Freddie Jackson, fixture of ’80s R&B, dead at 69

August Brown, Los Angeles Times

Freddie Jackson, the bestselling singer and fixture of ’80s R&B, has died. He was 69.

A statement from Jackson’s official social media accounts said on Tuesday that the singer died Oct. 5. While it did not list a cause of death, Jackson had suffered kidney disease in recent years.

“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night,” it said. “Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had. For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever.”

Jackson, born in New York, got his start in music singing gospel before moving to California to perform with the ’70s funk band Mystic Merlin. He went solo in the early ’80s, releasing his debut, “Rock Me Tonight,” in 1985. Known for his debonair poise and emotive vibrato, the singer’s “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady” went to No. 1 on the R&B charts. They sent the album platinum and earned him Grammy nominations for best new artist and R&B vocal performance. Its follow-up, 1986’s “Just Like the First Time,” yielded three R&B No. 1 singles, including “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” and “Jam Tonight.”

Read more about his life and legacy here.

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