The only member of Booker T & the MGs who worked in the City of Memphis for the majority of the time was the late Al Jackson Jr. He was a songwriter, producer, and an extremely talented drummer. Albert J. Jackson Jr. was born in Memphis in 1935. He started drumming at an early age and first played on stage with his father’s band in 1940, at the age of five.
As a teenager, he joined Willie Mitchell’s band, with whom Booker T. Jones also played. It was Jones who later recommended Jackson to Stax. Jackson was not sure about joining, however. He wanted to have a secure income and therefore requested a regular salary, which was granted. His contribution at Stax Records was outstanding. He played on recordings by Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and Sam & Dave. He played on and produced songs by the well-known Blues singer Albert King.
Booker T & the MGs, with Al Jackson Jr. guarding the drum kit
Image: Stax Trade Ad (Wikimedia Commons)
He was also able to take up other offers of work from outside sources, including Hi Records. As a result, he played an important role in the success of Al Green’s career by co-writing and playing on many of Green’s gold records. Willie Mitchell (Green’s producer) has highlighted Al Jackson’s contribution, especially on tracks such as “I’m Still In Love With You”, saying: “I made the switch from Howard Grimes to Al Jackson Jr. after the track ‘Tired Of Being Alone’, because I decided to go for a softer sound. Howard played too hard. He didn’t float like Al. Al was one of greatest you heard, you could explain it to him, and he would figure it out. Howard was a bit stronger than I wanted on ‘Let’s Stay Together’. He would have played really hard, and the song wouldn’t have floated”. (From “The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits”, Adam White and Fred Bronson).
Jackson himself would explain it this way at the time: “I believe in solid rhythm, whether I’m playing four-four accented or two-four accented. It’s a syncopated rhythm with the bass drum and less emphasis on the left stick…. It’s a different groove from the Motown beat…I dig their sound, but they use the stomp rhythm practically in everything. The records they do are made from the switchboard and ours are natural….They used echo and we don’t. We cut our drums flat. I don’t use any muffling or anything. I just play the way I feel. I play with the butt end of my left stick. I developed that from playing hard at gigs.”
Several of the recordings that he played on became major landmarks according to the USA Grammy organisation because of their immense contribution to popular music over last four decades, ranking as all-time classic hits. He played with a wide range of well-known performers across several genres. The list includes Eric Clapton, Delaney & Bonnie, Eddie Floyd, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Rod Stewart, and many more.
Jackson was given a nickname that highlighted his ability as a drummer: The Human Timekeeper.
The Stax Museum and the Memphis Musicians Hall of Fame have on display drum kits that he used on the majority of his recordings, a Ludwig kit that Jackson used at Stax and a Rogers kit, mainly used at Hi Records.
Jackson died tragically on 30th September 1975, when he was shot in his Memphis home by an intruder.
