Funeral services for the R&B legend Freddie Jackson have been announced.
According to the New Amsterdam News, the funeral will take place on Monday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m. at Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem.
Jackson died on October 5, just three days before his 70th birthday. His death was confirmed Tuesday through a statement posted to his verified Instagram account.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson,” the family’s statement read. The memorial described Jackson as a “generous soul” who maintained a deep, lifelong connection with his global fan base. Born in Harlem in 1956, Jackson began his musical journey in the church before rising to international stardom in the mid-1980s.
AN R&B ICON
A titan of ’80s and ’90s Quiet Storm, Jackson soundtracked an entire era of romance. With his velvety tenor, Jackson dominated the Billboard R&B charts.
After early stints as lead vocalist for the funk group Mystic Merlin and as a backing singer for Melba Moore, Jackson signed with Capitol Records and achieved massive commercial success with his 1985 debut album, Rock Me Tonight. Driven by timeless romance ballads like the double Grammy-nominated title track and his iconic chart-topper “You Are My Lady,” the album launched him into superstardom.
Jackson maintained an extraordinary run of success throughout the decade and into the early ’90s—racking up ten #1 R&B hit singles including “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” “Jam Tonight,” and “Do Me Again.” He also earned four platinum albums over a prolific recording career that spanned nearly four decades.
In 2024, Jackson shared that he had been diagnosed with kidney disease on social media.
“This journey has had its challenges, but I’ve decided to face it with openness and resilience,” Jackson said in the clip. “It’s important to me that I share this with you, not just as a part of my personal story, but as a way to make a positive difference.”