Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson

Willis Jackson was among the notable cadre of exciting, young, Florida musicians who came of age in the post World War II bebop years.  He got his first major professional break in the Cootie Williams orchestra, with whom he scored his first big record "Gator Tail" in 1949.  Jackson then plied his trade in the rhythm and blues field and married the great singer Ruth Brown, and his sax strongly backs Brown on her early recordings such as "5-10-15 Hours".

After breaking up with Brown, Jackson made his name for many years in the organ-tenor sax groups with the likes of Jack McDuff,  Thereafter, in the classic jazz revival of the 1970's he played strong mainstream jazz in many venues.  He suffered from poor health and died in 1987 at an early age.

 

originally broadcast in 2012

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