Jackson Truett was born in York, a highly
industrialized south eastern Pennsylvania city surrounded by
farmlands, the Susquehanna river and the Pocono mountains.
He began studying piano at the age of
seven with Lloyd Philby, an east coast concert pianist. Jackson
studied the compositions of all the great classical masters until he
reached seventeen. He then began several years of ear and
improvisational training with Bill Collins and Dick Gruver. They both
played modern music as soloists and with trios and big bands.
Jackson began playing organ with
local R & B Bands and soon thereafter was touring with "Jay & The
Techniques", a nationally known act with two gold records. The group
played all major venues including TV appearances on "American
Bandstand", The "Ed Sullivan Show", "The Upbeat Show", "Jerry Blavat",
and "Hi-Lite". They played the first open air rock concert in
Cleveland, Ohio attended by 80,000 people. They played for the "Duponts"
and "Rockefellers" in their homes. They played at "Madison Square
Gardens", "Grossingers", "Atlantic City" and "PJ's" in Los Angeles.
They played the University/College circuit and major city municipal
auditoriums. They often shared the entertainment bill with other acts
such as the "Delphonics", "Lou Christy", "Gary Pucket and The Union
Gap", "The Dells", "Vanilla Fudge", "Herman's Hermits", "John Fred and
the Playboy Band", "The Turtles", "The Millionaires", "The
Parliaments", "The O'Jays", "The Ohio Players", "Jay and the
Americans", "The Manhattans", "The Spinners", "The Rascals" and a few
giants such as "Duke Ellington", "Earl (Fatha) Hines", "The Step
Brothers" and "Etta James".
After leaving Jay & The Techniques,
Jackson accepted an invitation to join several other musician/business
people in Jackson, Miss. The proposal was to build an entertainment
complex complete with a Nite Club, Lounge and Recording Studio. The
facility had closed circuit TV for live recordings, a studio large
enough for a small orchestra, a control room designed by JBL and a
quality staff! Jackson met some excellent musicians and industry
people while building and co-operating "Jackson Sound Studios".
Huey Meaux, a successful record
producer, invited Jackson to Houston, Texas to work with "HeatherBlack",
a hot regional act and to work as a studio musician. Jackson played
and recorded with Heatherblack and "Joey Long" among others. He
co-produced an album on "Joey Long".
Once again Jackson retrurned to Jackson, Miss. where he redesigned a
two story building into a French Restaurant, a Nautical Lounge and an
Oyster Bar. Jackson formed several bands to entertain at "The French
Quarter". His band became known as "Jack Daniel's and Co.". The famous
Bourbon Whiskey distiller, known by the same name, became a limited
sponsor. He entertained in Jackson and on the Gulf Coast while also
co-owning a coast to coast trucking company and a construction
company.
Destined to become a Texan, Jackson
moved back to Houston and began entertaining at the Adam's Mark Hotel.
After several years with the Adam's Mark, Jackson began his 20 plus
years tenure with the University Club as House Pianist/Bandleader.
Jackson Truett, the multi-talented musician and composer, plays Solo
Piano and Keyboards for.... Solo and Duo Engagements, The Jackson
Truett Trio, Quartet and JAZZzright (5 or 6 pcs) also featuring world
class vocalist, Ardis Turner. They can play everything from
Rachmaninoff to Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Jazz Standards, R & B,
Rock, Blues, Latin's, and Broadway. It doesn't get any better than
this!
