Wilson was born on June 23, 1947, on the Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He was the son of a full-blooded Sioux woman and an Irish father. Wilson was raised on the reservation, and he began playing guitar at an early age. He was influenced by the traditional music of his people, as well as by the rock and roll of the 1950s and 1960s.
After high school, Wilson moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. where he formed a band called Sugarloaf with his brother-in-law Craig Fuller and fellow singer-songwriter Michael Omartian.
The group had some success, and recorded two albums for RCA Records, before disbanding in 1971.
Following the breakup of Sugarloaf, Wilson moved to Los Angeles, California where he formed Pure Prairie League in 1972.
The band quickly gained a following, and they released a number of successful albums throughout the 1970s.
Some of their most popular songs include " Amie" , "Fallen Angels", and " Let Me Love You Tonight ".
In 1979, Wilson left Pure Prairie League to embark on a solo career.
He released two solo albums, " Jeff Wilson" (1981) and " Never Be the Same" (1983), but they were not as successful as his work with Pure Prairie League.
Wilson continued to tour and perform throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but his health began to decline in the late 1980s. He was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent several rounds of treatment.
On December 12, 1991, Jeff Wilson died of throat cancer at the age of 44.
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sons.