Cordell Jackson
Cordell Jackson | |
---|---|
Garage Rock Rockabilly | |
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Years active | 1941-2004 |
This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2023) ) |
Cordell Jackson (née Miller; July 15, 1923 – October 14, 2004)[1] was an American guitarist thought to be the first woman to produce, engineer, arrange and promote music on her own rock and roll music label.[2][3]
Early life
She was born Cordell Miller in
Career
Jackson founded the Moon Records label in Memphis in 1956, and released her first single "Beboppers Christmas" under the label in the same year.[4][7] Unable to break into the Sun label's stable of male artists, she received the advice and assistance of RCA Records' Chet Atkins in forming this new label to release her music.[8] She began releasing and promoting on the label singles she recorded in her home studio, serving as engineer, producer and arranger. The artists recorded included her and a small family of early rock and roll, rockabilly, and country music performers she recruited from several Southern states, such as Allen Page, Earl Patterson, and Johnny Tate.[1] In addition to running Moon Records, Jackson worked various day jobs throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including as an interior decorator, D.J., and printer.[1]
In the late 1990s, Jackson co-wrote and played with rockabilly icon Colonel Robert Morris in Memphis. Colonel Robert also helped edit the book based on her life and career. She appeared as "Bathroom Lady" in the 1992 The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, and as an extra in Great Balls of Fire![4][10]
Her Moon Records label was the oldest continuously operating label in Memphis at the time of her death in 2004. The 50s Rock on the Moon of Memphis, Tennessee + an Oddity, a compilation album of the label's 1950s singles, was released on vinyl in the early 1980s and was later sold on compact disc until her death in 2004.
Jackson's only solo full-length album to date, Cordell Jackson — Live in Chicago was released by
Death
Jackson died of pancreatic cancer in Memphis on October 14, 2004, aged 81.[15]
Discography
Singles
- Cordell Jackson
- "Rock And Roll Christmas" / "Beboppers' Christmas" - Moon Records G80W-6407/8 - (1956)[16]
- Cordell Jackson and her Guitar
- "Football Widow" / "I'm at Home Again (In the Memories of My Mind)" Moon Records EP-311 - (1983)[17]
- "Rockin' Rollin' Eyes" / "Memphis Drag" - Sympathy for the Record Industry SFTRI 50 - (1990)[18]
EPs
- Cordell Jackson
- Various artist compilations
- Moon Records of Memphis, Tennessee - Moon - EP-1001 - (198?) [17]
Albums
- Cordell Jackson
- Live in Chicago - Bughouse 3 - (1997)[19]
- Various artists compilations
- The 50s Rock On The Moon of Memphis, Tennessee + an Oddity - Moon Records LP-MR 3010 - (1979) [17] (Moon compilation LP, rereleased later on CD, United States, 1981* Rock And Roll Christmas (Jan/Star Club compilation, Sweden, 1989)
- Rock On The Moon (Redita compilation, the Netherlands)
- Living in a State of Love. (Memphis Music Community, 1990s)
- Rockabilly Xmas. (Buffalo Bop compilation, Germany, 2000)
- Past, Present and Future. (Inside Sounds, 2003)
Song sample
- Moon Discography Containing mp3 of Jackson's 1956 Moon Single "Rock and Roll Christmas"
- Johnny Tate: "Bop With Me Baby" / "Keeping Your Memories" / "Kind And Gentle '57" Cleveland Rock-n-Roll Hall Of Fame
Musical references
- "'J' Artists & Songs." Rockabilly Hall of Fame website. Accessed May 3, 2005.
- Gordon, Terry (2004). "Cordell Jackson." Rockin' Country Style Artist Discography. Accessed May 3, 2005.
- Gordon, Terry (2004). "Moon." Rockin' Country Style Artist Discography. Accessed May 3, 2005.
- Hanas, Jim (August 4, 1997). "Cordell Jackson — Live in Chicago." Weekly Wire. Accessed May 3, 2005.
- Hoppula, Peter (1998–2005). "Moon Records Discography"; "Post-Productions of Moon Records/Cordell Jackson." Wang Dang Dula! Accessed May 3, 2005.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fishman, Howard (January 6, 2024). "Overlooked No More: Cordell Jackson, Elder Stateswoman of Rock' n' Roll". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ISBN 978-962-217-534-1.
- ^ a b c "Cordell Jackson – Women of Achievement". 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Cline, Cheryl. Cordell Jackson Profile, Country Grrrl. Retrieved 29 November 2019
- ^ ISBN 978-1-878067-08-1.
- ISBN 978-0-8078-2537-2.
- ^ Porter, James (2005-02-12). "Cordell Jackson Interview". Roctober Magazine. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ Venutti, Isabella (2023-10-09). "Cordell Jackson: The Rock 'n' Roll Granny". Mixdown Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-252-02207-4.
- ^ a b "Rockin' Grannie Cordell Jackson". Thrust Magazine. 1999-02-24. Archived from the original on 1999-02-24. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ISBN 978-0-571-19848-1.
- ISBN 978-0-679-76874-6.
- ^ Nix, Mede (September 1, 1990). "Cordell Jackson is a 67-year-old born-again grandmother, real estate..." UPI. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ "Rock ' n ' Soul Audiovisual History Project Collection | Collection: NMAH.AC.0879". sova.si.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ Cordell Jackson Biography, Allmusic.com. Retrieved 29 November 2019
- '^ Rockin Country Style Jackson, Cordell
- ^ a b c d Country Music Showcase International Moon Records Archived 2016-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Discogs Cordell Jackson Discography
- ^ All Music Cordell Jackson Live in Chicago