Chuck Jackson (musician)

Chuck Jackson (born March 11, 1953)[1] is the Canadian musician, lead singer and one of two harmonica players[2] in the Downchild Blues Band, otherwise known as Downchild, with which he has been associated since 1990.

For the R&B/soul singer, see Chuck Jackson.

Chuck Jackson
Born (1953-03-11) March 11, 1953
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
Instrument(s)Harmonica
Years active1960's–present

Biography

Jackson has been a professional musician since the 1960s, and since the late 1970s primarily as a blues singer and harmonica player.[1] Between 1978 and 1992, he was the lead singer of the well respected Cameo Blues Band, of Toronto, with whom he continues to perform on occasion.[3] In addition to his work with Downchild, Jackson performs and has recorded with a changing group of musicians, which has included Downchild's Michael Fonfara and Pat Carey, as Chuck Jackson and The Allstars.

While Jackson was born in Toronto, for most of his life he has also lived in Port Credit, Ontario. Jackson has demonstrated a particular passion for supporting the Port Credit. In 1999, he co-founded the Southside Shuffle, an annual Port Credit-based blues and jazz festival that has grown to feature in excess of one hundred acts over three days.[4]

Jackson has been honoured with a distinguished career award by the Toronto Blues Society, as well as Maple Blues Awards[5] for male vocalist of the year, among other honours.

Jackson is also the half brother of Canadian comedians Mike Bullard and Pat Bullard.[6] Having battled cancer since 2021 Jackson is still performing and at the 2023 Southside Shuffle with the Downchild Blues Band. The city of Mississauaga which Port Credit is a part of honoured him for his 25 years of organizing the event.

Awards
  • 1999 Maple Blues Award, Male Vocalist of The Year
  • 2002 Blues With a Feeling Award, Toronto Blues Society, honouring distinguished career
  • 2007 Maple Blues Award, Male Vocalist of The Year

Discography

With Downchild
  • 1994 Good Times Guaranteed (Downchild Music)
  • 1997 Lucky 13 (Downchild Music)
  • 2004 Come On In (Downchild Music)
  • 2007 Live at the Palais Royale (Downchild Music)
  • 2009 I Need A Hat (Downchild Music)

With The Cameo Blues Band
  • 2002 All Play and No Work (Make It Real Records)

Chuck Jackson and The Allstars
  • 2000 Last Night (Iridescent Music)
  • 2006 Comfy Cosy (Iridescent Music)

References
  1. Chuck Jackson – Bluesman; www.chuckjackson.com.
  2. The other being Donnie ("Mr. Downchild") Walsh, who is also the lead guitarist and founder of the band.
  3. Biography of Chuck Jackson – "Southside Shufflemeister" Archived September 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine; www.torontobluessociety.com. Jackson continued to perform with the Cameo Blues Band while at the same time having assumed the role of lead vocalist in Downchild in 1990. Jackson is also one of the vocalists featured on the Cameo Blues Band 2002 release, All Play and No Work.
  4. See Southside Shuffle website Archived September 26, 2017, at the Wayback Machine; www.southsideshuffle.com.
  5. Regarded as the Canadian equivalent of a Blues Music Award.
  6. Joe Curtis, The Buddy Guy Blues Band reaches their bluesy zenith Archived April 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Southside Shuffle Concert Review, September 8, 2007 (referencing Jackson and Bullard common parentage); www.jazzreview.com.
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