Born: September 6, 1880, Bedford, Iowa.
Died: April 3, 1950, Los Angeles, California.
Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.
Pseudonym: Fred B. Holton.
Ira was the husband of Myrta Carolyn Wilson.
His older sister taught him to play the violin and organ while still at home. Around 1902, he began studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1905, Wilson went to work for Lorenz Publishing in Dayton, Ohio. His compositions appeared in The Choir Leader and The Choir Herald. He also served as editor in chief of The Volunteer Choir.