Chuck Jackson

For the lead singer of the Downchild Blues Band, see Chuck Jackson (musician). For the baseball player, see Chuck Jackson (baseball).
Chuck Jackson
Jackson in 1965
Jackson in 1965
Background information
Birth nameCharles Benjamin Jackson[1]
Born(1937-07-22)July 22, 1937
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 2023(2023-02-16) (aged 85)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresR&B
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Labels

Charles Benjamin Jackson (July 22, 1937 – February 16, 2023) was an American R&B singer who was one of the first artists to record material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David successfully. He performed with moderate success starting in 1961. His hits include "I Can't Break Away", "I Don't Want to Cry", "Any Day Now", "I Keep Forgettin'", and "All Over the World".

Career

Jackson was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1937.[2] He grew up in Latta, South Carolina, singing in a gospel group, and moved to Pittsburgh when he was 13.[3]

Between 1957 and 1959, he was a member of The Del-Vikings,[4] singing lead on the 1957 release "Willette". After leaving the group, he was "discovered" by Luther Dixon when he opened for Jackie Wilson at the Apollo Theater. He signed a recording contract with Scepter Records subsidiary Wand Records.[4] His first single, "I Don't Want to Cry", which he co-wrote (with Luther Dixon) and recorded in November 1960, was his first hit (released in January 1961).[4] The song charted on both the R&B and pop charts.[5] In 1962, Jackson's recording of the Burt Bacharach-Bob Hilliard song "Any Day Now" became a sizable hit and his signature song.[4] His popularity in the 1960s prompted him to buy out the time on his contract from Scepter and move to Motown Records.[4] He later commented the decision was "one of the worst mistakes I ever made in my life".[4] He recorded a few successful singles including "Honey Come Back" for Motown. Then he recorded for All Platinum and other labels but with minimal success.[4]

After meeting producer/composer Charles Wallert at the Third Annual Beach Music Awards, the two collaborated to record "How Long Have You Been Loving Me" on Carolina Records. In 1998, Jackson teamed with longtime friend Dionne Warwick and recorded "If I Let Myself Go"; it was arranged as a duet by Wallert for Wave Entertainment. The recording received critical acclaim charting at number 19 on the Gavin Adult Contemporary Charts. Jackson then released "What Goes Around, Comes Around", another Wallert production and composition; it reached No. 13 on the Gavin Charts.

Legacy

Several of Jackson's songs later became hits for other artists including Ronnie Milsap, whose 1982 cover version of "Any Day Now" reached No. 1 on the Country and Adult Contemporary charts. Michael McDonald covered "I Keep Forgettin'" with much success. "I Keep Forgettin'" was also covered by David Bowie on his album Tonight, as well as on a version produced by Phil Spector for the Checkmates, Ltd. Jackson was close friends with political strategist Lee Atwater. He appears in the documentary Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.

Australian pop-rock band Big Pig recorded a cover of "I Can't Break Away", simply titled "Breakaway", which was used as the opening theme to the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. The song was covered in 2007 by house music singer Inaya Day.

On 4 October 2015, Chuck Jackson was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.[6] His song "Hand it Over" was featured on the 2019 video game, Far Cry New Dawn. In 2021, his song "Any Day Now" was used in a Volkswagen commercial.

Jackson died on February 16, 2023, at the age of 85.[7][8][9][10]

Awards

  • 1992: Rhythm and Blues Foundation, Pioneer Award
  • 2009: Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame, Joe Pope Pioneer Award
  • 2015: National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame

Discography (selected)

Albums

  • 1961: I Don't Want to Cry! (Wand WDM-650)
  • 1962: Any Day Now (Wand WDM-654)
  • 1963: Encore! (Wand WDM-655)
  • 1964: Chuck Jackson on Tour (Wand WDM-658)
  • 1965: Mr. Everything (Wand WDM-667)
  • 1965: Saying Something, with Maxine Brown (Wand WDM-669)
  • 1966: A Tribute to Rhythm and Blues (Wand WDM-673)
  • 1966: A Tribute to Rhythm and Blues, Volume 2 (Wand WDM-676)
  • 1966: Dedicated to the King (Wand WDM-680)
  • 1967: Greatest Hits (Wand WDM-683)
  • 1967: Hold On, We're Coming, with Maxine Brown (Wand WDM-678)
  • 1967: The Early Show, with Tammi Terrell (Wand WDM-682)
  • 1968: Chuck Jackson Arrives (Motown)
  • 1969: Goin' Back to Chuck Jackson (Motown)
  • 1970: Teardrops Keep Fallin' on My Heart (Motown)
  • 1974: Through All Times (ABC)
  • 1975: Needing You, Wanting You (All Platinum)
  • 1977: The Great Chuck Jackson (Bulldog)
  • 1980: After You (EMI America)
  • 1980: I Wanna Give You Some Love (EMI America)
  • 1992: I'll Take Care of You, with Cissy Houston (Shanachie Entertainment)
  • 1994: Chuck Jackson (Platinum Pop)
  • 1994: Encore/Mr. Everything (Kent-UK)
  • 1998: Smooth, Smooth Jackson (Sequel Records)

