Freddie Jackson, R&B singer behind ‘You Are My Lady,’ dies at 70
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesR&B singer Freddie Jackson, whose smooth ballads, including “You Are My Lady” and “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),” made him one of R&B’s biggest voices of the 1980s, has died. He was 70.
Mr. Jackson’s family announced his death Tuesday, saying he “went home to rest” the night before, TMZ reported. The family did not disclose a cause of death.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night,” the family said in a statement shared on his official Instagram account. “Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had.”
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The family added that “for decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever.”
Born Frederick Anthony Jackson in New York City on Oct. 2, 1956, he died days after his 70th birthday. He developed his voice singing gospel, later performed with the funk group Mystic Merlin and worked as a backup singer for Melba Moore before signing with Capitol Records and releasing his 1985 debut album, “Rock Me Tonight.” The title track reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart, as did “You Are My Lady,” and the album went platinum, EURweb reported.
Mr. Jackson followed with hits including “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” “Jam Tonight,” “Nice ’N’ Slow” and “Do Me Again.”
In September 2024, Mr. Jackson revealed that he was living with kidney disease and said he would face it “with openness and resilience.” He partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to promote awareness. His family has not connected the illness to his death.
The family said details about funeral arrangements and ways to honor his legacy will be announced in the coming days.
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