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Joe Jackson (musician)

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Joe Jackson
Born
David Ian Jackson

(1954-08-11) August 11, 1954 (age 72)
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
Occupation(s)Musician, vocalist, songwriter
Years active1970s–present
Known forNew wave music, jazz-influenced pop, classical compositions
Notable work"Is She Really Going Out with Him?", "It's Different for Girls", "Steppin' Out"

Joe Jackson (born David Ian Jackson on 11 August 1954) is a British artist known for his work as a musician, vocalist, and songwriter. After dedicating years to music education and performing in local venues, he initially found success with new wave tracks such as "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" and "It's Different for Girls". Shifting towards jazz-influenced pop, Jackson gained international acclaim with the hit "Steppin' Out". He is often associated with the 1980s Second British Invasion of the American music scene. Beyond pop and rock, Jackson has composed classical pieces, released 21 studio albums, and received five Grammy Award nominations.

Early life, family and education

David Ian Jackson was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, and spent his childhood in nearby Swadlincote, Derbyshire. He grew up in the Paulsgrove district of Portsmouth and attended Portsmouth Technical High School. Starting violin lessons at age 11 before transitioning to piano, he persuaded his father to place a piano in their council home in Paulsgrove. The family subsequently relocated to Gosport. By the time he was 16, Jackson was playing piano in bars. At 18, he earned a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music, where he was mentored by composition instructor Richard Stoker.

Career

Jackson initially performed under his birth name with his first group Edward Bear, later renamed Arms and Legs; they released two singles that failed to chart before disbanding in 1976. Known then as David Jackson, he acquired the nickname "Joe" because of his resemblance to the British puppet character Joe 90 and legally changed his first name to Joe at age 20. To finance a demo recording, Jackson played on the cabaret circuit.

Joe Jackson Band

In 1978, after a record producer heard his demo tape, Jackson signed with A&M Records. The Joe Jackson Band—featuring Jackson on vocals and keyboards, Gary Sanford on guitar, Graham Maby on bass, and David Houghton on drums—released their debut album Look Sharp! in 1979. The album fused rock, melodic jazz, and new wave elements and drew comparisons to artists like Elvis Costello and Graham Parker. Critically praised, Look Sharp! was ranked No. 98 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 greatest debut albums in 2013. Commercially, the single "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" reached the top 40 in five countries and peaked at No. 9 in Canada.

Later that same year, the band released I'm the Man, which maintained a similar musical approach and included Jackson’s highest-charting UK single "It's Different for Girls," which reached No. 5. The follow-up album Beat Crazy appeared in 1980. During this time, Jackson also collaborated with reggae musician Lincoln Thompson.

The band toured extensively until disbanding in 1980 when Houghton left due to exhaustion from touring. Although Maby continued collaborating with Jackson afterward, the full band reunited only briefly in 2004 for the album Volume 4.

Change in style

In 1981, Jackson produced The Keys Album, the sole LP by British power pop band the Keys.

Following the dissolution of the Joe Jackson Band, he recorded Jumpin' Jive, an album featuring swing and blues covers from artists such as Cab Calloway and Glenn Miller; this was credited as "Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive".

Jackson's 1982 release Night and Day became his only studio album to enter both UK and US Top 10 charts, reaching No. 3 in the UK and No. 4 in the US. It included US top-20 hits "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us in Two". Songs like "Real Men" and "A Slow Song" referenced New York City's early-1980s gay culture; notably, "Real Men" reached Australia’s top 10.

By 1984, having relocated to New York City for recording sessions, Jackson released Body and Soul, influenced by pop music alongside jazz standards and salsa rhythms. This album featured "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)", which peaked at No. 15 on US charts.

In 1985, he contributed piano performances on Joan Armatrading’s Secret Secrets, including the track "Love by You". The following year saw collaboration with Suzanne Vega on "Left of Center" from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack. His 1986 album Big World presented new material recorded live before an audience instructed not to applaud; it was issued as a unique three-sided double LP with an empty fourth side.

