Freddie Jackson is an American singer who rose to fame in the 1970s for his love ballads. He was born on October 2, 1956, in Harlem, New York, and was trained to become a gospel singer from a very young age. While singing at the White Rock Baptist Church of Harlem, Jackson met his future songwriting partner in the form of producer Paul Laurence. After graduating from school, the aspiring singer joined the Laurence Jones Ensemble (LJE).
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Shortly after his brief stint on the West Coast, Jackson moved back to New York City and worked with Laurence under Hush Productions. He also joined another band, Mystic Merlin, and released three studio albums. Not too long after signing up with the producer, Jackson set off on a solo career and landed a recording contract with Capitol Records. During this time, he produced his widely-acclaimed debut album, “Rock Me Tonight,” with hit singles like “You Are My Lady.”
In 1986, Jackson released another platinum album, “Just Like The First Time”, consisting of his number one duet, “A Little Bit More,” with fellow singer Melba Moore. The album reassured his dominance over the R&B charts, especially with songs like “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” and “Jam Tonight.” Although his third album in 1988 wasn’t as commercially successful, it was still well-loved thanks to chart-toppers such as “Hey Lover” and “Nice N’ Slow.” In 1989, Jackson participated in the film, “All Dogs Go To Heaven”, and sang a duet with Irene Cara titled “Love Survives.”
Despite slowing down in recent decades, Jackson still proves to be a staple in the music industry. His songs have been sung at endless weddings and anniversaries, cementing the singer as the ultimate lovebird. But contrary to his romantic ballads, Jackson remains unmarried and single, prompting questions about his sexuality. So, is Freddie Jackson gay? Read on below to find out.
VOTE: What is Freddie Jackson’s Sexuality?
Freddie Jackson’s Sexuality
It may be shocking to learn that the famous singer is still single and untethered. In fact, Jackson is extremely private about his dating history that he’s only been linked to two singers his entire life. At one point, he was rumored to be dating Melba Moore, but there wasn’t enough evidence to solidify a relationship. Jackson was also believed to be dating Patti LaBelle, but just like Moore, there weren’t any indicators that they were going out.
Jackson’s reluctance for relationships and marriage has only fueled gay speculations. Many fans have theorized that the singer might actually be involved with his long-time producer, Paul Laurence. Although there is no concrete proof of this relationship, people insist that this might be the reason why Jackson is still single.
In 2012, the singer was confronted regarding his sexuality in an interview during the documentary series “Unsung”. However, Jackson dodged the question by stating: “I’ve never had to explain myself to my mother. God will judge us for who we all and what it is that we do.” The non-answer only fueled the gay rumors even more, with fans considering the statement as an indirect confirmation that Jackson is indeed gay.
On the other hand, it’s also possible that Jackson is hesitant about revealing his true sexuality because he’s afraid to lose his female fans. It’s undeniable that this category of fans makes up a big bulk of his sales. And in the event that the singer does come out, it may affect his career commercially. It’s worth noting that Jackson hasn’t further elaborated on his sexual preference since the interview.
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Freddie Jackson’s Clash with George Michael
While Jackson’s sexuality remained unconfirmed, he did have a brief clash with openly gay icon, George Michael. In a 1988 article in Los Angeles Times, the singer didn’t shy away from sharing thoughts regarding Michael’s recent R&B win.
That . . . that George Michael. Who does he think he is? We’ve gotta stop him. Just kidding, George, wherever you are–just kidding. He’s doing better on the Black charts than the black singers. […] What gives? The brothers must not be doing something right if he can come in and take over.”
Freddie Jackson to Los Angeles Times, 1988
The singer’s displeasure stemmed from Michael’s incorporation of Black R&B sound into his pop music. Jackson insisted that Black singers have been doing this for years, but rarely get the attention and recognition compared to White singers. Although the singer’s brutal yet honest comments garnered criticism, his statements were proven to be true even today.
Listen, the Black man is still the soul singer. People like George Michael and Michael Bolton (who recently made the charts with a version of ‘Sitting on the Dock of the Bay’) are good singers. I’m not taking anything from them. White singers can have soul too, but it’s not the same as Black soul. Black singers are born with soul, we live it.”
Freddie Jackson to Los Angeles Times, 1988
Is Freddie Jackson Gay?
No, Freddie Jackson is not gay. The soul singer has never been in a public relationship nor has he ever been married. When asked about his sexuality, Jackson answered with an ambiguous statement which only stirred the rumors further. Up to this day, the famous singer is assumed to be straight.