William E. (Will) Jackson
Encyclopedia
William E. Jackson served with Greenpeace
in its early years (1975–77), as crew member on the first anti-whaling
expedition, and as cofounder of Greenpeace San Francisco (the first GP chapter after Vancouver, BC). A pioneer synthesizer player (Serge
, Buchla
, Moog
), Jackson was aboard the Greenpeace V as part of the media campaign to demonstrate whale intelligence, and to disrupt Russian whaling. He was one of six persons out of a rotating pool of 35 to remain aboard throughout the expedition. Bob Hunter, cofounder and first president of Greenpeace, credits Jackson with saving him from drowning at Triangle Island.
Following on the success of that voyage, Jackson opened the San Francisco office of Greenpeace. With the assistance of Fund for Animals (Cleveland Amory, Virginia Handley), and eco-filmmaker Stan Minasian. Jackson launched a grassroots media campaign, struggling from a South-of-Market condemned hotel to gain volunteers and donations, in preparation for the first anti-sealing expedition, and the follow-up whale expedition of 1976. (Three years after he left, the chapter was embroiled in a lawsuit with Vancouver over a million dollars and rights; the outcome being the formation of today’s Greenpeace International). These accounts and others are referenced in Robert Hunter's book, Rex Weyler’s Greenpeace (Rodale 2004), the Hunter-Weyler collaboration To Save A Whale (Chronicle Books 1978), and The Greenpeace Story (Dorling Kindersley 1989).
Prefacing his Greenpeace years, in 1970 as a multimedia artist he won a scholarship to California Institute of the Arts
, but then lost it when he offended his mentor Allen Kaprow. He moved on to Serge Tcherepnin
's CalArts synthesizer workshop, and co-founded electronic music groups Cellar M with Naut Humon
, and 'TO' with Z'EV
. Later he performed with Ethership (Willard Van De Bogart, Lemon DeGeorge). Notably, he played synthesizer "whale music" with saxist Paul Winter aboard the GP-5, and at the "Save The Seas International Music Benefit", International Trade Center, Tokyo 1977, with Z'EV.
In the 1980s Jackson became interviewer/program producer for Miss Wire Waist of KPFK
's Sounds of Jamaica (L.A.); and published Jah Guide reggae culture magazine. He recorded, published and broadcast speeches on apartheid by Jesse Jackson
, Michael Manley
, and Bishop Desmond Tutu
; and interviews with Steel Pulse
, Burning Spear
, Big Youth
, Mutabaruka
, Ras Michael
and Peter Tosh
. Meanwhile, he managed a 25-year career as a maritime seaman, union captain, and then fatherhood. In 2003 he authored the reggae novel Flight From Babylon (Infinity). His second novel and Greenpeace memoirs are forthcoming.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
in its early years (1975–77), as crew member on the first anti-whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
expedition, and as cofounder of Greenpeace San Francisco (the first GP chapter after Vancouver, BC). A pioneer synthesizer player (Serge
Serge synthesizer
The Serge synthesizer is an analogue modular synthesizer system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin at CalArts in the 1970s and originally produced by Tcherepnin's Serge Modular Music Systems company.Serge synthesizers have been used by composers such as Michael Stearns and Kevin Braheny The...
, Buchla
Buchla
Buchla & Associates, Inc. is a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, notably synthesizers and unique MIDI controllers. The 200e Electric Music Box and Lightning III are currently in production.-Buchla Music Box :...
, Moog
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
), Jackson was aboard the Greenpeace V as part of the media campaign to demonstrate whale intelligence, and to disrupt Russian whaling. He was one of six persons out of a rotating pool of 35 to remain aboard throughout the expedition. Bob Hunter, cofounder and first president of Greenpeace, credits Jackson with saving him from drowning at Triangle Island.
Following on the success of that voyage, Jackson opened the San Francisco office of Greenpeace. With the assistance of Fund for Animals (Cleveland Amory, Virginia Handley), and eco-filmmaker Stan Minasian. Jackson launched a grassroots media campaign, struggling from a South-of-Market condemned hotel to gain volunteers and donations, in preparation for the first anti-sealing expedition, and the follow-up whale expedition of 1976. (Three years after he left, the chapter was embroiled in a lawsuit with Vancouver over a million dollars and rights; the outcome being the formation of today’s Greenpeace International). These accounts and others are referenced in Robert Hunter's book, Rex Weyler’s Greenpeace (Rodale 2004), the Hunter-Weyler collaboration To Save A Whale (Chronicle Books 1978), and The Greenpeace Story (Dorling Kindersley 1989).
Prefacing his Greenpeace years, in 1970 as a multimedia artist he won a scholarship to California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
, but then lost it when he offended his mentor Allen Kaprow. He moved on to Serge Tcherepnin
Serge Tcherepnin
Serge Tcherepnin is an American composer and electronic-instrument builder of Russian-Chinese origin. He created the Serge Modular synthesizer.-Biography:...
's CalArts synthesizer workshop, and co-founded electronic music groups Cellar M with Naut Humon
Naut Humon
Naut Humon is the adopted name of Mark Sprague. He serves on the Digital Musics jury of the Ars Electronica festival in Linz, Austria every year. He is the founder of Recombinant Media Labs and was head of A&R for Asphodel Records, both based in San Francisco. He is featured in the 2001...
, and 'TO' with Z'EV
Z'EV
Z'EV is an American poet, percussionist, and sound artist. After studying various world music traditions at CalArts, he began creating his own percussion sounds out of industrial materials for a variety of record labels...
. Later he performed with Ethership (Willard Van De Bogart, Lemon DeGeorge). Notably, he played synthesizer "whale music" with saxist Paul Winter aboard the GP-5, and at the "Save The Seas International Music Benefit", International Trade Center, Tokyo 1977, with Z'EV.
In the 1980s Jackson became interviewer/program producer for Miss Wire Waist of KPFK
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
's Sounds of Jamaica (L.A.); and published Jah Guide reggae culture magazine. He recorded, published and broadcast speeches on apartheid by Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
, Michael Manley
Michael Manley
Michael Norman Manley ON OCC was the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica . Manley was a democratic socialist....
, and Bishop Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
; and interviews with Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
, Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
, Big Youth
Big Youth
Manley Augustus Buchanan , better known as Big Youth , is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his work during the 1970s....
, Mutabaruka
Mutabaruka
Mutabaruka is a dub poet. His name comes from the Rwandan language and translates as "one who is always victorious". He lives in Potosi District, St. James with his significant other, Yvonne, and their two childern. Mutabaruka continues to perform and write poems on every issue known to man...
, Ras Michael
Ras Michael
Ras Michael is a Jamaican reggae singer and Nyabinghi specialist. He also performs under the name of Dadawah.-Biography:...
and Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
. Meanwhile, he managed a 25-year career as a maritime seaman, union captain, and then fatherhood. In 2003 he authored the reggae novel Flight From Babylon (Infinity). His second novel and Greenpeace memoirs are forthcoming.