Jack Wilkins

Who is Jack Wilkins?

Jack Wilkins is a guitarist born on June 3, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. He has played with many jazz greats including Bob Brookmeyer, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Heath, Epitaph, and bassist Eddie Gomez, as well as with singers Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, Morgana King, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, The Manhattan Transfer, Nancy Marano and Jay Clayton.

Wilkins was awarded an NEA grant in recognition of his work with the guitar.

Wilkins is a New York City resident; he currently teaches at The New School, New York University, Long Island University, and the Manhattan School of Music.

Wilkins' cover of the Freddie Hubbard standard "Red Clay", from his 1973 album Windows, was sampled by the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest on the song Sucka Nigga, on their 1993 album Midnight Marauders and also by Chance the Rapper on the song NaNa, off his 2013 mixtape Acid Rap. His full cover was subsequently included on the 1998 breakbeat compilation Tribe Vibes Volume 2.