| Melvin Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Melvin Jackson |
| Also known as | Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson Lil' Son Jackson |
| Born | August 16, 1915 Tyler, Texas, United States |
| Origin | Tyler, Texas, United States |
| Died | May 30, 1976 (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]
Contents |
Jackson's mother played gospel guitar, and he played early on in a gospel group called the Blue Eagle Four.[1] 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.[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 U.S.[1] He recorded for Imperial Records between 1950 and 1954, both as a solo artist and with a backing band.[1] His 1950 tune "Rockin' and Rollin" was recast by later musicians as "Rock Me Baby".[1][3]
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.[2] 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.[2] He died of cancer in 1976 in Dallas, at the age of 60.[1][4]
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.