RIP Freddie Jackson

  Freddie Jackson was one of the best, underrated Quiet Storm staples the genre produced.  Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles book ranked him 11th for the 1980's (in the book that ends in 2016).  From 1985-1992 he had an impressive run of 10 #1 singles and 3 #2's.  His hit years ended after 1992.  One reason he never achieved household name recognition like Luther Vandross is that he didn't cross over to the Pop Top 40 charts very often.  His biggest hit, "You Are My Lady" did get to #12 in 1985, but he never had that big Pop hit.  I liken his career to Whitburn's #18 Jeffrey Osborne who had a bunch of R&B hits in the 80's/early 90's, but never a solo smash.  His nearest top 10 Pop hit was "You Should Be Mine" #13 in 1986.   Osborne did have a big hit as lead singer of L.T.D. in 1977 with the #4 Pop "Back in Love Again". 

  In 2011 I saw Freddie Jackson in concert as part of the "Men of Soul" tour.  Jackson shared the bill with the late, great Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne and Howard Hewett.  Jackson's was a strong set.

  Jackson could sing uptempo songs but his specialty were classic slow jams like "Rock Me Tonight" or my favorite "Have You Ever Loved Somebody".  He came along just as the Black Pop of the mid-80's was beginning to reach its peak.  By the end of the decade and early 90's New Jack Swing took over the charts and singers like Jackson, Osborne and others faded from the R&B charts.  The Black Pop era is one I love and Jackson was one the best.  I think he's somewhat underrated as one of the best R&B singers of his era.