“Tim Wilson is a giant among men.” It’s a well-used and over-wrought phrase, but I truly believe those were the first words the doctor said to Mrs. Wilson, after delivering Timothy Collins Wilson on August 5, 1951.
The late-great Tim Wilson died of a heart attack, February 26th in Nashville, TN, he was only 52 years old.
To be fair, anyone that ever saw Tim Wilson perform or heard one of his songs or bought one of his albums or saw him on television… already knew the “great” part. But to those that never knew or interacted with him personally, Tim was also great because he had a kind and generous spirit – and truly basked in the opportunity to sit down with anyone who would engage him in conversation.
Tim was undoubtedly one of the most beloved comedians in Louisville, not just among audiences but among his fellow performers, as well. He called Louisville home for many years, living in the Highlands, only a couple of blocks from Comedy Caravan, his home club; where his annual Derby week shows inevitably sold-out year after year, weeks before he ever took the stage. His peers not only respected, revered, and loved him – but they considered him a friend, no doubt because he always had time to advise or offer a kind word to even the most novice comic in the room.
I take solace, as does the entire comedy community, who got the wind knocked out of them with the tragic news Thursday morning; that our friend Tim Wilson is now somewhere else, on some higher plain of existence, doing what he did best…making people laugh.
So to the always Great, and tragically now late Tim Wilson…we’re all gonna miss ya’, Bud.
**NOTE: The Laughing Derby at Comedy Caravan, will be hosting an informal “memorial” for Tim Wilson tomorrow (Sunday, March 2nd), at 3:30 PM at the club.
