Terry Jacks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terry Jacks
Jacks in 1974
Background information
Birth name	Terrence Ross Jacks
Born	(1944-03-29) March 29, 1944 (age 81) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres	Rock, pop, soft rock, country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Columbia, Goldfish, London Records, Bell, A&M
Associated acts	The Poppy Family

Terrence Ross Jacks (born March 29, 1944) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his huge hit song "Seasons in the Sun" from 1974. This song was an English version of an older song by a Belgian artist named Jacques Brel. Terry Jacks is also known for his work as an environmental activist. He has worked to protect places like Howe Sound from pollution.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Terry Jacks grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was the oldest of five brothers. His father had an architecture business, and Terry even studied architecture in university before becoming a musician.

In the early 1960s, when Terry was a teenager, his family moved to Vancouver. He started playing the guitar and, at 18, he formed a band called The Chessmen. This group had four songs that made it into the top ten in Vancouver between 1964 and 1966.

The Chessmen even performed live for a "Back to School" event in 1965. Fans would call a local radio station, CFUN, to request the "B side" of The Chessmen's songs. The radio station actually played them, turning their records into hits on both sides!

After The Chessmen, Terry and Susan Pesklevits (who later became his wife, Susan Jacks) started a new band called The Poppy Family. Other members included Craig McCaw and Satwant Singh. They had several hit songs in Canada and around the world. Their biggest hit was "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" This song reached number one in Canada and number two in the U.S. Terry Jacks wrote and produced this song, winning an award for his production in 1970.

"Seasons in the Sun" Success

The famous song "Seasons in the Sun" was first meant for the band The Beach Boys. Terry Jacks was going to produce it for them. However, The Beach Boys decided not to release the song. So, in late 1973, Terry Jacks decided to record it himself on his own record label, Goldfish Records.

"Seasons in the Sun" became a massive hit! It was the biggest-selling international song by a Canadian artist at that time. It sold 14 million copies all over the world. Terry Jacks won two Juno Awards for it, and it became one of the best-selling Canadian songs ever.

The song was based on an older song by Jacques Brel. Terry Jacks changed some of the words to make his own version. This new version became a number one hit in Germany, the UK, and the United States. In Canada, it was released on Terry's own Goldfish Records label.

Terry Jacks also released other songs, like "If You Go Away" and "Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)." He also produced music for many other artists.

Music in the 1980s and 2010s

Terry Jacks didn't really like the music business, especially touring and promoting his songs. So, he stopped recording new music in the mid-1970s. He still continued to produce music for other artists, though.

In 1983, Terry Jacks decided to start recording again. He released an album called Pulse and a song called "You Fooled Me." He later released another album, Just Like That, in 1987. During this time, he also started focusing more on his important environmental work.

In 2011, Terry Jacks worked with Al Jardine from The Beach Boys to write a song called "Don't Fight the Sea." Several members of The Beach Boys sang on this song. A special record was made and sold to help victims of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.

In 2015, Terry Jacks released a double CD album called “Starfish on the Beach.” It included 40 of his favorite songs from the past 40 years. The album also came with a booklet that had photos and stories about his music career.

Film Work

Besides music, Terry Jacks has also worked on documentary films and videos. These films often focus on environmental topics. Some of his works include The Faceless Ones, The Tragedy of Clearcutting, and The Warmth of Love. His video The Faceless Ones won an award for environmental films.

In 1981, Terry Jacks was involved in making a TV movie based on his song "Seasons in the Sun." He helped produce the movie, wrote its music, and even acted in it.

Environmental Activism

Terry Jacks is a strong supporter of the environment. In 1985, he started a group called Environmental Watch. This group worked to stop pollution from pulp mills in Howe Sound, a beautiful area in British Columbia.

In 1988, Terry Jacks even sued the British Columbia Environment Ministry. He did this because they gave a pollution permit to a company called Howe Sound Pulp and Paper. The lawsuit ended in 1990 after the company faced many pollution charges. In 1989, he led a group of boats past several pulp mills to protest their pollution.

Terry Jacks continued his fight against pulp mill pollution throughout the 1990s. His environmental work has earned him several awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 1997. He also received the Eugene Rogers Environmental Award.

Personal Life

Terry Jacks and Susan Jacks divorced in 1973. Later, in the late 1970s, Terry married his manager, Margaret Zittier. They had one daughter together before they divorced in 2001. In 2008, Terry Jacks married his third wife, Diane Soza.

Discography

Studio albums

• Seasons in the Sun (Bell Records) (1974)
• Y' Don't Fight the Sea (Goldfish Records) (1975)
• Pulse (A&M Records) (1983)
• Just Like That (Attic Records) (1987)

Compilation albums

• Into the Past...Terry Jacks Greatest Hits (A&M Records) (1982)
• Singles A's and B's (Goldfish Records) (2004)
• Starfish on the Beach (Regenerator Records) (2015)

Extended plays

• Epocas De Sol (Bell Records) (1974)

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Terry Jacks para niños

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
• List of musicians from Canada