Freddie Jackson, whose smooth tenor produced ten number-one R&B hits in the 1980s and early 1990s, has died at the age of 70. His family announced his death on Tuesday. He was best known for “Rock Me Tonight” and the Grammy-nominated “You Are My Lady”.
The R&B singer Freddie Jackson has died at the age of 70, Billboard reported.
He died on October 5, three days after his birthday. His family announced the news on Tuesday, October 6, through his verified Instagram account. No cause of death was given.
The Family’s Statement
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night,” the statement said.
“Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends and his music with everything he had.”
It added: “To everyone who ever sang along, danced or felt something when Freddie took the stage: thank you.”
His Career in Numbers
- 10 number-one singles on Billboard’s R&B chart between 1985 and 1992
- 35 entries on that chart in all, 19 of them in the top 10
- Four number-one R&B albums: Rock Me Tonight, Just Like the First Time, Don’t Let Love Slip Away and Do Me Again
- Two Grammy nominations in 1986, for best new artist and best male R&B vocal performance
From Harlem to the Charts
Jackson was born in Harlem, New York, on October 2, 1956, and began singing in his church choir.
There he met Paul Laurence, who later became his producer and songwriting partner. Jackson sang in Laurence’s group in New York clubs before moving west in the late 1970s to join the California funk band Mystic Merlin.
Back in New York, he worked on demos and as a backing vocalist for Melba Moore, Evelyn “Champagne” King and Angela Bofill.
His solo breakthrough came with Capitol Records in 1985. “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” reached number one on the R&B chart and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Hits
His number ones included “You Are My Lady”, “Tasty Love”, “Have You Ever Loved Somebody”, “Jam Tonight”, “Love Me Down” and “A Little Bit More”, his duet with Melba Moore.
A Tribute
“My heart is broken over the loss of a great singer and even a greater friend, Freddie Jackson,” Moore said in a statement. She recalled that when they recorded together “his sense of humor had me laughing during the sessions”, and added: “I will forever miss my dear friend.”
Later Years
Jackson continued to record into the 2000s and remained a popular concert and festival performer.
He also sang on the soundtrack of the 1989 film All Dogs Go to Heaven, appeared in an episode of The Golden Girls and had a cameo in the 1990 film King of New York.
His family said details of arrangements would be shared in the coming days.
Image: The Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, the neighbourhood where Freddie Jackson was born (file photo). Photo by Phileven via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
