Freddie Jackson, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer whose smooth vocals powered 1980s hits such as “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady,” has died. He was 70.
Jackson’s family announced his death Monday in a statement posted to his official Instagram account. He died three days after celebrating his 70th birthday, the statement said. No cause of death was given.
“Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had,” the family said. “For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever.”
The statement also thanked fans: “To everyone who ever sang along, danced, or felt something when Freddie took the stage: thank you. You were family to him, and he carried your love with him always.” Arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
A Harlem native, Jackson grew up immersed in soul music and sang gospel at White Rock Baptist Church. He began his career in New York’s club scene and later performed out West with the band Mystic Merlin in the late 1970s before returning to New York. His 1985 debut album, “Rock Me Tonight,” was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and earned him two Grammy nominations: best new artist and best male R&B vocal performance for the single “You Are My Lady.” The album made him an R&B superstar and a fixture on the Billboard charts and contemporary urban radio throughout the 1980s and early ’90s.