Jack Jackson

Jack Jackson (born John Jackson; 20 February 1906 – 15 January 1978) was an English trumpeter and bandleader popular during the British dance band era, and who later became a highly influential radio disc jockey. The BBC's nickname "Auntie" is often credited to Jackson.

Early life and career Jackson was born Belvedere, Kent, in 1906, the son of a brass band player and conductor, and began playing cornet at the age of 11, before playing violin and cello in dance bands. He learnt to play trumpet and worked in swing bands in circuses, revues, ballrooms and ocean liners.

In 1926, Bert Ralton brought his band to England, and Jackson joined them for a three-month tour of southern Africa, starting at Cape Town in October. By 1939, he had a regular radio show on Radio Luxembourg. His band featured vocalists such as Al Bowlly, Denny Dennis and Alberta Hunter. This was a major influence on later British disc jockeys such as Kenny Everett, Adrian Juste and Noel Edmonds.

He had a chat show on ITV in 1955. It was used by Elton John, Tom Robinson and Motörhead. Jackson's daughter is a successful artist and designer, whilst his grandchildren also have careers in the music business, including one who co-founded the production group Bimbo Jones. The group contributed to a UK Singles Chart number one when their Miami Calling mix was used as the lead mix for radio airplay of Meck's "Thunder In My Heart Again" in February 2006. Jackson and his family's creative lives were explored in a 2011 BBC Radio 4 documentary, Jack Jackson: Rhythm and Radio Fun Remembered.