R.I.P.: Soul Songwriter George Jackson Was 68

George Jackson

George Jackson, who wrote countless rock and soul songs, died on Sunday morning (April 14) at his home in Ridgeland, Miss. after a year-long bout with cancer.

He was 68. Jackson is best known as the co-writer of Bob Seger‘s classic ‘Old Time Rock and Roll.’ And the Osmonds recorded Jackson's "One Bad Apple" in 1970, taking it to No. 1.

According to ultimateclassicrock.com, Jackson was a native of Mississippi, and he made his name in Memphis in the ’60s before moving to Muscle Shoals, Ala. to write for Rick Hall’s FAME Studios. In 1972, moved to the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, which was founded by Hall’s former rhythm section, who were called “The Swampers.’

Although Jackson is listed as the as the co-writer, along with Thomas E. Jones III, of ‘Old Time Rock and Roll,’ the song’s credits are not without controversy. Seger was given a tape of ‘Old Time Rock and Roll’ when he recorded his 1978 album ‘Stranger in Town’ at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Seger has said that he re-wrote the verses and kept the chorus. He didn’t asked for credit, thinking it was a throwaway track.

As it turned out, the song had two lives on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, when it was first released in 1979 (No. 28) and again four years later after its use in a famous scene in the movie ‘Risky Business,’ when it reached No. 48.

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