Brian Jackson (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Jackson
Jackson in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Brian Robert Jackson
Born	(1952-10-11) October 11, 1952 (age 72) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, soul
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Keyboards, flute, vocals
Years active	1971–present
Associated acts	Gil Scott-Heron, Will Downing, Gwen Guthrie

Brian Robert Jackson (born October 11, 1952) is an American musician. He is known for playing the keyboard and flute, and also for singing, writing songs, and producing music. Brian is especially famous for working with Gil Scott-Heron in the 1970s. His unique sound, often using the Rhodes electric piano and flute, was a big part of their songs. Two of their most famous songs are "The Bottle" and "Your Daddy Loves You," from their album Winter in America.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Brian Jackson was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1952. His parents were Clarence and Elsie Jackson. His mother was a librarian, and his father worked for the state. Brian spent his early years in Brooklyn.

When Brian was young, he started taking music lessons in Fort Greene. His teacher was Hepzibah Ross, who his family called 'Aunt Heppie.' He took lessons for seven years. When his mother couldn't pay for lessons anymore, Aunt Heppie gave him a scholarship. She believed Brian had "great promise" in music.

In 1968, his mother remarried, and Brian's sister, Alison, was born. From 1965 to 1969, Brian went to Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. There, he met other young musicians. He joined school music programs and also started forming his own bands outside of school.

Music Career Highlights

Brian Jackson met Gil Scott-Heron when they were both students at Lincoln University (Pennsylvania). They soon started a partnership that lasted for ten years. Brian wrote most of the music that he and Gil Scott-Heron played and recorded together.

Their first album together was Pieces of a Man, released in 1971. They made several other important albums, including Free Will (1972). In 1974, they released Winter in America. This was the first album where Brian was also named as an artist, not just Gil. This album was later called a "masterwork" for its deep and serious songs about life. Their biggest hit song was "The Bottle" in 1974. By 1979, they had recorded ten albums together. Their partnership ended in 1980.

After working with Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson continued to make music in the 1980s and 1990s. He worked with many famous artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Will Downing, and Gwen Guthrie.

In 2000, Brian released his first solo album called Gotta Play. Other musicians like Roy Ayers and even Gil Scott-Heron made guest appearances on it. Brian has also worked with Kool and the Gang, Janis Siegel, Alabama 3, and Carl Hancock Rux.

For many years, from 1983 to 2017, Brian also worked in the IT (Information Technology) department for the City of New York.

More recently, Brian worked on a project called Jazz is Dead with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge. This project was released in 2021. In 2022, Brian Jackson released another solo album, This Is Brian Jackson. It was his first solo album in over 20 years.

Key Music Recordings

Here are some of the important albums and songs Brian Jackson has been a part of:

With Gil Scott-Heron

• Pieces of a Man (1971)
• Free Will (1972)

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson

• Winter in America (1974)
• The First Minute of a New Day (1975)
• From South Africa to South Carolina (1975)
• It's Your World (live) (1976)
• Bridges (1977)
• Secrets (1978)
• 1980 (1980)

Notable Songs (Singles)

• "Ain't No Such Thing as Superman" (1975)
• "(What's the Word) Johannesburg" (1975)
• "The Bottle" (1976)
• "Angel Dust" (1978)

Brian Jackson's Solo Albums

• Gotta Play (2000)
• This Is Brian Jackson (2022)

Collaborations with Other Artists

• With Kool & The Gang: Something Special (1981)
• With Will Downing: Will Downing (1988), Come Together as One (1989)
• With Roy Ayers: Drive (1988)
• With Gwen Guthrie: Hot Times (1990)
• With Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge: Brian Jackson JID008 (2021)

Personal Life

Brian Jackson is married and has five children. He plans to move with his family to France in the summer of 2024.