The instrumental record Will Power (1987), blending classical and jazz styles, anticipated his future musical direction. Before moving away from pop genres entirely, Jackson released Blaze of Glory, performed live during tours in its entirety, followed by Laughter & Lust. In 1995, he contributed "Statue of Liberty" to A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC, a tribute album honoring the English band XTC.

Post-pop

Toward the end of the 1990s, Jackson ventured into the realm of classical music by signing with Sony Classical in 1997. He released Symphony No. 1 in 1999, an album that earned him the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2001. This was followed by the release of Night and Day II in 2000.

In 2003, he brought back his original quartet to produce Volume 4 and embarked on a supporting tour. The following year, he lent his voice to a rendition of Pulp's "Common People" alongside William Shatner on the album Has Been. During 2005, Jackson toured across the United States and Europe together with Todd Rundgren and the string quartet Ethel. As a smoker, he relocated from New York to Berlin’s Kreuzberg district in 2006, partly motivated by local smoking restrictions. While there, he recorded his eighteenth studio album, Rain (released by Rykodisc in 2008), which was followed by an extensive five-month tour.

In 2015, Jackson revealed plans for a new album titled Fast Forward, serving as a follow-up to his 2012 release The Duke. He also announced accompanying North American tour dates. The lead single was made available for streaming on SoundCloud, and the full album briefly appeared online before being taken down.

On 18 January 2019, he unveiled Fool, an album inspired by his touring ensemble. The band performed the track "Fabulously Absolute" on The Tonight Show. Upon release, the album entered the top 20 charts in Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland; attained No. 25 on the US Billboard Top Album Sales Chart; and reached No. 13 on the UK Indie Albums Chart.

His 21st studio album, titled What a Racket!—also known as Mr. Joe Jackson Presents Max Champion in 'What a Racket!' —was released through earMUSIC on 24 November 2023.

Other activities

Jackson has actively opposed smoking ban legislation in both the United States and United Kingdom. He authored the pamphlet The Smoking Issue in 2005 and followed up with an essay titled Smoke, Lies and the Nanny State in 2007. Additionally, he recorded a satirical track called "In 20-0-3" addressing this subject.

His autobiography published in 1999, A Cure for Gravity, centers primarily on his musical journey and working-class roots rather than focusing on his experience with pop fame.

Legacy

The first tribute compilation dedicated to Jackson surfaced in 2004 under the title Different for Girls: Women Artists and Female-Fronted Bands Cover Joe Jackson. Among those featured was Joy Askew, who had collaborated with Jackson on multiple projects. Jackson himself expressed strong support for this all-female tribute initiative.

Personal life

At age 20, he formally changed his given name to Joe. Having lived for many years in New York City—a place that inspired songs like "Steppin' Out"—he now primarily resides in Berlin while maintaining additional residences in New York and Portsmouth.

Jackson’s marriage to Ruth ended in divorce after two years, which he described as a "disaster." In his memoir, he openly discussed his bisexuality and fluid approach to sexual identity. His exploration of same-sex attraction is notably reflected in the 1982 single "Real Men." In a 2001 interview, he confirmed being involved in a relationship with a male partner.

Discography

  • Look Sharp! (1979)
  • I'm the Man (1979)
  • Beat Crazy (1980)
  • Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive (1981)
  • Night and Day (1982)
  • Mike's Murder (1983)
  • Body and Soul (1984)
  • Big World (1986)
  • Will Power (1987)
  • Tucker (1988)
  • Live 1980/86 (1988)
  • Blaze of Glory (1989)
  • Laughter & Lust (1991)
  • Night Music (1994)
  • Heaven & Hell (1997)
  • Symphony No. 1 (1999)
  • Night and Day II (2000)
  • Volume 4 (2003)
  • Rain (2008)
  • The Duke (2012)
  • Fast Forward (2015)
  • Fool (2019)
  • What a Racket! (2023)

Bibliography

  • A Cure for Gravity, 1999, autobiography

External links

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