Wilson was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1957. He began his music career in the late 1970s, playing in a number of local bands. In 1983, he formed The Sad Café with bassist Sean Kelly and drummer Dallas Frasca. The band released three albums, "Fanatic" (1984), "Misplaced" (1987), and "Nothing New" (1988), before disbanding in 1989.
After The Sad Café broke up, Wilson continued to work as a musician and producer. He released two solo albums, "Ian Wilson" (1990) and "Slow Dazzle" (1992), and also produced albums for other artists, including Paul Kelly and The Whitlams.
In 2002, The Sad Café reunited for a series of live shows. The band released a live album, "Live in Concert," in 2003.
Wilson continued to tour and record with The Sad Café until his death in 2015. He is survived by his wife, two children, and his mother.
Wilson was a talented musician and songwriter who made a significant contribution to the Australian music scene. He will be remembered for his beautiful songs and his charismatic stage presence.