@MakaseQ From what I read he burned half his body in a fire at school when he was eleven and lost many of his friends that day. He recorded an album which didn't sell well. His son died. He was severely depressed. At some point he was homeless. He got the chance to record another album but he wasn't able to. He was sitting in a park when he was shot in his left eye by two kids playing with a bb-gun, blinding him. He was Jackson C. Frank and the blues ran his game...
I met Jackson in his later years. No, he was badly burned but not HALF his body as most reports state, mostly his torso. The album actually sold pretty well in the UK, but as I recall Jackson-like Nick Drake-loathed touring because he was paranoid at being watched when he performed. He had TWO children, a son and a daughter, but he was almost totally focused on his son alone, so his son's death was particularly painful for him.
(cont.) To be perfectly honest, Jackson need never have been homeless, he had been awarded a HUGE amount of money at 21 from his involvement in the fire, more than enough to buy himself a home in America OR England. But he had a passion for European sport cars and he was always blowing money buying them-he even gave them away when he tired of them. His frivolous spending cost him almost every cent he had been awarded from the fire, and his refusal to tour (cont.)
(cont.) cost him a career and record sales. Things got worse by the 1980s when I met him. He was desperately trying to contact Paul Simon for help, leaving messages with friends of Simon. I heard later from friends that Simon knew damn well what was happening to Frank and where/how to reach him, but he simply didn't want to "get involved in Frank's troubles" so he ignored Frank's pleas. Thank God that Jim Abbott came along when he did and helped Frank as best he could, God bless him!
Simon& Garfunkel brought me here. Such a sad song! So true and melancholy, "Wherever i have gone,wherever i've been and gone. Wherever i have gone, the blues run the game..."
Fire burned half his body and 15 of his class mates, he got shot in the eye by a stray pellet which consequently blinded that eye, and in the end he died of pneumonia at 56. life sucks.
Yes, he had such a sad, sad life----many of those class mates died as a result of the fire at his school when he was in elementary school. The pain and suffering from his boyhood never left him. In those years they did not have grief counselors in schools as they do now....when tragedy strikes. Jackson had enormous talent. Later in his life tragedy struck again when he was shot in the eye.....and his life was soon to be over.
@breeeegs I always found him to be very introverted; but a wonderful talent that lit up the stage when he performed. He became deeply involved with Sandy Denny who worked with The Strawbs (Dave Cousins' band) and Johnny Silvo.
That's incredible. How did you end up working with him, if you don't mind my asking? I'm not trying to doubt you or anything, its just that he's one of my all-time favorite musicians, and its pretty rare to hear from people that knew him personally
Dadgum, this man had the right to sing the blues. :(
jaydeebee69 1 month ago
before listening to this song I've been thinking it's only me feeling like this - "When i'm not sleeping well you know you'll find me crying"
0ThePilgrim0 3 months ago
jackson C. Frank has got to have had one of the unluckiest lives i have ever heard of...but what a singer and song writer!
superhugh69 3 months ago
This is just amazing.
It's like there is something there that he didn't write it down but definitely is in there. This song is so sad and meaningful (to me, at least).
lunaracial 4 months ago
@Steoandnoodles1
Roy Harper was his mate. Now Roy is the man
JaaqoHD 4 months ago
This guy is so terribly terribly sad. I'm not familiar with him, can anyone tell me why he's so sad?
MakaseQ 4 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Jackson C. Frank
@MakaseQ From what I read he burned half his body in a fire at school when he was eleven and lost many of his friends that day. He recorded an album which didn't sell well. His son died. He was severely depressed. At some point he was homeless. He got the chance to record another album but he wasn't able to. He was sitting in a park when he was shot in his left eye by two kids playing with a bb-gun, blinding him. He was Jackson C. Frank and the blues ran his game...
Avalanche015 4 months ago
@Avalanche015
I met Jackson in his later years. No, he was badly burned but not HALF his body as most reports state, mostly his torso. The album actually sold pretty well in the UK, but as I recall Jackson-like Nick Drake-loathed touring because he was paranoid at being watched when he performed. He had TWO children, a son and a daughter, but he was almost totally focused on his son alone, so his son's death was particularly painful for him.
Babyhowdy233 2 months ago in playlist JACKson C. FranK
@MakaseQ,
(cont.) To be perfectly honest, Jackson need never have been homeless, he had been awarded a HUGE amount of money at 21 from his involvement in the fire, more than enough to buy himself a home in America OR England. But he had a passion for European sport cars and he was always blowing money buying them-he even gave them away when he tired of them. His frivolous spending cost him almost every cent he had been awarded from the fire, and his refusal to tour (cont.)
