Jackie Jackson, born Clifton Courtney Jackson on 22 March 1947, passed away on 23 September 2026. The Jamaican bass player was a central figure in the development of reggae and related genres, with a career spanning multiple decades and a prolific discography that included work with some of the island’s most significant recording artists.
Jackson’s earliest professional work came during the rock steady era of the mid-1960s, when he became a regular fixture at Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle studio, performing as a member of the Supersonics house band. His melodic bass lines appeared on numerous hits that achieved chart success internationally, including tracks by Desmond Dekker, Harry J Allstars, and the Upsetters. His playing style drew influence from both Lloyd Brevett’s acoustic approach and James Jamerson’s electric technique at Motown Records.
Beginning in 1968, Jackson participated in various studio session bands that recorded foundational reggae material for multiple producers and artists. His work during this period included collaborations with the Wailers, Bob and Marcia, Jimmy Cliff, and other prominent Jamaican acts. His performances appeared on the soundtrack to the 1972 film The Harder They Come and on recordings by international artists seeking to work with Jamaica’s premier musicians, including Paul Simon’s Mother and Child Reunion.
From 1968 onward, Jackson maintained a long-standing association with Toots and the Maytals, eventually reducing his session work to focus primarily on the group. He continued recording and touring with the band across several decades, working on projects with foreign artists and contributing to collaborative fusion ventures. In 1982, Jackson stepped back from the demands of touring and session work, establishing himself as an entertainment consultant based in Montego Bay, specializing in live music event production until 1995, when he returned to performing with the Maytals.
In 2012, Jackson received the Order of Distinction at the Commander class level in recognition of his contributions to Jamaican popular music. He was survived by his daughter Courtni with his wife Karen Smith, a cabaret singer whom he married in 1989 and who preceded him in death in 2021, as well as three daughters from previous relationships.
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