Graham W. Jackson, Sr.

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Graham Washington Jackson, Sr. was a celebrated African-American theatre organist, pianist, and choral conductor. Jackson was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1903. He exhibited an early ability to master most any instrument and was giving piano and organ concerts at high school age. A wealthy patron was to fund his further study at the college level, but when the patron died, Jackson continued his musical endeavors without further formal training until he moved to Georgia. His performing and touring led him to Atlanta, where he was featured at the Royal Theatre and at Bailey's "81" which featured a Kimball theatre organ. Count Basie, in his autobiography said of Jackson: There was also another fine musician working in Bailey's 81 in Atlanta. We played there a couple of times at least...I was backstage before time to go on, and I heard the organ and it was just beautiful. I asked who was out there playing all that great stuff, and somebody said it was a cat named Graham Jackson