The Jackson Singers / USA
Although all the singers and musicians are from various areas in the USA, they all have one thing in common - a good "ole" Sunday-go-to-meeting Church Gospel and Spiritual background. Their program is a singing sermon of traditional Spirituals and contemporary Gospels. The group has appeared on programs with internationally acclaimed stars such as Lionel Hampton, Odetta, Oscar Peterson, Paul Anka, Olivia Molina, and José Carreras.
In 1984, to celebrate it's 60th Anniversary as a radio station, and it's 30th Anniversary as a television station , the "Hessischer Rundfunk" featured many internationally prominent artists such as Oscar Peterson and Olivia Molina, as well as "The Jackson Singers". This televised event marked the beginning of the groups appearances and performances throughout all of Europe.
The International Festival of Jazz in Barcelona, Spain celebrated its 17th anniversary with "The Jackson Singers" in the cathedral Santa Maria del Mar. When the Berlin Wall fell, they were the first Gospel group to appear and be televised in the famous churches and concert houses in Dresden, Halle, Leipzig, Chemnitz, Erfurt and many others. The group has also appeared vocally with other groups such as Far Corporation (Stairway to Heaven), Meatloaf, Smokie, Milli Vanilli, Münchner Freiheit, and Supermax, just to name a few.
Wherever the group appears, whether it's Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finnland, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Poland or Switzerland, their music touches and moves listeners wherever they perform.
Whether you have seen or experienced the group in churches, cathedrals, jazz festivals, gala-events, TV shows, in Alain Courneau's award-winning film "Le Nouveau Monde", or on Thomas Gottschalk's TV show "Hausparty", they always create a mood of enthusiastic emotion with their music.
The Founder Robert De Witt Jackson
For Robert DeWitt Jackson, and his renowned group, "The Jackson Singers", Gospels and Spirituals are not just a form of music, but a way of life. Hailing from Indianapolis, Indianna, Bob's music interest was nurtured at an early age by his mother, Zelma Jackson, who was moderator for a local Gospel radio program. Today she devotes her time to performing and playing in churches, local penal institutions and other charity organizations.
Bob founded the group in 1983 while still working as an instructor for
languages in Frankfurt am Main. The group gained popularity and acceptance
almost immediately. Shortly after it's founding, the group was invited
to play at the "Alte Oper" (the Old Opera House) in Frankfurt.
The venue was for a benefit performance featuring Jeff Conway, Lena Valaitis,
Mike Melcher, and "The Jackson Singers".
Helping others is the philosophy that the group strives to express in
their music as well as their everyday lives.
Robert "Bob" Jackson passed away on May 17, 2002 after a short illness. (German only)