Billy Wilson

Wilson was born in Philadelphia and received a scholarship at 15 to study classical ballet with Anthony Tudor and debuted in New York in Carmen Jones. After appearances on Broadway, he left the U. S. to perform in the original London musical production of West Side Story. While abroad Billy became soloist with the National Ballet of Holland (The Dutch National Ballet) where the ballet Othello was created for him by Serge Lifar. That ballet established him as an international ballet star.

He married a fellow dancer and became father to a daughter, Alexis, and son, Parker whom he considered to be two of his greatest accomplishments. Another being included in Who’s Who among Black Americans (c 1978). He later became life partner with Chip Garnett until his death. They were together for eighteen years, Mr. Garnett died six months before Wilson.

Wilson, who became an Assistant Professor at Carnegie-Mellon University penned several books and is responsible for re staging and updating Bubbling Brown Sugar which was produced at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, CA.