Fred Jackson, Jr

Born in Shreveport, LA, Fred Jackson, Jr. grew up in Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara, California. Fred started playing alto saxophone at the age of 14, in the 9th grade.Fred served 4 years in the US Navy as a musician, and then earned his Bachelor Degree of Music from California Institute of the Arts. He then began working as a freelance musician in Los Angeles. His TV credits include the Easter Seal and March of Dimes Telethons, the American Music Awards, the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, American Idol, The Voice, and others.

Recording credits include projects by Quincy Jones, Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Earth Wind and Fire, Justin Timberlake, Mary J Blige, Michael Jackson, Patrice Rushen, Lucy Pearl, Frank Zappa, John Mayall, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Boz Scaggs, Rapheal Saadiq, The Gap Band, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Shore, Joe Sample, Horace Silver, The Emotions, Shena Easton, and others.He has performed with artist such as Aretha Franklin, Dee Bridgewater, Janis Siegel, Liza Minnelli, Johnnie Mathis, George Benson, Sammy Davis, Jr. Tony Bennett, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Dionne Warwick, Debbie Reynolds, Manhattan Transfer, Gladys Knight, David Sanborn, Chuck Mangione, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, and others.Fred has toured with legends Benny Carter, Ray Charles, and Lena Horne.

Though busy, Fred finds time to give back to the community. He has tutored woodwind students at Locke High School; participated in the Los Angeles Jazz Mentorship Program, and was an instructor/coach for The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz program for 2 years. Fred also owned and operated Little Mushi Music Studio, where he provided private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet.