Freddie Jackson
2 October 1956, Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. A singer-songwriter, who was especially successful in the late 80s, Jackson was brought up in Harlem, and sang at the White Rock Baptist church while he was still a young child. Later, he worked in a bank before joining the group LJE, along with the singer, songwriter and producer Paul Laurence. In the early 80s, Jackson moved to California and became lead singer with the R&B vocal/instrumental group Mystic Merlin. He sang on their Full Moon, which featured the popular soul/dance track âMr Magicianâ. In 1984, Jackson returned to the east coast where he was spotted singing in a New York club by Melba Moore. After serving as a backing vocalist for Moore, Evelyn âChampagneâ King, and others, Jackson signed a solo contract with Capitol Records, and issued Rock Me Tonight in 1985. Both the album, and its title track, âRock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)â, which Jackson had written with Paul Laurence, made the US Top 20, and also did well in the UK. Subsequent singles from Rock Me Tonight, such as âYou Are My Ladyâ and âHeâll Never Love You (Like I Do)â, proved to be ideally suited for the burgeoning soul club scene on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1986, Jackson duetted with Melba Moore on âA Little Bit Moreâ from her album A Lot Of Love, and issued his own Just Like The First Time, which included three more successful dance sides, âHave You Ever Loved Somebodyâ, âTasty Loveâ, and âJam Tonightâ.
Jacksonâs subsequent albums did not fare so well, and were sometimes criticized for their âsamenessâ. Nevertheless, Donât Let Love Slip Away contained two UK hits, âNice âNâ Slowâ and âCrazy (For Me)â, and Time For Love was given extra interest by the inclusion of guest artists such as Audrey Wheeler, Will Downing and Najee. Here It Is was the sole product of an abortive stay on RCA Records. Jacksonâs songwriting activities, mostly in collaboration with Paul Laurence, resulted in numbers such as âTrust Meâ for Lilo Thomas, âKeepinâ My Lover Satisfiedâ for Melba Moore, and âJam Songâ for Howard Johnson. After an extended lay-off, Jackson returned to the studio to record 1999âs Life After 30.