The Death of Jackie Wilson

Jackie Wilson collapsed on stage in 1975. Cornell Gunther of the Coasters gave him mouth to mouth and possibly saved his life, but some would question whether that was a bad idea. For the next 8 and a half years, Wilson was institutionalised. By most accounts, he was in a persistent vegetative state. Nat Tarnepal and Brunswick Records did worse than nothing. They lied to Blue Cross Blue Shield, claiming that Wilson hadn't had any earnings from them in the year prior to his collapse. If they'd told the truth, his medical bills would have been covered by the insurance, but they weren't. James Brown sent a $1,000 check, which bounced