Freddie Jackson, the Harlem-born tenor whose smooth vocals powered one of the most dominant runs in R&B history, has died at 70. His family announced the news Tuesday on his verified Instagram account. No cause of death was given.
Jackson’s résumé is almost hard to process: ten No. 1 hits on Billboard’s R&B songs chart between 1985 and 1992, 35 total chart entries, 19 of them top 10, and four chart-topping albums. His 1985 debut“Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)”topped the R&B chart and hit No. 18 on the Hot 100.“You Are My Lady”followed and became the slow-dance standard it remains today, earning him a 1986 Grammy nomination for best R&B vocal performance, male, plus a nod for best new artist.
Before the solo fame, he sang in a Harlem church choir, toured with Mystic Merlin, and sang background for Melba Moore and Evelyn“Champagne”King. Beyond his own records, he duetted with Moore on“A Little Bit More,”recorded“Love Survives”with Irene Cara for the All Dogs Go to Heaven soundtrack, and appeared on The Golden Girls in 1989.
Tonight, we’re putting together a tribute set, and we want you in it. What’s the Freddie Jackson song that means the most to you? Drop it in the comments and we’ll play it.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.