Willis "Gator" Jackson (April 25, 1928 – October 25, 1987) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

tenor saxophonist.

Biography

Born in

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

, and educated at the

University of Miami The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, incl ...

, Jackson joined

Cootie Williams Charles Melvin "Cootie" Williams (July 10, 1911 – September 15, 1985) was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter. Biography Born in Mobile, Alabama, Williams began his professional career at the age of 14 with the Yo ...

's band in 1948 as a teenager, and was part of it on and off until 1955. Under his own name (Willis Jackson and His Orchestra) he recorded various rhythm-and-blues instrumentals for

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

. His most famous record for Atlantic is "Gator's Groove" (1952), with "Estrellita" as the B-side. Jackson toured as leader of the backing band for singer

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the " Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atl ...

. Publicly they were married, but privately they never married but lived together from 1950 to 1955.Dik de Heer, ''This Is My Story'' series, "Shakin' All Over" web articles Jackson joined

Prestige Records Prestige Records is a jazz record company and label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock in New York City which issued recordings in the mainstream, bop, and cool jazz idioms. The company recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz music ...

in 1959, making a string of albums. Jackson died in New York City one week after heart surgery, in October 1987, at the age of 55.

Discography

As leader

* ''

Please Mr. Jackson ''Please Mr. Jackson'' is the debut album by saxophonist Willis Jackson. It featured organist Jack McDuff and guitarist Bill Jennings, and was recorded and released 1959 on the Prestige label.Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...

, 1959) * '' Cool "Gator"'' (Prestige, 1959) * ''

Blue Gator ''Blue Gator'' is the third album led by saxophonist Willis Jackson featuring organist Jack McDuff and guitarist Bill Jennings which was recorded in 1959 and 1960 and released on the Prestige label.Really Groovin''' (Prestige, 1961) * '' In My Solitude'' (Moodsville, 1961) * ''

Cookin' Sherry ''Cookin' Sherry'' is an album led by saxophonist Willis Jackson featuring which was recorded in 1959 and 1960 and released on the Prestige label.Thunderbird Thunderbird, thunder bird or thunderbirds may refer to: * Thunderbird (mythology), a legendary creature in certain North American indigenous peoples' history and culture * Ford Thunderbird, a car Birds * Dromornithidae, extinct flightless birds ...

'' (Prestige, 1962) * ''

Bossa Nova Plus ''Bossa Nova Plus'' (also released as ''Shuckin) is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson which was recorded in 1962 and released on the Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1963) * '' Neapolitan Nights'' (Prestige, 1963) * '' Grease 'n' Gravy'' (Prestige, 1963) * '' The Good Life'' (Prestige, 1963) * '' Loose...'' (Prestige, 1963) * '' Jackson's Action!'' (Prestige, 1964) * '' Boss Shoutin''' (Prestige, 1964) * '' 'Gator Tails'' (

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

, 1964) * '' More Gravy'' (Prestige, 1964) * ''

Together Again! ''Together Again!'' is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson with organist Jack McDuff which was recorded in 1959 and 1960 and released on the Prestige label in 1965. Reception AllMusic reviewer Richie Unterberger stated: "the Willis Jackson- ...

'' with

Jack McDuff Eugene McDuff (September 17, 1926 – January 23, 2001), known professionally as "Brother" Jack McDuff or "Captain" Jack McDuff, was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era ...

(Prestige, 1965) * ''

Smoking with Willis ''Smoking with Willis'' is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson which was recorded in New York City in 1965 and released on the Cadet label.Live! Action'' (Prestige, 1966) * '' Soul Night/Live!'' (Prestige, 1966) * ''

Together Again, Again ''Together Again, Again'' is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson with organist Brother Jack McDuff which was recorded in 1959, 1960 and 1961 and released on the Prestige label in 1966.Tell It...'' (Prestige, 1967) * ''

Soul Grabber ''Soul Grabber'' is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson which was recorded in 1967 and released on the Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1968) * ''

Star Bag ''Star Bag'' is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson which was recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige label.

'' with

Trudy Pitts Gertrude E. "Trudy" Pitts (August 10, 1932 – December 19, 2010) was an American soul jazz keyboardist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was known primarily for playing the Hammond B3 organ. Biography Trained as a musician and a music e ...

, Bill Jennings (Prestige, 1968) * ''

Swivelhips ''Swivelhips'' is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson which was recorded in 1968 and released on the Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1969) * '' Gator's Groove'' (Prestige, 1969) * ''Mellow Blues'' (UpFront, 1970) * ''Recording Session'' (Big Chance, 1972) * ''

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...

'' (Muse, 1974) * '' Headed and Gutted'' (Muse, 1974) * ''Funky Reggae'' (Trip, 1974) * ''The Way We Were'' (Atlantic, 1975) * ''Plays with Feeling'' (Cotillion, 1976) * '' In the Alley'' (Muse, 1977) * '' Bar Wars'' (Muse, 1978) * '' The Gator Horn'' (Muse, 1979) * ''

Single Action A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap ...

'' with

Pat Martino Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Biography Martino was born Patrick Carmen Azzara in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to father Carmen "Mickey" ...

(Muse, 1980) * ''Lockin' Horns'' with

Von Freeman Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman Sr. (October 3, 1923 – August 11, 2012) was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, Freeman as a young child was exposed to jazz. His father, George, a city policeman, was a c ...

(Muse, 1981) * ''

Gatorade Gatorade is an American brand of sports-themed beverage and food products, built around its signature line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo and is distributed in over 80 countries. The beverage was first develop ...

'' (Prestige, 1982) * '' Nothing Butt...'' (Muse, 1983) * ''Ya Understand Me?'' (Muse, 1984)

As sideman

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...

, ''Erotic Moods'' (Paul Winley, 1978) *

Bo Diddley Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, incl ...

, ''

Big Bad Bo ''Big Bad Bo'' is the 18th studio album by musician Bo Diddley released by the Chess label in 1974.Bo Diddley Disc ...

'' (Chess, 1974) *

Don McLean Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1971 hit song " American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early ...

, ''Homeless Brother'' (United Artists, 1974) *

Johnny "Hammond" Smith John Robert "Johnny Hammond" Smith (December 16, 1933 – June 4, 1997) was an American soul jazz and hard bop organist. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he was a renowned player of the Hammond B-3 organ so earning "Hammond" as a nickname, wh ...

, ''

Johnny "Hammond" Cooks with Gator Tail ''Johnny "Hammond" Cooks with Gator Tail'' is an album by jazz organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith and saxophonist Willis Jackson recorded for the Prestige label in 1962.1932 births 1987 deaths Soul-jazz saxophonists Jump blues musicians Hard bop saxophonists American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists Atlantic Records artists Fire Records artists Delmark Records artists Prestige Records artists Muse Records artists Fantasy Records artists 20th-century American saxophonists Musicians from Miami 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Black & Blue Records artists