George Jackson (songwriter)
George Henry Jackson (March 12, 1945 – April 14, 2013), was an American rhythm & blues and soul singer and songwriter. He sang southern soul from the 1960s into the 1980s.[1]
Biography
Jackson was born in Indianola, Mississippi in 1945.[2] His prominence was as a prolific and skilled songwriter. He also had a country/soul delivery that made him a southern soul singer. As a singer he recorded a mere 15 singles over a 22-year period between 1963 and 1985.
As a writer, Jackson provided scores of songs for Goldwax and Fame in the 1960s and Hi and Sounds Of Memphis in the 1970s, through to an ongoing relationship with Malaco Records, that saw him pen material for dozens of artists. On top of this he gained commercial success as the writer of "One Bad Apple" for the Osmonds, "Old Time Rock & Roll" for Bob Seger and "The Only Way Is Up", which became a UK number 1 for Yazz and Coldcut, having been written originally for Otis Clay.[3]
As a singer, he had a versatile tenor that was influenced by Sam Cooke. He released many records over the years, for a host of different labels, though often not under his own name. Perhaps because there was no real consistency to the release patterns, or maybe because he was really focusing on being a writer, his recordings never made him a star.[4]
Jackson died on April 14, 2013, in Ridgeland, Mississippi from cancer at the age of 68.
Discography
Albums
- 1991 : Heart To Heart Collect
- 2002 : George Jackson in Muscle Shoals
- 2006 : What Would Your Mama Say
- 2009 : In Memphis 1972-77
- 2010 : All Because Of Your Love
- 2011 : Don't Count Me Out: The Fame Recordings
- 2012 : Let the Best Man Win: The Fame Recordings
References
- ^ "Prolific rock and soul songwriter George Jackson dies at 68; wrote 'Old Time Rock and Roll'". The Washington Post. April 15, 2013.
- ^ [1]
- ^ John Ridley notes to George Jackson in Muscle Shoals, Grapevine GVCD 3003
- ^ Martin Goggin interview with George Jackson, Juke Blues #50