Entertainment

Blues Musician Melvin Jackson Dies

Published

10 years ago

January 2, 2015

In this Oct. 8, 2014, photo provided by Valerie Jordan, Blues musician Melvin Jackson poses for a photo at his home in Las Vegas. Jackson, who played with legends B.B. King and Bobby “Blue” Bland died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014. He was 79. (AP Photo/Valerie Jordan)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Blues musician Melvin Jackson, who performed for years with legends B.B. King and Bobby “Blue” Bland, has died. He was 79.

Jackson died Tuesday evening at a hospice facility in Las Vegas after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, said his niece, Valerie Jordan. The trumpeter and saxophone player started performing as a child with his father, who was also a musician.

“He practiced every single day, even when he knew the music,” she said.

Drummer Tony Coleman, who worked with Jackson for years as a member of King’s band, says Jackson was a consummate professional and an excellent musician. Jackson performed with Bland and King for decades traveling to more than 90 countries and only quit performing this September. He was versatile and his music had a good blues feel, Coleman said.

“He’s always been extremely serious about performing,” Coleman said. “There were no excuses — be on time, be professional, do your best — that’s how he was.”

Jackson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1935 but had lived in Las Vegas for years, his niece said.

He is survived by three daughters.

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Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

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21 hours ago

November 1, 2024

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Bay Area

Love Life Organization Shows Love

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

Published

5 days ago

October 28, 2024

Oakland Post

Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.

City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team

By Donald Lacy

Special to The Post

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.

It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.

The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.

Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.

The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..