Bull Moose Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bull Moose Jackson
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin Joseph Jackson |
| Also known as | Benjamin Clarence Jackson, Jr. |
| Born | April 22, 1919 Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Died | July 31, 1989 (aged 70) Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | Jump blues, dirty blues, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, saxophonist |
| Instruments | Vocals, saxophone |
| Years active | 1943–89 |
Benjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson (born April 22, 1919 – died July 31, 1989) was an American singer and saxophonist. He was best known for his blues and R&B music. Bull Moose Jackson was very successful in the late 1940s. He was known for his unique and sometimes playful songs.
Contents
The Musical Journey of Bull Moose Jackson
Benjamin Joseph Jackson was born in Cleveland, Ohio. As a child, he first learned to play the violin. But he soon became very interested in the saxophone.
Starting His Music Journey
While still in high school, Benjamin started his first band. It was called the Harlem Hotshots. In 1943, a famous bandleader named Lucky Millinder asked him to join his band as a saxophonist.
The musicians in Millinder's band gave Benjamin his famous nickname, "Bull Moose." He started singing when he had to fill in for another singer, Wynonie Harris, at a show.
Becoming a Solo Star
Lucky Millinder encouraged Bull Moose Jackson to sign his own contract. He joined King Records to make rhythm and blues music. His first solo recording was "I Know Who Threw the Whiskey" in 1946. This song was an "answer song" to Millinder's hit.
The next year, Jackson released "I Love You, Yes I Do." This song became a huge hit. It was one of the first R&B singles to sell a million copies. It stayed at the top of the R&B charts for three weeks. It also became popular on the pop music charts, reaching number 24.
His First Big Hits
Bull Moose Jackson then started his own group, called the Buffalo Bearcats. For the next five years, they recorded many different kinds of music. In 1948, he had more big hits. These included "All My Love Belongs to You" and "I Want a Bowlegged Woman."
His biggest R&B chart hit was "I Can't Go on Without You." This song stayed at number 1 on the R&B chart for eight weeks. He also appeared in the 1948 movie Boarding House Blues with Lucky Millinder.
In 1949, Jackson recorded his version of "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me." This song had been popular with country music artists. In May 1951, he recorded "Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home" with his Bearcats band.
Touring and Later Years
Bull Moose Jackson toured a lot in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Around 1951, famous jazz musicians like Tadd Dameron and Benny Golson played in his band.
By the mid-1950s, Jackson decided to stop touring. He retired from music for a while. He started working for a catering company in Washington, D.C.. But he still performed sometimes at private parties. In 1961, he re-recorded "I Love You, Yes I Do" using new recording technology. This version also became a small hit.
A Comeback Story
About twenty years later, a blues band called the Flashcats often played Bull Moose Jackson's song "Big Ten Inch Record." A local DJ told the band that he knew Bull Moose Jackson. The band's leader, Carl Grefensette, found Jackson working at Howard University.
Grefensette convinced Jackson to perform with the Flashcats. They quickly became very popular. Jackson then made the Flashcats his official backing band. This started a big comeback for his music career. He even recorded a new album called Moosemania! in 1985.
During the 1980s, Bull Moose Jackson, who was in his 60s, had a very successful time performing. He played concerts all over the United States and in other countries. However, he became sick with lung cancer in 1987. He stopped touring in the spring of 1988. An old friend came to take care of him during his illness. He passed away in Cleveland on July 31, 1989.
See also
In Spanish: Bull Moose Jackson para niños
- List of jump blues musicians
- List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
