Roddy Jackson

George Rodrick Jackson (April 9, 1942 – December 7, 2022) was an American rockabilly and rock and roll singer, songwriter, pianist and saxophonist, who recorded for Specialty Records in the 1950s.

Life and career Early life Roddy Jackson was born in Fresno, California, moving to Merced as a child. His father was a singer and pianist who toured with The Sons of the Pioneers. Jackson learned to play drums and piano, forming his first group, The Dreamers, when aged 12 in 1954, and began performing on radio station KYOS. He also learned to play clarinet, trumpet and trombone, but concentrated on the alto saxophone and later tenor sax.

In 1956, after becoming influenced by Fats Domino and Little Richard, he formed a new multi-racial rock and roll band, the Blue Notes, from among his friends at high school. They quickly became popular around Merced, and were mentored by local fire chief George Coolures, who helped win them an audition at Specialty Records with the label's A&R man, Sonny Bono. Bono convinced label owner Art Rupe to sign Jackson as a solo artist, but not the rest of the Blue Notes. However, the record failed to chart, a fate also suffered by his third Specialty single, "Any Old Town" / "Gloria", recorded in March 1959 with Hall, Palmer, and saxophonist Lee Allen.

Later life and death Jackson continued to make occasional local performances. He re-emerged more publicly in the 1990s, and started making regular festival appearances in the United Kingdom, France, and elsewhere. A compilation album, Central Valley Fireball, comprising his Specialty singles together with unreleased recordings, was issued by Ace Records in 2007.

Jackson died on December 7, 2022, at the age of 80.

Discography Singles "I've Got My Sights on Someone New" / "Love at First Sight" (Specialty 623, 1958) "Hiccups" / "There's A Moose on the Loose" (Specialty 649, 1958) "Any Old Town" / "Gloria" (Specialty 666, 1959)

Compilation album Central Valley Fireball (Ace 1161 (UK), 2007)