Freddie Jackson

R&B singer Freddie Jackson became a stalwart of the genre in the late ’80s and early ’90s. From 1985 to 1992, he scored 19 Top 10 singles—including 10 No. 1 hits—on the R&B charts. • The Harlem native got his start as a gospel singer in his youth. In the early ’80s he moved to the West Coast to become the lead vocalist of the funk band Mystic Merlin. • After returning to New York and singing backups for Melba Moore, Jackson landed a deal with Capitol Records and released his first solo album, Rock Me Tonight, in 1985. • Rock Me Tonight yielded two No. 1 singles on the R&B chart—the title track and “You Are My Lady”—and went platinum. • His 1986 sophomore album, Just Like the First Time, kept up his winning streak, spawning three straight No. 1 R&B singles: “Tasty Love”, “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” and “Jam Tonight”. • Jackson’s 10th and final R&B chart-topper came with the title track of his 1990 album Do Me Again. • As mainstream R&B took a more explicit turn in the ’90s, Jackson’s cleaner romantic style declined in popularity. But he’s continued releasing albums independently well into the 21st century.