Jackson, Preston(originally, McDonald, James Preston)

Jackson, Preston(originally, McDonald, James Preston), early jazz trombonist; b. New Orleans, Jan. 3, 1902; d. Blytheville, Ark., Nov. 12, 1983. He took the surname of his stepfather. The family moved to Chicago in 1917. His mother bought him his first trombone in August 1920. He took lessons from Chicago trombonist William Robertson; nine months later he played in local chapel band. He worked in Chicago and Milwaukee during the 1920s, including a long stint with Art Simms’s Band at Wisconsin Rook (Milwaukee) (ca. 1925-spring 1930). The band was subsequently led by Oscar “Bernie” Young. He returned to Chicago in the spring of 1930, and worked with Dave Peyton and Erskine Tate before joining Louis Armstrong in January 1931, touring with him in early 1932. He spent the balance of the 1930s working with various local leaders out of Chicago. He also wrote a regular column for Jazz Hot and Hot News. By the late 1930s, Jackson had left full-time music but continued gigging, served on the board of directors of local musicians union from 1934-57. In the 1940s, he led his own band which recorded in 1946. Occasionally he led his own band during the 1950s, and was also active with several small bands including a spell with Lil Armstrong in 1959. He continued playing and recording during the 1960s, and worked in Little Brother Montgomery’s Band in late 1969. He moved to New Orleans during the 1970s, and continued to play regularly in the 1970s, including tours of Europe.

—John Chilton Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter