Melvin Jackson

For the American football player, see Melvin Jackson (American football).
Melvin Jackson
Birth name Melvin Jackson
Also known as Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson
Lil' Son Jackson
Born (1915-08-16)August 16, 1915
Tyler, Texas, United States
Origin Tyler, Texas, United States
Died May 30, 1976(1976-05-30) (aged 60)
Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres Blues
Years active 1946–1955, 1960
Labels Gold Star
Imperial
Arhoolie

Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (August 16, 1915, Tyler, Texas – May 30, 1976, Dallas[1]) was an American blues guitarist. He was a contemporary of Lightnin' Hopkins.[2]

Biography

Jackson's mother played gospel guitar, and he played early on in a gospel group, the Blue Eagle Four.[1] He became a mechanic and served in the Army during World War II, after which he pursued a career as a blues musician[1] He recorded a demo and sent it to Bill Quinn, the owner of Gold Star Records, in 1946.[2] Quinn signed him to a recording contract and released "Freedom Train Blues" in 1948, which became a nationwide hit in the United States.[1] Jackson recorded for Imperial Records between 1950 and 1954, both as a solo artist and with a backing band.[1] His 1950 song "Rockin' and Rollin" was recast by later musicians as "Rock Me Baby".[1][3]

Jackson was injured in a car crash in the mid-1950s and gave up his music career, returning to work as a mechanic.[2] He recorded an LP released by Arhoolie Records in 1960 but did not resume his career as a musician during the blues revival in the 1960s.[2] He died of cancer in 1976 in Dallas, at the age of 60.[1][4]

Legacy

B.B. King covered Jackson's "I Got to Leave This Woman", on his 2000 album, Makin' Love Is Good for You. Eric Clapton covered Jackson's "Travelin' Alone", on his 2010 album, Clapton.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Biography by Bill Dahl". Allmusic.com. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 122–123. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  3. ↑ Broven, John, and Gibbon, Peter (2002). Liner notes to B. B. King The Vintage Years. Ace ABOXCD 8.
  4. ↑ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Accessed May 2009.
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