Post by BROWNJB1 on Mar 28, 2005 22:10:05 GMT -5
I was listening to the American Top 40 show from July 30, 1977 earlier today, and Casey did an update on Jackie Wilson who at the time was in the hospital bedridden from a stroke. Casey mentioned that their East Coast researcher at the time, Alan Kaltman paid Jackie a visit, and Alan mentioned that it was one of the most depressing moments in his life. Casey mentioned that Jackie was unable to move his arm and legs on his own or to speak any words. The story of Alan Kaltman's visit to see Jackie Wilson is mentioned in Rob Durkee's book, "American Top 40, The Countdown of the Century". It is by far AT40's most tragic story. We all know that Jackie suffered a major stroke while performing at the Latino Casino in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in September 1975, and in result, he suffered brain damage and spent the rest of his life bedridden. With the Terri Schiavo controversy happening right now, and in this situation where she had her feeding tube removed, and she has been without food or water for 10 days now and her parents having their request for her feeding tube inserted turned down at least 3 times this past week which has become the biggest live or die case in US history, it had me do some research on Jackie Wilson in terms of his health after his stroke in '75. Last Saturday morning, I was on yahoo.com and I found some information on Jackie's health after his stroke. I found out that he was in a coma for 3 months, but he never recovered from his stroke and died in January 1984. I don't mean to depress anybody, but I had to mentioned Jackie's health, especially after listening to the AT40 show from 7-30-77 and the Terri Schiavo case.