Melvin Jackson
Encyclopedia
Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (August 16, 1915, Tyler
, Texas
- May 30, 1976, Dallas) was an American
blues
guitarist
. He was a contemporary of Lightnin' Hopkins
.
guitar, and he played early on in a gospel group called the Blue Eagle Four. He trained to be a mechanic
and did a stint in the Army
during World War II
, then decided to pursue a career in blues music. He recorded
a demo
and sent it to Bill Quinn
, the owner of Gold Star Records
, in 1946. Quinn signed him to a recording contract
and released "Freedom Train Blues" in 1948, which became a nationwide hit
in the U.S.
He recorded for Imperial Records
between 1950 and 1954, both as a solo
artist
and with a backing band
. His 1950 tune
"Rockin' and Rollin" was recast by later musician
s as "Rock Me Baby
".
He was hurt in a car crash in the middle of the 1950s and gave up his music career, returning to work as a mechanic. In 1960 Arhoolie Records
had him record a full-length self-titled album
, but he did not make a major comeback in the wake of the blues revival. He died of cancer
in 1976 in Dallas, at the age of 60.
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
.
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- May 30, 1976, Dallas) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He was a contemporary of Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Sam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
.
Biography
Jackson's mother played gospelGospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
guitar, and he played early on in a gospel group called the Blue Eagle Four. He trained to be a mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
and did a stint in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, then decided to pursue a career in blues music. He recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
and sent it to Bill Quinn
Bill Quinn
Bill Quinn was an American actor.Quinn appeared in more than 150 acting roles starting in the 20's in silent films and ending in the digital age in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. He is best remembered as Archie's blind friend, Mr...
, the owner of Gold Star Records
Gold Star Records
Gold Star Recording Company and Gold Star Sound ServicesGold Star Recording Company originated as a recording studio in Houston, Texas, founded in October 1941 by Bill Quinn under the name Quinn Recording Company...
, in 1946. Quinn signed him to a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
and released "Freedom Train Blues" in 1948, which became a nationwide hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
He recorded for Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
between 1950 and 1954, both as a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and with a backing band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
. His 1950 tune
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Rockin' and Rollin" was recast by later musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s as "Rock Me Baby
Rock Me Baby (song)
"Rock Me Baby" is a blues standard that has become one of the most recorded blues songs of all time. When B.B. King released "Rock Me Baby" in 1964, it became a Top 40 hit reaching #34 in the Billboard Hot 100. The song is based on earlier blues songs and has been interpreted and recorded by a...
".
He was hurt in a car crash in the middle of the 1950s and gave up his music career, returning to work as a mechanic. In 1960 Arhoolie Records
Arhoolie Records
Arhoolie Records is a small record label run by Chris Strachwitz. The label was founded by Strachwitz in 1960 as a way for him to record and publish previously obscure "down home blues" artists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Snooks Eaglin and Bill Gaither...
had him record a full-length self-titled album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, but he did not make a major comeback in the wake of the blues revival. He died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1976 in Dallas, at the age of 60.
Legacy
B.B. King coveredCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
Jackson's "I Got to Leave This Woman", on his 2000 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Makin' Love Is Good for You
Makin' Love Is Good for You
- Track listing :#"I Got to Leave This Woman" #"Since I Fell for You" #"I Know" #"Peace of Mind" #"Monday Woman" #"Ain't Nobody Like My Baby"...
.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
covered Jackson's "Travelin' Alone", on his 2010 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Clapton
Clapton (2010 album)
According to review aggregator Metacritic, Clapton received an average of 72 out of 100 indicating generally favorable reviews from music critics, based on ten critiques...
.
External links
- [ Melvin Jackson] at Allmusic
- Illustrated Lil' Son Jackson discography