a nursing home. The story that ends in a nursing home is that of Jackie, a legendary name in the music world. The one that begins in a foster home follows Bobby, Jackie’s son, who lived decades of his life as Bobby Brooks, unaware of his paternal lineage even as he made a living emulating it. The intertwined stories swing between episodes of happiness and heartbreak; adulation and abandonment. The Last Teardrop, a title that suggests eventual respite from an emotionally tolling experience, is a
Bobby Wilson Bobby Wilson performing Bobby’s
fascinating excursion into paradoxical extremes. Viewers will encounter the drama and dazzle of Jackie’s life and artistry with all the expected riches, rags, and heartache associated with midcentury stardom. Yet, the talent, tenacity, and redemption threaded throughout Bobby’s story will make an unexpected impression and provide a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in the life of the famed singer. Jackie is no longer present to testify to the soaring highs and searing bottoms of his personal and professional travels, but during a brief break from a whirlwind tour, Bobby managed to share bits of his story in advance of a Dec. 4 documentary screening at Denver’s AMC Dine-In movie theater at the Cherry Creek Mall. If his father’s fate matches the song titled, “Lonely Teardrops,” then
continuing saga resembles the grit and grace of Mahalia Jackson’s “How I Got Over.” The Last Teardrop is ultimately about triumph, despite the tragedy passed on to several of Jackie’s children during the course of his life. He lost a teenage son and daughter, who hadn’t yet reached middle age, to gun violence in two separate incidents. Another daughter suffered a fatal heart attack at age 24. Bobby’s journey could have ended in a similarly tragic fashion, but due to a series of alternate paths – more happenstance than a calculated means of survival – he embarked on a journey that has spanned the globe, with no plans of stopping or slowing down. In addition to being appreciative of his apparent good fortune, he is eager – even anxious – to share his experiences and the hope they’ve instilled.
Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – November 2023
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By simultaneously following and avoiding his father’s footsteps, Bobby shares his life’s joy and pain through song and dance. As countless performers can attest, Jackie is a hard act to follow. Known as “Mr. Excitement” in the 1950’s, his thrilling stage presence, suggestive dance moves and fouroctave vocal range wowed audiences and marked the transition from R&B to pop music. Bobby assumes the challenge of following his father’s performances with all the confidence and coolness of the original. Today, Bobby entertains international audiences for a living. He gives an astoundingly accurate impersonation of his late father, and not only physically resembles Jackie, but resurrects the voice and music that propelled him to fame. For friends and fans of Jackie, Bobby is the icon incarnate. To those who weren’t alive when the legend last boogied across stages half a century ago, the performance is a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon that they wouldn’t ever have experienced otherwise. Despite the striking similarities between father and son, it would be flawed to label Bobby a copycat. Physical and performance resemblances aside, Bobby inherited his father’s artistic temperament, with an innovative streak that disallows him from remaining in one place or act for long. While Bobby revives the memory and moves of his deceased father, he moves beyond the spectacular on-stage parameters and boosts each per-
