[1] He influenced his contemporaries Houston Stackhouse, Robert Nighthawk, David Honeyboy Edwards, and Jimmy Rogers,[5] but he had a greater impact on up-and-coming guitarists, including Little Milton, B.B.

[1] Wilkins became a well-known musician in the Mississippi Delta, and by the early 1940s he took over from Robert Lockwood, Jr. in Sonny Boy Williamson II's band.

[6][7] Through the 1940s Wilkins was broadcast regularly, playing alongside Williamson, Willie Love, Robert Nighthawk, Elmore James, Memphis Slim, Houston Stackhouse and Howlin' Wolf.

"[1][6] Wilkins formed the Three Aces with Willie Nix and Love in 1950 and rejoined Williamson at radio station KWEM, as a result of which he became a member of the studio band at Sun Records.

[6] Charley Booker's final recording was as a guest with Wilkins at a 1973 blues festival at Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana.