‘You Are My Lady’ singer Freddie Jackson dead at 70
Legendary R&B singer Freddie Jackson died on Monday, his family announced Tuesday on Instagram. He was 70.
“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,” they captioned the post.
“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,” they added.
“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’s family thanked all of his fans who ever “sang along, danced, or felt something when Freddie took the stage.”
“You were family to him, and he carried your love with him always,” they wrote.
“Please keep his family, friends, and loved ones in your prayers during this difficult time. Details regarding arrangements and how to honor his legacy will be shared in the coming days,” Jackson’s family added.
“Rest in peace, Freddie. Your legacy and your voice will live on forever. 🙏🏾❤️.”
A cause of death has not yet been released.
Jackson was born in Harlem, New York, on Oct. 2, 1956. From an early age, he was trained as a gospel singer and often sang at the White Rock Baptist Church of Harlem.
During the ’70s, the “Rock Me Tonight” crooner moved to the West Coast and became the lead singer of the Mystic Merlin band.
Though the group released three studio albums between 1980 and 1982, Jackson soon returned to New York to work with record producer Paul Laurence.
In 1984, Jackson scored a record deal with Capitol Records. The following year, he released his debut album, “Rock Me Tonight,” which spent six weeks atop the R&B chart and went platinum.
The single “You Are My Lady” topped the R&B charts and peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Jackson’s “He’ll Never Love You (Like I Do)” and “Love Is Just a Touch Away” also made it to the R&B Top 10.
In 1986, Jackson earned Grammy nominations for best new artist and best male R&B vocal performance for “You Are My Lady.”
That same year, Jackson released his sophomore album, “Just Like the First Time,” which went platinum and featured chart-toppers “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” and “Jam Tonight.”
After releasing three more studio albums with Capitol Records, Jackson parted ways with the company in 1993 and joined RCA for two years before going independent.
Jackson released his final studio album, “My First Love,” in 2023.
The “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” singer never married and did not have any children.
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