| MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975 | Groups & Solo Artists |
THE JACKSON KINGS
Melbourne 1965-66
The Jackson Kings kick out the jams at Melbourne's Thumpin' Tum disco, 1966 |
Carl Bennett (vocals) |
History
The Jackson Kings were a popular Melbourne R'n'B band who played mostly cover versions. They recorded only two Singles and would probably be one of the footnotes of Oz Rock History except that two of their members, singer Ronnie Charles and organist Brian Cadd, went on to considerable subsequent success.
Cadd's previous group The Castaways (1965), which did not record, was shortlived and it evolved into The Jackson Kings sometime in 1965. They gigged around Melbourne and at one point scored a residency at Melbourne’s premier blues/rock haunt Garrison.
The Jackson Kings split in mid-1966 when Cadd and Charles were recruited to join the new lineup of fellow CBS recording outfit The Groop in late-1966.
The Groop had just suffered a series of defections -- vocalist Peter McKeddie and manager Tony Dickstein quit and left for England in August 1966, followed soon after by the abrupt resignation of guitarist Peter Bruce. With The Groop in disarray, the rhythm section of Max Ross and Richard Wright set about re-building, first recruiting multi-talented guitarist-composer Don Mudie.
Next they approached
Jackson Kings' keyboard player Brian Cadd. He had one condition -- he
didn't want to desert singer Ronnie Charles and insisted that Ronnie join
too. The Groop didn't especially want Ronnie, but they definitely wanted
Brian, and so reluctantly agreed to the condition. Of course, as it turned
out, this lineup change led to the new version of The Groop becoming one
of the most popular acts in the country over the next two years.
Discography
Singles
1966
"Watch your
step / Come on now (CBS BA 221263)
1966 Watermelon
man / Lawdy Miss Clawdy (CBS BA 22187)
Watch Your Step was re-released on the Raven compilation Ugly
Things, Vol. 1 and on the LP Before Birdmen Flew #1.
References/Links
Australian Blues
http://www.blues.org.au/bands/j/jacksonkings.php
Australian Rock Database
http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/c/caddbrian.html
Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares
http://www.borderlinebooks.com/australia/j1.html
Fast Food Scrapbook
http://webnz.com/records/scrapbook.html
Ed Nimmervol
"Great Moments in Oz Rock", immedia, 30 May 2000
http://www.themusic.com.au/im_m/archive/000530-210/nimmervoll.html
Chris Spencer & Zbig Nowara
Who's Who of Australian Rock