Freddie Jackson, romantic US singer with 10 R&B chart-toppers, dies aged 70
Freddie Jackson, the US R&B singer celebrated for his smooth, romantic voice and dextrous vocal technique, has died aged 70; no cause of death was given. His family released a statement describing him as "more than a legendary voice" and a "kind, generous soul" whose music "became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations and our most treasured memories." Jackson was a mainstay of the US R&B scene during the 1980s, earning 10 No 1 singles and achieving significant crossover success in the pop charts.
Born in Harlem in 1956, Jackson began in gospel music before working as backing singer for Melba Moore, then signing as a solo artist. His 1985 debut album Rock Me Tonight became a platinum seller reaching the US Top 10, with hits "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" and "You Are My Lady" both reaching the pop charts' Top 20; the latter earned two Grammy nominations. Jackson achieved four consecutive No 1 albums on the R&B charts during the mid-1980s, but as hip-hop emerged his commercial success waned; he nevertheless released 15 studio albums and remained on R&B radio before announcing in 2024 he was living with kidney disease.
- Freddie Jackson, R&B legend with 10 No 1 singles, dies aged 70.
- His 1985 debut Rock Me Tonight was platinum with Grammy nominations.
- He released 15 studio albums; in 2024 announced he had kidney disease.
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Freddie Jackson was an American R&B singer known for his smooth, romantic vocal style and technical prowess. Born in Harlem in 1956, he emerged as one of the major figures of 1980s R&B, achieving 10 No 1 singles and significant crossover success in the pop charts, making him one of the decade's most commercially successful artists in the genre.
Jackson's breakthrough came with his 1985 debut album Rock Me Tonight, which became a platinum seller and reached the US Top 10. The album produced hits including "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" and "You Are My Lady", the latter receiving two Grammy nominations and establishing Jackson's prominence in contemporary R&B during the mid-1980s.
After beginning his career in gospel and working as a backing singer for Melba Moore, Jackson rose to prominence at a time when R&B was one of the most commercially dominant genres in American popular music. His commercial peak eventually waned as hip-hop ascended through the late 1980s and 1990s; he nevertheless remained active, releasing 15 studio albums and continuing to record and perform in R&B circles.