He started with the blues in the late 1960s whenhe was a senior at High school. Wilson was tutored by people like Muddy Waters, Jimmie Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Albert Collins, George "Harmonica" Smith, Luther Tucker and Pee Wee Crayton. He was influenced by harmonica players like Little Walter, James Cotton, Big Walter Horton, Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. 1974 he went to Austin, Texas where he and the guitarist Jimmie Vaughan formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds. They became the house band at the blues club, Antone's. There they were the backing band of almost every blues act which came to Austin. In the 1980s they had two hits with "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up."