Chuck Jackson born 22 July 1937

 

Chuck Jackson (born July 22, 1937) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer who earned his place in music history landing 23 songs on the R&B and Top 40 charts. An elegant baritone called "Mr. Everything" by his fans Jackson is best known for his all time classic R&B standard "Any Day Now". His other top hits include "I Don’t Want to Cry”, “Beg Me” and "All Over the World".  He was one of the first artists to record material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David successfully.

 

He was born in Latta, South Carolina, but was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first to experience the sheer power of Chuck Jackson's incredible voice were the members of his grandmother's church, where the future soul sensation led the gospel choir at the impossibly young age of eleven. While still a teen, Jackson toured the U.S. in a major gospel group  and again as a member of The Del Vikings.
 

Between 1957 and 1959, he was a member of The Del-Vikings, singing lead on the 1957 release "Willette." After leaving them, he was "discovered" by Luther Dixon when he opened for soul legend Jackie Wilson at the Apollo Theater. He signed a recording contract with Scepter Records subsidiary Wand Records. His first single, "I Don't Want to Cry", which he co-wrote, was his first hit (1961). The song charted on both the R&B and pop charts.  

 

In 1962, Jackson's recording of the Burt Bacharach-Bob Hilliard song "Any Day Now" became a huge hit and his signature song. His popularity in the 1960s prompted him to buy up the time on his contract from Scepter and move to Motown Records. There he recorded a number of successful singles, "Honey Come Back." He later recorded for All Platinum and other labels, but with minimal success.  

After meeting producer/composer Charles Wallert at the Third Annual Beach Music Awards, the two collaborated to record "How Long Have You Been Loving Me" on Carolina Records. 

In 1998 Jackson teamed with longtime friend Dionne Warwick to record "If I Let Myself Go", arranged as a duet by Wallert for Wave Entertainment. The recording received critical acclaim and charted at number 19 on the Gavin Adult Contemporary Charts. Jackson followed with "What Goes Around, Comes Around", another Wallert production and composition, and reached number 13 on the Gavin Charts.

Several of Jackson's songs later became hits for other artists, including Ronnie Milsap, whose 1982 cover version of "Any Day Now" reached #1 on the Country and Adult Contemporary charts, and Michael McDonald, who covered "I Keep Forgettin'" with much success. "I Keep Forgettin'" was also covered by David Bowie in his album "Tonight". Jackson was close friends with political strategist Lee Atwater. He appears in the documentary, Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story. Australian pop-rock band Big Pig recorded a cover to "I Can't Break Away", simply title "Breakaway", which was used as the opening theme to the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. 

 

Chuck Jackson is also the consummate performer. His charismatic live shows continue to thrill audiences all over the world. (Info mainly Wikipedia)