Chuck Jackson

Biography

Charles Benjamin Jackson, known as Chuck Jackson, was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1937 and raised in Latta, South Carolina. His early musical experiences involved singing in a gospel group. At age 13, he moved to Pittsburgh, laying the groundwork for his future career. His musical journey was significantly influenced by his time with The Del-Vikings (1957-1959), where he sang lead vocals on their 1957 release "Willette." A pivotal moment arrived when he was "discovered" by Luther Dixon after performing at the Apollo Theater, opening for Jackie Wilson. This led to a recording contract with Wand Records, a subsidiary of Scepter Records.

Jackson's career took off with his first hit, "I Don't Want to Cry!", co-written with Luther Dixon and released in 1961. This success was followed by his signature song, "Any Day Now," a Burt Bacharach-Bob Hilliard composition, which became a major hit in 1962. His rising popularity in the 1960s led him to buy out his contract with Scepter and move to Motown Records, a decision he later regretted. While at Motown, he recorded successful singles such as "Honey Come Back," but later recordings for other labels yielded less success. Later in his career, he collaborated with producer/composer Charles Wallert on tracks like "How Long Have You Been Loving Me" and teamed up with Dionne Warwick on "If I Let Myself Go," which received critical acclaim.

Chuck Jackson's musical style blended R&B influences with pop sensibilities. He was one of the first artists to successfully record material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. His legacy extends beyond his own recordings; several of his songs became hits for other artists, including Ronnie Milsap's No. 1 country and adult contemporary hit with "Any Day Now," Michael McDonald's successful cover of "I Keep Forgettin'," and David Bowie's rendition of the same song. His song "I Can't Break Away" was even featured in the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Jackson's enduring impact is further evidenced by his induction into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015, and continued use of his music in commercials and video games. He passed away on February 16, 2023, at the age of 85.

Fun Facts

• Jackson's move to Motown Records, while initially driven by ambition, was later described by him as "one of the worst mistakes I ever made in my life."
• His song "Hand it Over" was featured in the 2019 video game Far Cry New Dawn.
• Jackson was close friends with political strategist Lee Atwater and appeared in the documentary Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.
• "Any Day Now" was used in a Volkswagen commercial in 2021.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Luther Dixon - Discovered Jackson and co-wrote "I Don't Want to Cry!" with him.

Key Collaborators

• Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard - Jackson recorded their song "Any Day Now."
• Charles Wallert - Collaborated with Jackson on several later recordings, including "How Long Have You Been Loving Me" and "What Goes Around, Comes Around."
• Dionne Warwick - Recorded the duet "If I Let Myself Go" with Jackson.

Artists Influenced

• Ronnie Milsap - Had a No. 1 hit with a cover of Jackson's "Any Day Now."
• Michael McDonald - Successfully covered Jackson's "I Keep Forgettin'."
• David Bowie - Covered Jackson's "I Keep Forgettin'" on his album Tonight.
• Checkmates, Ltd. - Recorded a Phil Spector-produced version of "I Keep Forgettin'".
• Inaya Day - Covered "I Can't Break Away" in 2007.
• Big Pig - Covered "I Can't Break Away" for Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.

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Source: Wikipedia

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Any Day Now (Super Hits)
2. I Don't Want To Cry (28 Big Ones)
3. Any Day Now (I Wake up Crying)
4. What Am I Gonna Do Without You (Arrives!)
5. Hold On I'm Coming (Super Hits)
6. Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)
7. Any Day Now (Any Day Now)
8. I Don't Want to Cry (I Wake up Crying)
9. I Don't Want to Cry (Lonely Teardrops)
10. Something You Got (Super Hits)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia