In my many years of listening to music, I’ve hopped across a ton of different genres. Pop, rock, country, rap but the one genre I always find myself coming back to is folk. Which does have a lot of overlap with country but that’s a topic for another day. Folk is just comforting. It’s like a fireplace or a bowl of soup on a cold day. It’s a timeless genre with themes that most people can relate to. Sometime in 2018, I discovered John Hawkes’ cover of Marcy’s Song, a beautiful melancholic guitar song about a woman or lover who is no longer around. I fell in love immediately. But I realized it was a cover. Who was behind the original song? Well it was Jackson C Frank. So I went on, listened to the original version and frankly? I hated it. It was harsh and angry and I just didn’t see the appeal. But a few years pass and the youtube algorithm works its magic. I see a familiar name, Jackson C Frank. This time however with a song called Blues Run The Game. I click, I listen and I’m hooked. It was a steady folk track with warm vocals that had its hooks in me from the opening notes. Immediately, I had to listen to more. So I found the album, listened to the entire thing in one sitting and then I kept listening to it. But who is Jackson C Frank? What is his music like? Why should this forgotten folk hero be remembered? Hopefully this article convinces you why you should listen to this artist.
Jackson C Frank was born March 2nd, 1943 in Buffalo, New York as Jackson Carey Jones, the only child of Marilyn Rochefort Jones and Jack Jones He later took on the surname of his stepfather, Elmer Frank. On March 31, 1954, at the age of 11, a furnace exploded at Cleveland Hill Elementary in Cheektowaga, New York. The fire killed fifteen students including Marlene Du Pont, Frank’s girlfriend at time. Her death later went on to inspire the song Marlene. Frank survived the fire but sustained burns to over fifty percent of his body. The accident also caused damage to his parathyroid glands which lead to joint problems throughout his life. Frank’s introduction to music was when teacher Charlie Castelli brought Frank an acoustic guitar. Frank was greatly inspired by Elvis Presley when he was a teenager and in 1957, he traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to meet Elvis as part of a meet-n-greet even for those injured in the Cleveland Hill fire. When he turned 21, Frank received an insurance payout of $110,500 ($965,000 today) for his injuries, which was enough for him to move to England and pursue a music career.
His self titled and only official album, Jackson C Frank was produced by Paul Simon while they were living in England, immersed in the growing local folk scene. The album only took six hours to record and was recorded at Levy’s Recording Studio in London. Frank asked to be completely hidden by screens while recording so that Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and Al Stewart could not see him. The opening track Blues Run the game went on to be covered by a handful artists like Simon And Garfunkel, Counting Crows and John Mayer. Frank was received well in England but his success never really translated internationally. Later in life, Frank found himself facing a series of struggles. His mental and physical health worsened and due to this, he found himself out of work and on the streets. As Frank was at his lowest, a fan, Jim Abbott, helped him find temporary placement at a senior citizens home in Woodstock. After the move, Frank began recording a few new demos and as a result of him resurfacing, his first album was re-released. Although it didn’t find much success outside of his pre-existing fanbase. Frank unfortunately died March 3, 1999 at the age of 56 due to a combination of pneumonia and cardiac arrest.
Most of Jackson C Frank’s fame was achieved after his death. He only released one studio album, his self-titled album. But after his death, there were a myriad of compilation albums, Forest of Eden, Fixin’ to Die, American Troubadour and Remastered and Unreleased just to name a few. However I’m going to be focusing on Jackson C Frank as it’s the only official, studio album. This album is in my opinion, near perfect. It’s the embodiment of folk music. The first half of this album is warm and upbeat with songs like Blues Run The Game detailing his experience living in England to a tribute to the death of Medgar Evers with Don’t Look Back. The second half of this album is a lot darker, Frank explores loneliness and the feeling of abandonment. Milk and Honey is my personal cold weather anthem. It’s a beautiful track that time and time again, the minute I see the leaves start to turn, it’s on repeat. Then we get to one of if not my favorite songs, My Name Is Carnival. My personal favorite version is off the album American Troubadour but no matter the version, this song is a masterpiece. From the clever rhyme scheme to easily remembered lyrics and all complimented by Frank’s amazing guitar playing, this is a perfect song in my opinion. Even the bonus tracks on this album make this album one not to be missed. With Marcy’s Song, a melancholic lament which I’ve grown to love over the years to The Visit, a song that fits right at home in the wintertime. This album is one that no matter what genre you listen to, shouldn’t be passed up.
Jackson C Frank passed away before he could ever achieve real fame but his impact on folk music should be recognized. His talent with songwriting and composing is a marvel. He can go from upbeat and loving to songs that will rip your heart out, stomp on it and then do it all over again. Jackson C Frank has made a huge impact in my life. I live in the countryside and if there’s any album that aptly sums up the country living experience, it would be this album. Frank’s music is something that should be shared for decades to come.
