Chuck Jackson

at the 20 Grand

Chuck Jackson is a suave, seasoned performer who, as many Detroiters well know, has a considerable history in popular music. He first recorded commercially with the Del Vikings (he sings baritone on the classic "Come Go With Me") and had his first hit in 1961 when he wrote "I Don't Want To Cry," establishing his image as a torchy soul/ballad singer of strength and sophistication. His biggest record was the strange and poignant "Any Day Now" (1963), the first hit written by Burt Bacharach.

Since his early successes in the 60's, Chuck Jackson has been active as a songwriter and, most recently, as producer for the successful young Natalie Cole ("This Will Be"), daughter of the late Nat "King" Cole. He's performed in Las Vegas, but not really toured extensively for the last few years. Detroit, in fact, had not seen Chuck live on stage for at least five years, until the 20 Grand brought him back the weekend of January 9. 10, and 11.

I must say that I so eagerly awaited the chance to pick up on the legendary Chuck Jackson style (said to be the inspiration for a whole host of later white stars from Tom Jones to The Beatles) that one of the winter's ugliest storms that Saturday night just couldn't keep me away. The blizzard did manage to reduce the size of the crowd al the Driftwood Lounge by about one-half, but there was plenty of the Chuck Jackson style nevertheless - more than one's money's worth, in fact.

It was quite impressive to watch Chuck and the competent backup unit. the Pazant Brothers Orchestra, kick through a series of solid, middle-of-the-road soul standards (or songs that sound like standards) in a super-slick, but moving, show. Although he suffered from various limitations- the snowstorm, the influenza that had just stricken Pablo Landrum, drummer for the Pazant Bros. - Chuck managed to deliver an electric performance just the same, working his audience with the charm and class of one who knows what he's doing.

The songs were: Bobby Hebb's "Sunny"; "Since I Don't Have You"; a '75 recording, "Your Love Light"; "Pretty Baby": "Any Day Now," of course; his current single on All-Platinum Records, a give-me-sex number titled "Turn Out the Lights (Close the Door)"; the smash "I Don't Want to Cry": and Ben E. King's all-time standard "Stand By Me."

Chuck!

- Frank Bach