Singles

Year Single (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated 		Chart positions Album
US

[11]

US R&B

[11]

1957 "Woke Up This Morning"
b/w "Willette"
Both sides with Kripp Johnson 		Non-album tracks
1959 "Willette"
b/w "A Little Man Cried"
"Come on and Love Me"
b/w "Ooh Baby"
1960 "I'm Yours"
b/w "Hula Lula"
1961 "I Don't Want to Cry"
b/w "Just Once" (from Any Day Now) 		36 5 I Don't Want to Cry!
"(It Never Happens) In Real Life"
b/w "The Same Old Story" 		46 22 Any Day Now
"Mr. Pride"
b/w "Hula Lula" 		91 Non-album tracks
"Never Let Me Go"
b/w "Baby I Want to Marry You"
"I Wake Up Crying"
b/w "Everybody Needs Love" (from Any Day Now) 		59 13 I Don't Want to Cry!
"The Breaking Point"
b/w "My Willow Tree" (from I Don't Want to Cry!) 		Any Day Now
1962 "What'cha Gonna Say Tomorrow"
b/w "Angel Of Angels"
"Any Day Now"
b/w "The Prophet" 		23 2
"Come on and Love Me"
b/w "Ooh Baby"
Second pressing 		Non-album tracks
"I Keep Forgettin'" / 55 Any Day Now
"Who's Gonna Pick Up the Pieces" 119
"Getting Ready for the Heartbreak"
b/w "In Between Tears" (from I Don't Want to Cry!) 		88 Encore!
"I'm Yours"
b/w "Hula Lula"
Second pressing 		Non-album tracks
1963 "Tell Him I'm Not Home"
b/w "Lonely Am I" 		42 12 Encore!
"Tears of Joy" / 85 Mr. Everything
"I Will Never Turn My Back on You" 110 29 Non-album track
"Any Other Way"
b/w "Big New York" (Non-album track) 		81 47 Chuck Jackson's Greatest Hits
1964 "Hand It Over"
b/w "Look Over Your Shoulder" 		92 13 Non-album tracks
"Beg Me"
Original B-side: "For All Time" (Non-album track)
Later B-side: "This Broken Heart" (from Encore!) 		45 5 Chuck Jackson's Greatest Hits
"Somebody New"
b/w "Stand by Me" (Non-album track) 		93 Mr. Everything
"Since I Don't Have You"
b/w "Hand It Over" (Non-album track) 		47 18
1965 "I Need You"
b/w "Soul Brother's Twist" (from Chuck Jackson on Tour) 		75 22
"Something You Got"
b/w "Baby Take Me"
Both sides with Maxine Brown 		55 10 Saying Something
"If I Didn't Love You"
b/w "Just A Little Bit of Your Soul" (Non-album track) 		46 18 Mr. Everything
"Can't Let You Out of My Sight"
b/w "Don't Go"
Both sides with Maxine Brown 		91 Saying Something
"I Need You So"
b/w "'Cause We're in Love"
Both sides with Maxine Brown 		98
"Good Things Come to Those Who Wait"
b/w "Yah" 		105 Non-album tracks
1966 "I'm Satisfied" (With Maxine Brown) / 112 Saying Something
"Please Don't Hurt Me" (With Maxine Brown)
"All in My Mind"
b/w "And That's Saying a Lot" (Non-album track) 		Tribute to Rhythm and Blues
"These Chains of Love"
b/w "Theme to the Blues" (from Tribute to Rhythm and Blues) 		Non-album track
1967 "Hold On, I'm Comin'"
b/w "Never Had It So Good" (from Saying Something)
Both sides with Maxine Brown 		91 20 Hold on We're Coming!
"Need You There (to See Me Through)"
b/w "Every Man Needs a Down Home Girl" (from Tribute to Rhythm and Blues Volume 2) 		Non-album track
"Daddy's Home"
b/w "Don't Go" (from Saying Something)
Both sides with Maxine Brown 		91 46 Hold on We're Coming!
"Hound Dog"
b/w "Love Me Tender" 		Dedicated to the King!
"C.C. Rider"
b/w "Tennessee Waltz"
Both sides with Maxine Brown 		Hold on We're Coming!
"Shame on Me"
b/w "Candy" (Non-album track) 		76 40 Chuck Jackson's Greatest Hits
1968 "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You"
b/w "Girls Girls Girls" 		94 Chuck Jackson Arrives!
1969 "Are You Lonely for Me Baby"
b/w "Your Wonderful Love" (from Chuck Jackson Arrives!) 		107 27 Goin' Back to Chuck Jackson
"Honey Come Back"
b/w "What Am I Gonna Do Without You" (from Chuck Jackson Arrives!) 		43
"Baby I'll Get It"
b/w "The Day My World Stood Still" (from Goin' Back To Chuck Jackson) 		Teardrops Keep Fallin' on My Heart
1970 "Let Somebody Love Me"
b/w "Two Feet from Happiness"
1971 "Pet Names"
b/w "Is There Anything Love Can't Do" (from Teardrops Keep Fallin' on My Heart) 		Non-album tracks
1972 "Cold Feet"
b/w "A Little Man Cried"
Both sides with The Dell Vikings
"The Man and the Woman"
b/w "I Forgot to Tell You"
1973 "I Only Get This Feeling"
b/w "Slowly but Surely" 		117 35 Through All Times
"I Can’t Break Away"
b/w "Just a Little Tear" 		62
1974 "Maybe This Will Be the Morning"
b/w "If Only You Believe"
"Take Off Your Make Up"
b/w "Talk a Little Less" (from Through All Times) 		Non-album track
1975 "Love Lights"
b/w "Love Lights" (Instrumental) 		Needing You, Wanting You
"I'm Needing You, Wanting You"
b/w "Shine Shine Shine" 		30
1976 "If You Were My Woman"
b/w "If You Were My Woman" (Instrumental) 		Non-album tracks
1977 "One of Those Yesterdays"
b/w "Love Lights" (from Needing You, Wanting You)
"I Fell Asleep"
b/w "One of Those Yesterdays"
"We Can't Hide It Anymore" (With Sylvia Jackson)
b/w "I'm Needing You, Wanting You" (from Needing You, Wanting You)
1978 "When the Fuel Runs Out"
b/w "Good Love"
1980 "I Wanna Give You Some Love"
b/w "Waiting in Vain" 		90 I Wanna Give You Some Love
"After You"
b/w "Let's Get Together"
1989 "Relight My Fire"
b/w "All Over the World" 		Non-album tracks
1997 "If I Let Myself Go"
p/w "What Goes Around Comes Around"
CD single, both tracks with Dionne Warwick 		I'll Never Get Over You
2010 "I Only Get This Feeling"
B-side by Felice Taylor: "I Can Feel Your Love" 		Non-album tracks