Babyhowdy233 2 months ago
@MakaseQ,
(cont.) cost him a career and record sales. Things got worse by the 1980s when I met him. He was desperately trying to contact Paul Simon for help, leaving messages with friends of Simon. I heard later from friends that Simon knew damn well what was happening to Frank and where/how to reach him, but he simply didn't want to "get involved in Frank's troubles" so he ignored Frank's pleas. Thank God that Jim Abbott came along when he did and helped Frank as best he could, God bless him!
Babyhowdy233 2 months ago
Magnificent - and the great Bert Jansch did the other great version. Maybe they've just met up.
Pitsku 4 months ago 2
merci à celui qui nous l'a remis sur you tube , il avait disparu à cause des droits de qui d'ailleur ?...
jeromebm1 5 months ago
Colin Meloy's (live) version of this is also really good.
tezza007 5 months ago
And then there was Glenn Cunningham. Life is what you do with it, especially when dealt a bad hand.
rwbnsc 5 months ago
Simon& Garfunkel brought me here. Such a sad song! So true and melancholy, "Wherever i have gone,wherever i've been and gone. Wherever i have gone, the blues run the game..."
luvart2607 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I did a cover of a Jackson C. Frank song, check it out if you feel like it.
PopCultureSucks 6 months ago
Fire burned half his body and 15 of his class mates, he got shot in the eye by a stray pellet which consequently blinded that eye, and in the end he died of pneumonia at 56. life sucks.
it's no wonder the blues run the game.
oded2 7 months ago
@oded2
Yes, he had such a sad, sad life----many of those class mates died as a result of the fire at his school when he was in elementary school. The pain and suffering from his boyhood never left him. In those years they did not have grief counselors in schools as they do now....when tragedy strikes. Jackson had enormous talent. Later in his life tragedy struck again when he was shot in the eye.....and his life was soon to be over.
His great music lives on for us though....
folkmusicgirl 6 months ago
@oded2 you forgot to mention that the pellet in the eye happened when he was living as a vagrant
dhead22 6 months ago
I heard Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes play this live. It was absolutely transcendental.
alphatyrone 7 months ago
I cannot help but think...what might have been. With Jackson. With Nick.
rwbnsc 8 months ago
Reading this guys life story is deeply saddening. May he Rest in peace from a tragic life.
Every song of his seems so genuinely felt. My many respects to him.
barstuard 8 months ago 2
tragic story...
synkciu 9 months ago
This comes from the heart. Great song.
pauloabelha 9 months ago
im 14 and i wonder why this isnt played on the radio instead of shit like justin bieber thumbs up if u agreee
planetraptor420 9 months ago 6
I found out about this song when Alex Turner mentioned it in his Q interview. Quite a lovely song. :)
KARLAFTISathena 10 months ago 5
"Never did a song tell the life story of its creator more lucidly."
summers15789 10 months ago 3
Brilliant :) Laura Marling did a brilliant cover of this song :D
JHDELIVERY22 11 months ago
One of the most tragic guys in music history
lvk104 11 months ago 5
I saw him in Les cousins in the 60"s what a classic moment
seasidesparrow1 1 year ago
Comment removed
seasidesparrow1 1 year ago
*tear*
ThroughPaintedEyes 1 year ago
Checked this out whilst reading about it in 'Electric Eden' - a doorstop of a book that, a third of the way through, I am loving. Great song.
MrNigelBailey 1 year ago
I worked with Jackson in the early 60's in London. Paul Simon produced this album for him. Such a terribly sad ending for a marvellous performer.
jimincairns 1 year ago 59
What was his personality like?
breeeegs 10 months ago
@breeeegs I always found him to be very introverted; but a wonderful talent that lit up the stage when he performed. He became deeply involved with Sandy Denny who worked with The Strawbs (Dave Cousins' band) and Johnny Silvo.
jimincairns 10 months ago
That's incredible. How did you end up working with him, if you don't mind my asking? I'm not trying to doubt you or anything, its just that he's one of my all-time favorite musicians, and its pretty rare to hear from people that knew him personally
breeeegs 10 months ago
@breeeegs I played rock...and converted to the folk/blues scene.
jimincairns 10 months ago
i only heard of this because laura marling covered it, but all i can say is wow. he's absolutley amazing.
ismiseholly1 1 year ago 22
I love this song <3
xxIYxLOVERxx 1 year ago
Such a beautiful song
dillweed44 1 year ago