Chuck Jackson (born March 11, 1953)
; www.chuckjackson.com. is the Canadian musician, lead singer and one of two harmonica players in the

Downchild Blues Band The Downchild Blues Band is a Canadian blues band, described by one reviewer as "the premier blues band in Canada". The Blues Brothers band was heavily influenced by the Downchild Blues Band. History Early history: 1969-1982 The Downchild Blue ...

, otherwise known as Downchild, with which he has been associated since 1990.

Biography

Jackson has been a professional musician since the 1960s, and since the late 1970s primarily as a blues singer and harmonica player. Between 1978 and 1992, he was the lead singer of the well-respected

Cameo Blues Band The Cameo Blues Band is a Toronto-based blues band, originally formed in 1978. It is particularly notable for its association with several of Canada's leading blues singers, including Richard "Hock" Walsh, Tony Flaim and Chuck Jackson, all of ...

, of Toronto, with whom he continues to perform on occasion. In addition to his work with Downchild, Jackson performs and has recorded with a changing group of musicians, which has included Downchild's

Michael Fonfara Michael Fonfara (11 August 1946 – 8 January 2021) was a Canadian keyboard player who was most notable for his work as a member of The Electric Flag and Rhinoceros in the 1960s, Rough Trade and Lou Reed's backing band in the 1970s and The Down ...

and

Pat Carey Pat Carey (born 9 November 1947) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North-West constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 20 ...

, as Chuck Jackson and The Allstars. While Jackson was born in Toronto, for most of his life he has also lived in

Port Credit, Ontario Port Credit is a neighbourhood in the south-central part of the City of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, located at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Its main intersection is Hurontario Street and Lakeshore Road, ...

. Jackson has demonstrated a particular passion for supporting the Port Credit music scene. In 1999, he co-founded the Southside Shuffle, an annual Port Credit-based blues and jazz festival that has grown to feature in excess of one hundred acts over three days. Jackson has been honoured with a distinguished career award by the

Toronto Blues Society Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, as well as

Maple Blues Awards The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize ou ...

for male vocalist of the year, among other honours. Jackson is also the half-brother of Canadian comedians Mike Bullard (1957-2024) and

Pat Bullard Patrick Bullard is a Canadian- American television writer, host, producer and comedian. Biography Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Bullard's elder brother was comedian Mike Bullard and his older half-brother is Downchild Blues Band lead singer ...

.Joe Curtis
The Buddy Guy Blues Band reaches their bluesy zenith
. Southside Shuffle Concert Review, September 8, 2007 (referencing Jackson and Bullard common parentage); www.jazzreview.com. Having battled cancer since 2021, Jackson is still performing and took part in the 2023 Southside Shuffle with the Downchild Blues Band. The city of Mississauga which Port Credit is a part of honoured him for his 25 years of organizing the event.

Awards

* 1999 Maple Blues Award, Male Vocalist of The Year * 2002 Blues With a Feeling Award, Toronto Blues Society, honouring distinguished career * 2007 Maple Blues Award, Male Vocalist of The Year

Discography

With Downchild

* 1994 ''Good Times Guaranteed'' (Downchild Music) * 1997 ''Lucky 13'' (Downchild Music) * 2004 ''Come On In'' (Downchild Music) * 2007 ''Live at the Palais Royale'' (Downchild Music) * 2009 ''I Need A Hat'' (Downchild Music)

With The Cameo Blues Band

*2002 ''All Play and No Work'' (Make It Real Records)

Chuck Jackson and The Allstars

* 2000 ''Last Night'' (Iridescent Music) * 2006 ''Comfy Cosy'' (Iridescent Music)

References

External links

Chuck Jackson website
*
Downchild website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Chuck 1953 births Living people Blues harmonica players Canadian blues singers Singers from Toronto Musicians from Mississauga 20th-century Canadian male singers 21st-century Canadian male singers Canadian harmonica players