Willis Jackson (saxophonist)

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
  1. Doc Rock. "The 1980s". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  2. Yanow, Scott. "Willis "Gator" Jackson". AllMusic. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  3. Dik de Heer, This Is My Story series, "Shakin' All Over" web articles
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