Singles on Tamla Motown (UK)

  • TMG651 "Girls Girls Girls" / "(You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You" – 7"
  • TMG729 "Honey Come Back" / "What Am I Gonna Do Without You" – 7"[12]

References

  1. ^ McArdle, Terence (March 7, 2023). "Chuck Jackson, soul balladeer, dies at 85". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Chuck Jackson – Pittsburgh Music History". Sites.google.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. ^ Betts, Graham (2014-06-02). Motown Encyclopedia. AC Publishing. ISBN 978-1-311-44154-6.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 248/9. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts: The 1960s. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-89820-175-8.
  6. ^ "2015 INDUCTION CEREMONY AND CONCERT – DETROIT – The Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Museum". Rhythmandblueshof.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-18. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
  7. ^ "Chuck Jackson, '60s Soul Great, Dies at 85". Bestclassicbands.com. February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Garcia, Thania (February 21, 2023). "Chuck Jackson, Singer of Burt Bacharach's 'Any Day Now,' Dies at 85". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (February 21, 2023). "Chuck Jackson, 'Any Day Now' Singer, Dies at 85". billboard.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Pedersen, Erik (February 21, 2023). "Chuck Jackson Dies: 'Any Day Now' Singer Who Had Two Dozen Chart Singles Was 85". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Chuck Jackson Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Musicvf.com.
  12. ^ "Record Label Discographies for rare and collectable vinyl records". Vinylnet.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2014-07-03.