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Freddie Jackson was everything fans needed and more.
From songs like “You Are My Lady” and “Rock Me Tonight,” the R&B singer moved hearts and hips with his career. And his family proved his legacy would shine even after his death at age 69.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night,” the Jackson family shared in an Oct. 6 Instagram post. “To everyone who ever sang along, danced, or felt something when Freddie took the stage: thank you. You were family to him, and he carried your love with him always.”
Jackson’s loved ones also emphasized that the Grammy nominee was more than just his smooth voice.
“He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had,” the statement added. “For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever.”
His family concluded, “Rest in peace, Freddie. Your legacy and your voice will live on forever.”
Prior to Jackson’s death, he was rocked by a health battle after being diagnosed with kidney disease.
“This journey has been challenging, but I am not facing it alone,” he wrote on Instagram in September 2024. “My close friends, my manager and music family, and all of you are here with me, keeping me going.”
But he proved to be on the mend, performing multiple times over the past two years.
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Jackson rose to fame in the ’80s as a leading voice in the R&B scene, with him releasing tracks like “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” and “Jam Tonight.” Despite making his mark in the music world, he previously admitted that he wasn’t the biggest fan of being described as legendary.
“I was afraid of that word years ago,” Jackson revealed on Radio One in November 2022. “I guess I was starting out when young and they’re all cute and stuff like that don’t be calling me legendary.”
But his perspective shifted over time, with him adding, “Now I’m like, yes, I am legendary.”
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