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Women's Blues Revue 2007
Dawn Tyler Watson (left) stars in the 2007 Women’s Blues Revue on December 1 at Massey Hall plus...
Shawne Jackson Returns
“Never ever did I want to be a singer” is not something that a middle-aged Torontonian expects to hear coming from the lips of Shawne Jackson, of all people.
Not when she and some friends at Toronto’s British Methodist Episcopal church emerged from the choir as a high-energy “girl group”, the Tiaras. High-talent too, as other Tiaras alumni include Colina Phillips, Jackie Richardson, Betty Richardson and Brenda Russell.
Not
when she left the group to take up the post as house vocalist at the legendary
Bluenote, fronting the Rogues, who
would soon hit the big time as the Mandala.
In a nod to their shared past, the Mandala called in Shawne to appear as
one of the guest singers on the classic “Faith” track on the group’s one album.
Right: Shawne & Jay Jackson & the Majestics brought their big R&B sound to Toronto's Luminato in 2007
Not when she and brother Jay were princess and prince of the very hot local R&B scene of the mid to late ‘60s, fronting Shawne and Jay Jackson and the Majestics. They may have torn up every highschool gymnasium within a day’s drive, but such was the state of the Canadian recording industry at the time that they didn’t even release a single record together.
Not when she signed on to replace George Olliver fronting the sizzling Soul Children along with the Stone Brothers. After Shawne came Harrison Kennedy, then Eugene Smith, so the Soul Children were always something to behold.
Not when she finally got around to recording and hit the top 10 with her first single, “Just As Bad As You” in 1974 and went on to a successful string of follow-up records and club appearances. In fact, those days were in some ways the worst, as records needed to be promoted through public appearances, and the smoky bar had replaced the sterile gym as the designated venue for local acts.
And
not when she was working on movie and TV soundtracks with producer-husband
Domenic Troiano through the ‘80s and into
the ‘90s.
Nope, each time.
“But now, at this age,” she adds, “I do.”
Right: Siblings Shawne & Jay Jackson circa 1967
Lucky for us, too. Just last year she headlined in the one-woman show at the Newmarket Theatre, “Some Other Spring”, which showcased the music of Billie Holiday. And for the last few years she and brother Jay have been performing occasionally with their old bandmates, the Majestics. Beyond that, she’s now working with Doug Mallory, the great deep voice of the Dr Music band, at the demo stage of creating original tunes for a new CD. (She wants to make sure there’s some Billie Holiday on it too.) Plus, somehow she still finds the time to keep up with her fashion designing, which she’s done for most of her life.
But perhaps the best opportunity to see Shawne Jackson in the near future will be on Saturday December 1, when she will be headlining this year’s edition of the Toronto Blues Society’s annual Women’s Blues Revue at Massey Hall. Also appearing will be Treasa Levasseur, Roxanne Potvin, Dawn Tyler Watson, Nikki Yanofsky and Layla Zoe - all backed by the Women’s Blues Revue Band with Suzie Vinnick, Lily Sazz, Margaret Stowe, Brandi Disterheft, Michelle Josef, Sarah McElcheran, Carrie Chesnutt and Colleen Allen.
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