Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson is an American soul and R&B singer born Frederick Anthony Jackson on October 2, 1956, in Harlem, New York. He rose to fame in the 1980s with smooth ballads and chart-topping hits.
Jackson grew up in Harlem and began singing in church, a common path for many Black artists. He started his professional career in the early 1980s as the lead singer for the funk band Mystic Merlin on their 1982 album Full Moon. Later, he worked as a backup singer for artists like Evelyn "Champagne" King and Melba Moore.
From 1985, Jackson scored over 30 R&B chart hits, including ten number ones, ranking him 11th among the decade's top R&B artists. Key singles like "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)," "You Are My Lady," and "Jam Tonight" crossed into pop Top 40. His duets with Melba Moore, such as "A Little Bit More," were also major successes.
His debut Rock Me Tonight (1985) and follow-up Just Like the First Time (1986) both went platinum in the US, topping R&B charts. Later releases like Don't Let Love Slip Away (1988) and Do Me Again (1990) earned gold status. Hits tapered after 1992, but he continued with albums into the 2010s, including Love Signals in 2018.
Jackson appeared in the 1990 film Def by Temptation. He remains active with live performances and released studio albums as recently as 2018. Grammy-nominated, he's celebrated for his emotive style in soul and quiet storm genres.
Rock Me Tonight
Producer – Barry Eastmond
Written-By – B. Eastmond, K. Diamond
4:44
A2 Love Is Just A Touch Away
Producer – Barry Eastmond
Written-By – B. Eastmond, F. Jackson
5:15
A3 I Wanna Say I Love You
Producer – Barry Eastmond
Written-By – B. Eastmond, F. Jackson
4:38
A4 You Are My Lady
Producer, Written-By – Barry Eastmond
4:42
B1 Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)
Backing Vocals – Paul Laurence, Reggie King
Bass – Timmy Allen
Producer, Written-By, Drum Programming, Keyboards [& D X 7, Kurtzweil] – Paul Laurence
7:06
B2 Sing A Song Of Love
Producer, Written-By – Barry Eastmond
5:05
B3 Calling
Producer – Barry Eastmond
Written-By – B. Eastmond, K. Diamond
5:30
B4 Good Morning Heartache
Producer – Robert Aries
Soloist, Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine
Written-By – Fisher, Drake, Higginbotham
4:26
Label: Capitol Records – ST-12404
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Contemporary R&B
Released in 1985, Freddie Jackson’s Rock Me Tonight is a definitive 1980s quiet storm masterpiece, featuring a platinum-selling blend of romantic, synth-heavy ballads and uptempo funk, highlighted by hits like the title track and "You Are My Lady". The album established Jackson as a premiere R&B balladeer, earning a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
The album captures the essence of mid-80s R&B, combining lush, sentimental balladry with, in some tracks, an aggressive, dance-oriented funk sound.
Rock Me Tonight was a massive success, spending 63 weeks on the U.S. R&B chart, with four top-10 hits, including the 6-week number-one title track.
Jackson is recognized for his smooth tenor, utilizing signature vibrato to deliver romantic, heartfelt performances.
Key Tracks:
"Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)": A slow, rhythmic ballad with nostalgic lyrics.
"You Are My Lady": A signature, highly romantic ballad.
"He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)": A high-energy, danceable track.
"Good Morning Heartache": A jazz standard cover showcasing his versatility, featuring a saxophone solo by Stanley Turrentine.
With backing from top industry talents, the album solidified Jackson as a 1980s heartthrob, competing directly with contemporaries like Luther Vandross.
The album is highly regarded by critics and fans, often cited for its "all killer, no filler" quality within the R&B genre.It remains his most celebrated work, with fans on Discogs giving it high average ratings (approx. 4.3 to 4.5 out of 5).