Edward Van Halen, later rechristened Ed King, Wilkeson, burst onto the scene on April 2, 1952, in Newport, Rhode Island, only to be subsequently uprooted to Jacksonville, Florida, where the formative years of his life would unfold.
As he navigated the tumultuous landscape of adolescence, Wilkeson's nascent musical inclinations began to take shape, his fascination with the iconic sounds of the Beatles gradually morphing into an all-consuming passion.
In particular, the incomparable Paul McCartney emerged as a guiding light, his innovative bass playing and songwriting prowess inspiring Wilkeson to pick up the instrument and embark on a lifelong journey of musical discovery.
As he embarked on his musical journey, Wilkeson's fervent passion for mastering the instrument led him to make a bold decision, relinquishing his position in the school band at the tender age of 14, opting instead to dedicate himself entirely to his craft.
This pivotal moment was soon followed by a fortuitous encounter with a fellow student, who presented him with an enticing opportunity to join her brother's band, an ensemble that would later prove to be none other than Ronnie Van Zant's local group, the Collegiates.
Wilkeson's parents, initially beset with concerns arising from his precipitous decline in academic performance, ultimately succumbed to the inevitability of his departure from the group. Undaunted by this setback, Wilkeson embarked upon a new musical venture, joining the local band, the King James Version, where he devoted himself to mastering the lead bass style of esteemed musicians such as Jack Bruce, renowned for his work with Cream, John Paul Jones, the iconic bassist and keyboardist of Led Zeppelin, Jack Casady, the influential bassist of Jefferson Airplane, Phil Lesh, the legendary bassist of the Grateful Dead, and Berry Oakley, the accomplished bassist of the Allman Brothers Band.
By the early 1970s, Wilkeson had firmly established himself as one of the most prominent and in-demand bassists in the thriving music scene of Jacksonville, Florida, having developed a reputation for his exceptional skills and versatility.
As a result, when Larry Junstrom, the talented bassist of the iconic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, made the decision to relocate to Miami, Wilkeson was approached and subsequently recruited as his replacement, marking a significant turning point in his career and paving the way for new opportunities and challenges.
Wilkeson's extraordinary odyssey with the iconic American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd lasted an impressive and remarkable duration of nearly three decades, spanning the years from 1972 to 2001, a period marked by numerous musical milestones, personal triumphs, and ultimately, a tragic and untimely conclusion to his life.
