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American jazz musician (1928–1987)
Willis "Gator " Jackson (April 25, 1932 – October 25, 1987)
[1] was an American
jazz tenor saxophonist.
Biography
Born in
Miami, Florida ,
[1] and educated at the
University of Miami , Jackson joined
Cootie Williams 's band in 1948 as a teenager, and was part of it on and off until 1955.
[2]
Under his own name (Willis Jackson and His Orchestra) he recorded various rhythm-and-blues instrumentals for
Atlantic Records . His most famous record for Atlantic is "Gator's Groove" (1952), with "Estrellita" as the B-side.
Jackson toured as leader of the backing band for singer
Ruth Brown . Publicly they were married, but privately they never married but lived together from 1950 to 1955.
[3] Jackson joined
Prestige Records in 1959, making a string of albums.
[2]
Jackson died in New York City one week after heart surgery, in October 1987, at the age of 55.
[1]
Discography
As leader
Please Mr. Jackson (
Prestige , 1959)
Cool "Gator" (Prestige, 1959)
Blue Gator (Prestige, 1960)
Really Groovin' (Prestige, 1961)
In My Solitude (Moodsville, 1961)
Cookin' Sherry (Prestige, 1961)
Thunderbird (Prestige, 1962)
Bossa Nova Plus (Prestige, 1963)
Neapolitan Nights (Prestige, 1963)
Grease 'n' Gravy (Prestige, 1963)
The Good Life (Prestige, 1963)
Loose... (Prestige, 1963)
Jackson's Action! (Prestige, 1964)
Boss Shoutin' (Prestige, 1964)
'Gator Tails (
Verve , 1964)
More Gravy (Prestige, 1964)
Together Again! with
Jack McDuff (Prestige, 1965)
Smoking with Willis (Cadet, 1965)
Live! Action (Prestige, 1966)
Soul Night/Live! (Prestige, 1966)
Together Again, Again with Jack McDuff (Prestige, 1967)
Tell It... (Prestige, 1967)
Soul Grabber (Prestige, 1968)
Star Bag with
Trudy Pitts ,
Bill Jennings (Prestige, 1968)
Swivelhips (Prestige, 1969)
Gator's Groove (Prestige, 1969)
Mellow Blues (UpFront, 1970)
Recording Session (Big Chance, 1972)
West Africa (Muse, 1974)
Headed and Gutted (Muse, 1974)
Funky Reggae (Trip, 1974)
The Way We Were (Atlantic, 1975)
Plays with Feeling (Cotillion, 1976)
In the Alley (Muse, 1977)
Bar Wars (Muse, 1978)
The Gator Horn (Muse, 1979)
Single Action with
Pat Martino (Muse, 1980)
Lockin' Horns with
Von Freeman (Muse, 1981)
Gatorade (Prestige, 1982)
Nothing Butt... (Muse, 1983)
Ya Understand Me? (Muse, 1984)
As sideman
References
International National Artists Other