Despite being born with epilepsy, pianist Antonio Junius “Tony” Jackson became known as “the man of a thousand songs.”
According to pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, there was no tune—written or unwritten—that Tony couldn’t play.
Born in New Orleans in 1882, Jackson had a twin brother, Prince Albert, who died 14 months later. Tony Jackson was 10 when he made a harpsichord out of junk he found in his backyard. At 13, he was able to play on a real piano at bandleader Adam Oliver’s bar before it opened.
“Before long he was asked to play in the saloon at various times,” Rag Piano states, “and by age15 he was reportedly considered to be among the best pianists in that part of New Orleans. At age 18, Tony Jackson ruled the roost in Storyville.”
According to All About Jazz, Jackson played everything from ragtime to blues to opera. “His singing voice was also exceptional,” the website states. “He was said to be able to sing operatic parts from baritone to soprano.”
Jackson, who was openly gay, was a favorite among musicians. Not only did they want to play like him, but they also wanted to dress like him. According to All That Jazz, he wore a gray derby, checkered vest, ascot with a diamond stick-pin and garters on his arms to hold up his sleeves as he played.
Success followed Jackson when he moved to Chicago in 1912. According to PBS station WTTW, Jackson’s most successful song was “Pretty Baby,” released in 1916. He sold other compositions for little money or they were stolen.
“‘Pretty Baby’ remains the only lasting monument to Jackson’s style and legacy,” WTTW states. “He never made a recording or piano roll, dying in 1921, before the recording era kicked off in earnest.”
For more tales from New Orleans history, visit the Back in the Day archives.
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