VOICES
everal years ago, the Grapevine/ Soulscape label began reissuing demos Jackson recorded in the late ’70s at the Muscle Shoals Sound studios. Prior to this, Jackson was probably best remembered for his
sole 1972 hit, ‘Aretha, Sing One For Me’. Ironically Jackson didn’t write this track but it was the perfect showcase for Jackson’s easy-going, naturally warm soulful vocal.
More recently, Ace Records have issued scores of compilations from the southern soul genre, many of them either written or performed by George Jackson. The quality of the songs
“Is the Mississippi?” George Jackson hits the road, late ’60s
THE UNSUNG
As a songwriter, GEORGE JACKSON provided hits for artists as diverse as Wilson Pickett and The
Osmonds, yet never became a star in his own right.
PAUL RITCHIE attempts to get to the bottom of the enduring soul legend’s story
Jackson sung, many of them inexplicably unissued at the time, begs the question, whatever happened to the career of a guy who had such an effortless and expressive voice, refreshingly free from any annoying histrionics yet still packed with emotion?
Rewind to the beginning of the ’60s and a young Sam CookE-obsessed singer catches the eye of Ike Turner who releases the debut single by George Jackson called ‘Won’t Nobody Cha-Cha With Me’ on his Prann label. Like many aspiring singer, Jackson is probably dreaming of pulling over on the freeway when his debut single cuts across the
airwaves, marvelling about the day he headlines the Apollo. But it will prove to be the story of Jackson’s stuttering solo career.
A splattering of follow up singles across various labels, confusingly released under a number of pseudonyms (Bart Jackson, Louie Palmer) never really took off despite showing promise. Thankfully salvation arrived as a songwriter, as Jackson’s name became synonymous with both Memphis and Muscle Shoals music and many fabulous recordings across labels such as Hi, Goldwax, Sounds Of Memphis, Fame and Muscle Shoals Sound.
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