Lee Jackson (blues musician) facts for kids

Lee Jackson (born Warren George Harding Lee, August 18, 1921 – July 1, 1979) was an American blues musician. He was a talented guitarist, bass player, singer, and songwriter. Lee Jackson was known for his unique style of Chicago blues music.

While he released some of his own songs, like "Lonely Girl" in 1974, he was most famous for playing with other blues legends. He worked with artists such as Johnny Shines, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, and Little Walter. Many people in music believe his guitar playing style was very important and influenced many other musicians. Lee Jackson passed away in Chicago in 1979.

Lee Jackson's Musical Journey

Lee Jackson was born in Gill, Lee County, Arkansas, in the United States. When he was young, his uncle Alf Bonner and aunt Cora had their own jug band. A jug band uses everyday objects like jugs, washboards, and kazoos to make music.

His aunt and uncle also ran a cafe. This cafe was a popular spot for blues musicians traveling between Helena, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee. Lee Jackson joined their jug band and played with them for several years.

Traveling Musician

After playing with the jug band, Lee Jackson became a traveling musician. He played music in Memphis, then in Florida, and later in St. Louis, Missouri. Around 1950, he finally settled down in Chicago, Illinois.

A music historian named Gérard Herzhaft once said that Lee Jackson's guitar style was very special. It was sharp and jazzy, with clear, bluesy notes. This style was quite new for Chicago blues music right after World War II. It showed how much his time with swinging jug bands had influenced him.

Early Recordings in Chicago

In Chicago, Lee Jackson worked at a meat-packaging company. He also met Leonard Chess, who ran Chess Records. Because of his performances in local blues clubs, Lee Jackson got chances to record music. He recorded for Chess Records and Vee-Jay Records in the mid-1950s, but these songs were not released at the time.

In 1956, he recorded a song for Cobra Records that was released. It was a funny blues song called "Fishin' in My Pond". Willie Dixon wrote the song. Lee Jackson played guitar and sang on it, showing his frustration in a humorous way. This song came out in February 1957.

Working with Other Blues Stars

Lee Jackson's own songs were not big hits. So, he started working as a studio musician. This meant he played guitar or bass on other artists' recordings. He was a very skilled guitarist. His first big job was on Roosevelt Sykes's album, Roosevelt Sykes Sings The Blues (1962). On this album, Lee Jackson played guitar, with Willie Dixon on bass.

The next year, Lee Jackson started playing the bass guitar. He played bass on Billy Boy Arnold's album, More Blues on the South Side. Between 1964 and 1966, he played bass on four albums for Homesick James, Johnny Shines, J. B. Hutto, and Otis Spann.

In 1966, Lee Jackson played guitar for Little Walter on songs like "Back In The Alley". These songs later appeared on collection albums. In 1968, he played rhythm guitar on J. B. Hutto's album, Hawk Squat.

Later Career and Final Album

In 1969, Lee Jackson played bass on half the songs for Johnny Shines with Big Walter Horton. He also played on Hound Dog Taylor's "Watch Out" single. In 1970, Lee Jackson went on the American Folk Blues Festival tour in Europe. Two of his songs from that tour were released on the festival's album.

He was also part of the band for live recordings by Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed in the early 1970s. He played in the rhythm section for J. B. Hutto's album, Slidewinder (1973).

In 1974, Lee Jackson recorded his only solo album, Lonely Girl, for BluesWay Records. He wrote all the songs on this album. Other musicians like Carey Bell (harmonica) also played on it. The next year, he recorded an instrumental song called "Apallo 17" (meaning Apollo 17). This song celebrated the last mission of the Apollo program.

Around this time, Lee Jackson played bass with Willie Dixon's Chicago All-Stars group. He also wrote three songs for Lacy Gibson's album, Crying for My Baby (1977). By the end of the 1970s, Lee Jackson played more often in blues clubs on the North Side of Chicago. He connected with younger audiences there.

Lee Jackson passed away in Chicago on July 1, 1979.

Legacy and Common Name

Lee Jackson played with pianist Little Johnny Jones on two songs in 1964. These songs were not released until 1980.

Because Lee Jackson was a studio musician for about 30 years, his music can be found on many different blues collection albums.

It is important to know that Lee Jackson is sometimes confused with other musicians who have the same name.

Discography

Lee Jackson's Own Songs

Lee Jackson's Albums

Albums with Other Musicians

§ Recorded in 1977

Where Lee Jackson Played

See also

• List of Chicago blues musicians