Freddie Jackson, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer, has died at the age of 70

R&B singer Freddie Jackson, who was nominated for a Grammy Award and was famous for chart-topping hits such as Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake) and You Are My Lady, died on October 5, 2026 at the age of 70. The cause of death was not disclosed.

“It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who returned to his Father's home last night,” an Instagram post announced. "Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind and generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends and his music with all his being. For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our holidays and our most precious memories. This gift will live on forever."

The statement continued: "To everyone who sang, danced or felt when Freddie took the stage: thank you. You were like family to him and he always carried your love with him. Please keep his family, friends and loved ones in your prayers at this difficult time. Details regarding the funeral and how to honor his memory will be communicated in the coming days." Signed by "Freddie Jackson's family", the lyrics concluded that the singer's legacy and voice "will live on forever".

THE DIAGNOSIS OF KIDNEY DISEASE

In 2024 Freddie Jackson announced that he had received a diagnosis of kidney disease and, in a video published at the time, he declared that, although his journey had been "difficult", he hoped to "face it with openness and resilience". To raise public awareness, he also collaborated with the National Kidney Foundation. “It's important to me to share this with you, not only as part of my personal story, but also as a way to make a positive difference,” he said. "With this step, I turn my personal experience into a platform for greater understanding and awareness. With your help, we can work towards greater awareness and better outcomes for all people affected by kidney disease."

THE CAREER

Born on October 2, 1956 in Manhattan, New York, and raised in Harlem, where he spent his childhood watching artists such as James Brown and Aretha Franklin perform at the Apollo Theater, Freddie Jackson took his first steps into the world of gospel music at the White Rock Baptist Church, where he met his future collaborator Paul Laurence. "I live soul. That's what you hear in my music or in the music of any black singer," he declared in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1988. Before moving to the West Coast and becoming the frontman of the band Mystic Merlin, he had played clubs in New York, but soon returned and in 1985 he released his debut album Rock Me Tonight.

In the 1980s Jackson dominated the R&B charts, where 10 of his songs reached number one, including the hit Rock Me Tonight, which remained at the top of the charts for six weeks in 1985. In 1986 he then received two Grammy Award nominations, respectively for Best New Artist and for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the song You Are My Lady. In 2023 he released his last album. During his career he had also acted in television programs such as The Golden Girls and had duetted with Irene Cara on the soundtrack of the animated film Charlie - All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989).