So, there I was, scrolling through some old music videos on YouTube, when I stumbled upon New Birth's "I Can Do Anything to You." You remember them, right? The funk band that had us grooving in the '70s. Anyway, I'm watching this video, and suddenly, I'm struck by how young Leslie Wilson looks. I mean, the guy was the lead singer, and he seemed like he was barely out of his teens!
Now, I know what you're thinking. "How old could he have been? He looked like a baby!" Well, that's what I wanted to find out. So, I did what any curious cat would do in the 21st century - I hit the internet.
Digging Through the Archives
First stop, Wikipedia. Now, I know, I know, it's not the most reliable source, but it's a starting point. And guess what? It didn't have Leslie Wilson's birthdate. Shocking, I know. So, I had to dig deeper.
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Next, I checked AllMusic. They had a brief bio on New Birth, but no birthdate for Leslie. I was starting to feel like a detective in one of those old noir movies. You know, the ones where the detective smokes a cigarette and says, "I'm getting close, I can feel it."
Finally, a Breakthrough
Then, I found it. A website dedicated to New Birth. And there it was, in black and white - Leslie Wilson was born on August 27, 1952. I felt like I'd just solved the case of the missing birthdate.
So, let's do the math. New Birth formed in 1970, when Leslie was just 18. That's right, folks. Leslie Wilson was a teenager when he started singing lead for New Birth. No wonder he looked so young in those videos!
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Why Does It Matter?
You might be wondering, "Why does it matter how old Leslie Wilson was?" Well, it matters because it's a piece of the puzzle that is New Birth's history. It's a reminder that sometimes, talent doesn't wait for age. It also makes you appreciate the music even more, knowing that it was created by such young, talented individuals.
Plus, it's just fun to solve a little mystery, isn't it? It's like finding a hidden treasure. And in this case, the treasure is a bit of knowledge about one of the funk era's most talented singers.
So, there you have it. Leslie Wilson was 18 when he started singing for New Birth. Isn't that something? Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some funky tunes to listen to. Until next time, keep questioning, keep exploring, and keep grooving!