John Jackson--Traditional Musician

J-101

John Jackson, Piedmont guitar master and influential traditional musician, was born near here on 25 Feb. 1924. One of fourteen children of tenant farmers Suddy and Hattie Jackson, Jackson learned songs on the guitar and banjo from his parents, traveling and local musicians, and records. He moved to Fairfax County in 1950, where he worked various jobs and started a grave-digging business. Introduced to the Washington, D.C., folk scene in 1964, Jackson performed on eight records, at clubs, on radio, and at festivals in the U.S. and Europe. He received the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship Award in 1986. Jackson died at home in Fairfax Station on 20 Jan. 2002.

Department of Historic Resources, 2005

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References/Bibliographic Citation:

Sources consulted include: Richard Harrington, The Great Guitar of John Jackson,” Washington Post 22 January 2002: C01; Don Harrison, “John Jackson’s Fantastic Blues: Blues and Mountain Hoedown,” 64 Magazine January/February 2001; John Jackson (1924-2002), http://www.alligator.com/artists/bio.cfm?ArtistID=042, 15 January 2005; John Jackson, Front Porch Blues,http://www.alligator.com/artists/album.cfm?AlbumID=al4867&ArtistID=042, 15 January 2005; Jon Pareles, “John Jackson, 77 Guitarist and Singer In Piedmont Style,” New York Times, 29 January 2002: A25; Pleasant Hill (Millwood), Virginia Department of Historic Resources Archives File (78-39); Rappahannock County, 15th Census of the United States: 1930, Piedmont Magisterial District, Sheet No. 9B, Microfilm, Library of Virginia.