Melvin Jackson appeared on the blues music scene right after World War 2. Born to a father who loved blues music and a mother who was a gospel singer steered Jackson toward the music. His first performing experience was with a Texas gospel group before the war. While in the Army, Jackson learned to be a mechanic and his plan was to do that after the war, until he decided to give music a try.
In 1946 he sent a demo to Houston’s Gold Star Records and they were impressed, scoring a national R&B hit with Jackson in 1948. It was his only national hit, although he recorded consistently through the mid 1950s. The best known song from Jackson was not recorded by himself in the form it is best remembered. Jackson recorded his Rockin’ and Rollin’ in 1951 and later versions recorded by B.B. King and Muddy Waters changed the title to Rock Me Baby. The latter has become a blues standard based on the Jackson original.
Melvin Jackson dropped out of music in 1956 after a car accident and returned to work as a mechanic. He was ‘discovered’ in 1960 and returned to record two more records, but the blues music renaissance that brought fame to many of his contemporaries passed him by.
Melvin ‘lil son’ Jackson died in 1976 from cancer in Dallas.
