Reuben Wilson's career began years ago in Los Angeles. Reuben is one of those somewhat rare organist who began their professional lives playing the Hammond B-3 organ, without paying any prior dues as a pianist.

Born April 9, 1935 in Mounds, Oklahoma, he moved at age 5 with his family to California, settling in Pasadena, where his school mates included bassist Herb Lewis and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson.

"Except for a half dozen basic lessons with Austin McCoy," says Reuben, "I was self- taught as a pianist. But before I could even get seriously involved with the piano, a friend introduced me to the organ, and I knew this was the direction I wanted to take."

"My original inspiration had been Billy Larkin, of the Delegates. Later, I listened to Jimmy Smith and learned a lot from him, of course."

Around Christmas of 1966, Reuben settled in NY and formed a trio called the Wildare Express with Tommy Derrick, the drummer who also played on Reuben's first Blue Note album On Broadway. During this time, Reuben worked with Grant Green, Sam Rivers, Roy Haynes and Willis "Gatortail" Jackson.

Back in the late 60's, many musicians were reared on "straight-ahead" Jazz. Reuben dug the straight-ahead thing too, but began mixing Jazz with Pop creating Fusion or Funk, which later inspired people like Sly Stone and George Clinton. This new sub-genre called Funk or Soul-Jazz became a hit in London and Blue Note records rode the wave.

In the late 80's, the term Acid-Jazz was coined by DJ's Gilles Peterson, Paul Murphy and Eddie Pillar. They started playing obscure Soul-Jazz records like Reuben's "Gotta Get Your Own", and it became a hit in England, inspiring such acts as Us3, Brand New Heavies and the Young Disciples.

In the 90's, the DJ scene had created a need for a new sound, similar to the same need Reuben felt back in the late 60's. This time it was Us3, Tribe Called Qwest and Nas who sampled Reuben's compositions "Ronnie's Bonnie" and "Were in love" and his version of "Inner City Blues."

With this new success, Reuben was inspired to start working again musically and started writing new compositions and toured Europe, Japan, and North America in 1995, with Guru's Jazzmatazz II.

1997 looks great for Reuben, starting the year off with a gold disc for his compositions on the US3 certified gold album Hand On The Torch, a new son Reuben Jr., and a new recording with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Doug Carn on the Hip Bop follow-up to Organic Grooves. To top that off, Blue Note is reissuing Love Bug and Blue Mode.

If it's funky, and it's a Hammond, it's Reuben Wilson reaching a new generation.