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Alan Jackson
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Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958 in Newnan, Georgia) is an American country artist who has sold over 50 million records. He was influenced by the new traditional country of the 1980s, and he was one of the most popular country singers of the 1990s, blending both honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. In his career, he has recorded twelve studio albums and several compilations, all on the Arista Nashville label.
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Encyclopedia
Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958 in Newnan, Georgia) is an American country artist who has sold over 50 million records. He was influenced by the new traditional country of the 1980s, and he was one of the most popular country singers of the 1990s, blending both honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. In his career, he has recorded twelve studio albums and several compilations, all on the Arista Nashville label. More than fifty of his singles have reached Top 30 on the Billboard country charts, including twenty-five Number Ones. He is the recipient and nominee of multiple awards. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Early life
Jackson was born to Eugene Jackson and Ruth Musick in Newnan, Georgia and has four older sisters. As a youth, Jackson primarily listened to gospel music, and otherwise was not a major music fan. However, a friend of his introduced him to the music of Gene Watson, John Anderson and Hank Williams Jr. Jackson started a band after high school. After a time, he and his wife of six years, Denise, moved from Newnan to Nashville hoping to pursue music full-time.
Career
In Tennessee, Jackson got a job in The Nashville Network's mailroom. Denise got him connected to Glen Campbell, who helped him jumpstart his career. Jackson eventually signed with Arista.
His very first album was an obscure independent release on Americana Records in 1987 and entitled: "New Traditional". This included the tracks: "W. Lee O'Daniel And The Light Crust Dough Boys", "They Call Me A Playboy", "Just Forget It, Son" and "Merle and George".
His second album, 1989's Here in the Real World, on Arista Records, was a major hit, as was his third (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. His 1992 album, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love) was a success, spawning five major singles. Also in 1992, Randy Travis charted three singles co-written by Jackson: "Forever Together", "Better Class of Losers", and "I'd Surrender All". Conversely, Travis co-wrote Jackson's single "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)".
In 1994 Jackson left his management company, Ten Ten Management, which had overseen his career up to that point, and switched to Gary Overton.
It was around this time that Jackson also began gaining fame for his song-writing skills. Other country music artists who have charted with songs co-written by Jackson, include Clay Walker ("If I Could Make a Living"), Chely Wright ("Till I Was Loved By You") and Faith Hill ("I Can't Do That Anymore").
Music
"Alan Jackson: The Greatest Hits Collection" was released on October 24, 1995. The disc contained 17 hits, two newly-recorded songs ("I'll Try" and "Tall, Tall Trees"), and the song "Home" from his second album that had never been released as a single.
With Jackson's release of Under the Influence in 1999, he took the double risk on an album of covers of country classics while retaining a traditional sound when a rock- and pop-tinged sound dominated country radio.
When the Country Music Association (CMA) asked George Jones to trim his act to 90 seconds for the 1999 CMA awards, he decided to boycott the event. In solidarity, Jackson interrupted his own song and launched into Jones's song "Choices."
After country music changed toward pop music in the 2000s, he and George Strait criticized the state of country music on the song "Murder on Music Row". The song sparked debate in the country music community about whether or not "traditional" country music was actually dead or not. Despite the fact that the song was not officially released as a single, it became the highest-charting nonseasonal album cut (not available in any retail single configuration or released as a promotional single to radio during a chart run) to appear on Hot Country Singles & Tracks in the Broadcast Data Systems era, beating the record previously held by Garth Brooks' "Belleau Wood." The duo were invited to open the 2000 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMAs) with a performance of the tune. Rolling Stone commented on Jackson's style remarking, "If Garth and Shania have raised the bar for country concerts with Kiss-style production and endless costume changes, then Alan Jackson is doing his best to return the bar to a more human level." After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson released "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" as a tribute. The song became a hit single and briefly propelled him into the mainstream spotlight.
At the 2001 CMA Awards, Jackson debuted the song "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning". The performance was generally considered the highlight of the show, and Jackson's site crashed the next day from server requests. The song came to Jackson suddenly, and had not been scheduled for any official release, but the live performance began receiving radio airplay and was soon released as a single.
Jackson released a Christmas album, titled Let It Be Christmas, October 22, 2002.
Jeannie Kendall contacted Jackson to do a duet, and he suggested the song "Timeless and True Love". It appeared on her first solo album, released in 2003.
In early 2006, Jackson released his first gospel music album entitled Precious Memories. He put together the album by the request of his mother, who enjoys religious music. Jackson considered this album a "side project" and nothing too official, but it was treated as such. The album received little to no airplay from radio stations, and proved to be not as successful as his previous work.
Only mere months after the release of Precious Memories in 2006, Jackson released his next country album Like Red on a Rose.
Unlike his previous albums, Like Red on a Rose had a different producer and sound. Alan's main producer for his music, Keith Stegall, was notably absent from this album. Instead, Alison Krauss was hired to produce the album. She also chose the songs.
Despite being labeled as "country music" or "bluegrass", Like Red on a Rose had a mainstream sound to it, upsetting some fans, even making some of them believe that Jackson was abandoning his traditional past and aiming toward a more mainstream pop sound.
