Freddie Jackson, the R&B singer best known for the Grammy-nominated hit “You Are My Lady,” died Oct. 5 at age 69, his family confirmed Tuesday. The Freddie Jackson Family shared the news in a statement posted to his verified Instagram account.
What Happened To Freddie Jackson
“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,” the family wrote. “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. To everyone who ever sang along, danced or felt something when Freddie took the stage: thank you.”
The family’s statement did not disclose a cause of death, and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
From Harlem Church Choir To R&B Stardom
Jackson was born Oct. 2, 1957, in Harlem, New York, and began singing as a child in his church choir, according to Billboard. That’s where he crossed paths with future producer and songwriting partner Paul Laurence. Jackson joined Laurence’s group LJE and worked the New York club circuit before moving west late in the decade to perform with the California funk band Mystic Merlin.
Once back in New York, Jackson reunited with Laurence at Hush Productions, where he contributed demo vocals and backing tracks for artists such as Melba Moore, Evelyn “Champagne” King and Angela Bofill, Billboard reported.
Solo Success And Chart Dominance
Jackson went solo in 1985, signing with Capitol Records and scoring an immediate smash with “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),” which hit No. 1 on the R&B chart and reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the next seven years, through 1992, he piled up 10 R&B No. 1s plus a run of top 10 singles.
His chart-topping songs included “You Are My Lady,” “Love Me Down,” “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” “Jam Tonight” and a feature on Moore’s “A Little Bit More.” He also landed top 10 R&B entries with “Love Is Just a Touch Away,” “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love” and “All Over You,” from the film “Def by Temptation.”
According to Luminate, Jackson placed 35 songs on Billboard’s R&B songs chart overall, with 19 reaching the top 10 and 10 of those climbing all the way to No. 1. His album catalog included four R&B No. 1s, “Rock Me Tonight,” “Just Like the First Time,” “Don’t Let Love Slip Away” and “Do Me Again,” plus a top 10 placement for “Time for Love.”
Film, TV And Later Career
Jackson stayed active in the studio well past 2000, putting out “Transitions” in 2006 and “For You” in 2010, and he kept drawing crowds as a concert and festival headliner throughout that stretch, Billboard reported.
He also stepped outside music a handful of times. Jackson sang “Love Survives” with Irene Cara for the 1989 animated film “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” appeared as a singer in a 1989 episode of “The Golden Girls” titled “Two Rode Together,” and had a cameo in the 1990 movie “King of New York.”
What’s Next
No cause of death has been released. The family said in its Instagram statement that “details regarding arrangements and how to honor his legacy will be shared in the coming days.”
Reporting from Billboard contributed to this story.
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