Jackson, Rudy (actually, Rudolph)
Jackson, Rudy (actually, Rudolph)
Jackson, Rudy (actually, Rudolph), early jazz clarinetist, alto & tenor saxophonist; b. Fort Wayne, Ind., Oct. 30, 1901; d. Winnebago, III., October 1969. He was raised in Chicago. Both of his parents were musicians. He worked in local bands from 1918, regularly with Carroll Dickerson in the early 1920s, then with King Oliver (late 1923 to summer 1924), then long spell of touring with traveling shows. He was with Billy Butler in N.Y. (1925), and with Vaughn’s Lucky Sambo Orch. on tour (from June 1926). He was briefly with King Oliver in February 1927, then recommenced touring with the Lucky Sambo show. He joined Duke Ellington in June 1927, and was replaced by Barney Bigard in December 1927. He sailed to Europe with Noble Sissle (May 1929), returned to N.Y. with Sissle, in 1931 again went with Sissle to Europe, and spent long spells with Leon Abbey. He worked with Leddy Weatherford and Leon Abbey in India during the mid-1930s. He returned to Europe, then rejoined Teddy Weatherford in Colombo, Ceylon. He played regularly in India and Ceylon until after World War II, then returned to live in Chicago. He retired from music and worked for Western Union until his death.
—John Chilton, Who’s Who of British Jazz /Lewis Porter