However, for his next album, he went back to his country roots. Jackson's newest studio album, Good Time, was released on March 4, 2008. The album's first single, "Small Town Southern Man," was released to radio on November 19.
Awards, nominations and induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame
In 1989 he was nominated for a total of six Country Music Association awards (CMAs).
He was nominated for four 1994 CMAs, including Entertainer of the Year.
Jackson was the most nominated artist at the 29th annual TNN/Music City News Country Awards that was broadcast June 5 from the Grand Ole Opry House. His six nominations included best entertainer, male artist, vocal collaboration, album, single, and video (two nominations in this category).
At the 2002 CMAs, Jackson set a record for having the most nominations in a single year - ten - many rising from the song ""Where Were You". It also brought his career total up to the second number of most nominations ever, after George Strait. "Where Were You" also was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year. The song was also subsequently parodied in the South Park episode "A Ladder To Heaven".
At the 2003 Academy of Country Music Awards, Jackson won Album of the Year for Drive and Video of the Year for the video to "Drive (For Daddy Gene)."
Jackson was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on October 22, 2001 in Atlanta.
Jackson was the honoree for 2008 Giants.
Ford trucks endorsement
Ford's agency J. Walter Thompson USA in Detroit, in 1997, worked out with Jackson a multimillion-dollar, multi-year contract for his sole endorsement of Ford trucks. In his video for "Who's Cheatin' Who" he was behind the wheel of a "Big Foot" Ford F-150 pickup truck, and Ford's five Nascar vehicles (at the time) were prominently featured. Additionally, he changed the lyrics "crazy 'bout a Mercury" of the song "Mercury Blues" to "crazy 'bout a Ford truck" in a TV ad for the Ford F-series.
Touring
Jackson headlined the 1995 Fruit Of The Loom Comfort Tour, a deal worth $40 million. It began January 20 in New Orleans and ran for a hundred dates.
Alan Jackson's 2004 concert tour launched January 23 in Fort Myers, Florida and was sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts in a deal that included Jackson's endorsement in TV spots. The tour included more than 50 U.S. dates. Martina McBride was the opening for some of the shows.
Band
Alan Jackson's backup band (since 1989) is "The Strayhorns". The current line-up of musicians is:
- Monty Allen - acoustic guitar, harmony vocals
- Scott Coney - acoustic guitar, tic tac bass, banjo
- Robbie Flint - steel guitar
- Danny Groah - lead guitar
- Mark McClurg - fiddle, harmony vocals
- Bruce Rutherford - drums
- Joey Schmidt - keyboards
- Roger Wills - bass guitar
Personal life
Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Denise Jackson, on December 15, 1979. They are the parents of three daughters: Mattie Denise (born June 19, 1990), Alexandra Jane "Ali" (born August 23, 1993), and Dani Grace (born August 28, 1997). Although the couple separated for several months in 1998 due to the strains of Jackson's career; they have since reconciled. Their story is referenced in one of Jackson's most famous songs, "Remember When". Denise and their daughters appear in the accompanying video.
Denise Jackson wrote a book that topped the New York Times Best Seller list that covered her life with Jackson, their relationship, separation, and recommitment to each other, and her commitment to Christianity, the book was titled It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life, which was published in 2007. In May 2008 she released a Gift Book titled "The Road Home."
Jackson's nephew, Adam Wright, is also a country music singer-songwriter. Adam and his wife, Shannon, perform together as a duo called The Wrights. The Wrights co-wrote two songs and sang harmony vocals on Jackson's What I Do album.
Jackson is a cousin of Pittsburgh Pirates player Brandon Moss.
Jackson maintains a close friendship with fellow country singer, George Jones. Jones has been mentioned in songs such as "Don't Rock the Jukebox" (Jones also appeared in the video which accompanied it) and "Murder on Music Row". Jones can also be seen in the video for "Good Time". In 2008, Jones was a surprise guest at Jackson's "CMT Giant" ceremony, where he thanked Jackson for his friendship.
Discography
Awards
ASCAP
- Country Song of the Year, "Don't Rock The Jukebox" 1992
- Country Songwriter of the Year 1993
- Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year, 2008
Academy of Country Music
- Top New Male Vocalist 1990
- Single Record of the Year, "Don't Rock the Jukebox" 1991
- Album of the Year, Don't Rock the Jukebox 1991
- Single Record of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993; "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" 2002
- Album of the Year, A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'bout Love) 1993
- Male Vocalist of the Year 1994 and 1995
- All time winner: Single of the Year 2005
Country Music Association
- Music Video of the Year, "Midnight In Montgomery" 1992
- Music Video of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993
- Single of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993
- Single of the Year, "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" 2002
- Vocal Event of the Year, "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" (with George Jones) 1993
- Vocal Event of the Year, "Murder On Music Row" (with George Strait) 2000
- Vocal Event of the Year, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (with Jimmy Buffett) 2003
- Song of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1994
- Song of the Year, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" 2002
- Album of the Year, Common Threads: The Songs of the Eagles 1994
- Album of the Year, Drive 2002
- Male Vocalist of the Year 2002, 2003
- Entertainer of the Year 1995, 2002, 2003
Grammy
- Best Country Song "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" 2002
External links
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