Jackie Wilson, often hailed as “Mr. Excitement,” was an American soul and R&B singer whose dynamic stage presence and powerful tenor voice helped bridge the gap between early rhythm and blues and modern soul. Rising to fame in the 1950s with hits like “Lonely Teardrops” and “Higher and Higher,” Wilson brought gospel passion and athletic showmanship to popular music. His influence shaped artists from Elvis Presley to Michael Jackson, earning him inductions into the Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues Halls of Fame.