Al Jackson Jr.

Al Jackson, Jr. was the excellent drummer who kept <a href="spotify:artist:2vDV0T8sxx2ENnKXds75e5">Booker T. & the MG's</a> in line, both on their own recordings as well as on dozens of sessions for artists contracted to Hi and Stax Records. Born in Memphis in 1934, he came up with producer <a href="spotify:artist:3EkURHRbSZWjatYLo36NMS">Willie Mitchell</a> at the Hi label and played on dozens of hits by <a href="spotify:artist:3dkbV4qihUeMsqN4vBGg93">Al Green</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5dM7jA0PXh0Ozz8LT2YOCB">Ann Peebles</a>, among others. Keyboard player <a href="spotify:artist:6J3pUmw6KX1LqyLQkP0k9U">Booker T. Jones</a>, who had played in <a href="spotify:artist:3EkURHRbSZWjatYLo36NMS">Mitchell</a>'s band as well, considered Jackson the best drummer in Memphis. In 1962, he persuaded Jackson to join Stax Records, where the pair joined guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:1gLCO8HDtmhp1eWmGcPl8S">Steve Cropper</a> and (later) bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn to form <a href="spotify:artist:2vDV0T8sxx2ENnKXds75e5">Booker T. & the MG's</a>, arguably the best house band in history. The group played on virtually every recording by <a href="spotify:artist:60df5JBRRPcnSpsIMxxwQm">Otis Redding</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0N5PyKJzS3M1XNlaCL7bbE">Wilson Pickett</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2BVYdY4PyfCF9z4NrkhEB2">Sam & Dave</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1QAGLCom3FHTTiuRFsjzOj">Carla</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3iRSHS3b4NUdjNbnw3Opg8">Rufus Thomas</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6Bfy6QzadCXS92y0T8dDZF">Eddie Floyd</a>, and William Bell during the mid- to late '60s. <a href="spotify:artist:2vDV0T8sxx2ENnKXds75e5">Booker T. & the MG's</a> were hitmakers as well, thanks to instrumental tracks like "Green Onions," "Hip Hug-Her," "Hang 'Em High," and "Time Is Tight."

By 1971, however, popularity drove the group apart as both <a href="spotify:artist:1gLCO8HDtmhp1eWmGcPl8S">Cropper</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6J3pUmw6KX1LqyLQkP0k9U">Jones</a> spent much time away from Memphis. During the early '70s, Jackson spent time working as both a session drummer and producer, appearing on albums by <a href="spotify:artist:6PAt558ZEZl0DmdXlnjMgD">Eric Clapton</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0HU0U9kdXEHZVxUNbuQe8S">Donny Hathaway</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5dCuFngSPyOOnTAvrC7v2s">Freddie King</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6ycoXr0Ayd89vFUT6BOiWo">Herbie Mann</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:74keeJdeVxqce4qJFj6WGx">the Soul Children</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5EORJzqrFf7pwweCv9fUnV">Shirley Brown</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6kSjbNXcS3bNyP3WSli67X">Rance Allen</a>. In 1975, <a href="spotify:artist:2vDV0T8sxx2ENnKXds75e5">Booker T. & the MG's</a> re-formed and began recording a reunion album. Later that year, however, Jackson was tragically shot and killed in his home; reports conflict on whether the culprit was a burglar or his wife. ~ John Bush, Rovi