Jackson C. Frank: Discover Hidden Music Gem

Discovering Jackson C. Frank was one of the most memorable events in my music exploration journey. I can’t remember how I stumbled upon this amazing artist. But I do remember that I was blown away by the first song of his that I heard. It immediately caught my attention and I wanted to know more about the musician behind it.

As it turned out the story of Jackson C. Frank was just as emotional as his music. It’s one of the cases when music is a direct reflection of the life of the composer. And when you hear his songs you immediately feel that there’s deep sadness that finds its way into melodies and lyrics. But that sadness sounds so captivating and may I say beautiful, that you can’t help but just listen to it. And then hit “Play” again.

Who is Jackson C. Frank? Short Bio

Jackson C. Frank was an American folk musician, born in 1943. He had only 1 album released, but in spite of such a brief career, he is well renowned by fellow and contemporary musicians for his 1965 self-titled album.

Jackson C. Frank’s famous song “Blues Run the Game” has been covered many times. Some of the artists who performed this song include Simon and Garfunkel, Counting Crows, John Mayer, Mark Lanegan and Nick Drake.

His music was deeply affected by physical and mental health issues following a tragic school fire in his youth. During that accident many of his classmates perished and Frank had to stay in the hospital for a long time due to severe burns. Unfortunately that was not the last time fate turned away from the man.

Frank’s life was marked by periods of homelessness and hospitalization until his death in 1999. His work has influenced numerous artists and continues to be cherished by music fans. As people discover this forgotten talent, his music keeps gaining well deserved recognition.

Music Style of Jackson C. Frank

Jackson C. Frank’s music is deeply moving. It is filled with raw emotion and simple honesty. His folk songs are very straight forward. The main instrument is just a solo guitar. With his soulful singing Jackson tells stories of heartache, solitude, life itself. He tells about things he went though, the tragedies he faced.

The combination of simple but beautiful melodies and his distinctive voice creates a unique vibe in these songs. They are extremely personal and make you pause and listen. The man had a special gift. It is a great shame his life was very difficult and prevented him from fully developing his talent and finding happiness in it.

What Makes Jackson C. Frank so Special?

It’s easy to say that Jackson C. Frank stands out with his unique lyrics, singing and composing. But why exactly? For me the answer lies in the emotional depth and authenticity of his music. It is right there, like you can almost touch it. His songs, born from personal tragedy and struggles, speak directly to the listener. The voice is always sincere and hides nothing. Frank’s music sounds simple but it reaches deep.

His had an ability to capture the complexities of human emotions in a straightforward way. And it’s not like he was trying to accomplish that on purpose. It was just the way he expressed his feelings. Those lucky ones who happen to find his music understand what I mean.

Best Songs by Jackson C. Frank

Jackson C. Frank had only a single album released. So there’s not many songs we have by him. But what a great album it is. And I am sure people will relate to different songs from it, but for me personally here are the TOP 5 Best songs by Jackson C. Frank: