August 26, 2009
Jackie Shane
HOLY MUSICIAN, BATMAN…
“Okay swingers, now that we’ve ditched the squares, hang on, ’cause Jackie’s gonna do it to you like you’ve never been done before!”
-Jerry Lincoln, liner notes of Jackie Shane Live
I tend, in my writing about music, to focus on the vocalist and to delve into biography. I try to remind myself to conjure up the nuance of a drum brush or a chord struck on the Hammond organ at just the right moment, but it always comes back to the frontman. I like instrumental music, and a perfect hook or nasty bassline can drive me wild. It’s just that when someone has not only a unique sounding voice and interesting phrasing, but brings a wildly fascinating persona to their song, it becomes that much more relatable. It’s what I always loved about listening to cover after cover of the same old soul song, driven by the vocalists, each with their own inflection and character; each with their own lament. And it’s why I always figured that guts and attitude can translate into excellent musicianship: done right, they have the potential to push a piece of music or a whole body of work into the realm of mythology. And no one had guts and attitude like Jackie Shane.
As with many of life’s big discoveries, my unearthing of Jackie Shane’s music was a total accident. I was looking for video footage of William Bell’s “Any Other Way,” a sweet country-soul song that came out on Stax in 1962. In “Any Other Way,” Bell is singing to a friend who’s been sent by his ex-girlfriend to check on him after a breakup. “I think you better go now/or you might see me cry,” sobs Bell, “but when you see my baby/here is what you say/tell her I wouldn’t have it any other way.” His earnest, clear-voiced treatment of this poorly-disguised heartbreak made for just about the saddest song I’d heard in a while, but damn it, I couldn’t find any performance footage online. Instead I stumbled upon this haughty, sauntering version of “Any Other Way” by some draggy-looking Canadian with tadpole eyebrows and a bouffant hairdo. And then another version, recorded by the same guy at some Toronto nightclub called the Sapphire; eight minutes littered with sassy banter. “Diamonds on my finger/I can’t get no more on there!” This was far from the lovesickness I’d been drawn to on the original, but man, was Jackie Shane entrancing.
Jackie Shane was a cross-dressing Canadian soul singer who recorded a couple of 45s and one live LP, Jackie Shane Live in the early 1960’s. Breathy, dissolving into wisps beneath a languishing canopy of horns, Jackie’s voice on “Any Other Way” is a curl of smoke. He didn’t jump on a note. No, instead he’d come in late on a phrase and just hang there.With his feline looks and boisterous sensuality, Jackie was, as a fan once wrote, “Little Richard meets Prince meets Eartha Kitt!” He pushed the boundaries of what was sexually accepted at the time, and his Canadian audience loved him both for it and in spite it.
His versions of songs were often the opposite of what you’d expect: Rufus Thomas’s blaring “Walking The Dog” turned mincing, William Bell’s driving, tormented “Any Other Way” became almost celebratory. When Bell sang “Tell her that I’m happy/tell her that I’m gay,” he was covering up his hurt, but when bewigged, spangled Jackie sang it, especially with that added chuckle, suddenly the song became about something entirely different. His live album is full of spoken bravado and fast-talking riffs (“I get money…and I can sing sexy too!”), but behind them he often delivered a real message. “Because the mean things people say about you, baby/Can’t make you sad/cause Jackie’s never lost a friend that I’ve never had.”
Beyond his strong Toronto following – and a television appearance on Soul Train “Night Train,” which you can see below – Jackie never achieved commercial success. And though celebrated on a few websites dedicated to queer musicians, his music has, for the most part, been lost to time. In fact, Jackie disappeared in the late sixties, and while there’s been speculation about a violent death in Los Angeles, no one really knows what happened to Jackie Shane. Yet here he was, this brief spark, pushing limits way ahead of his time, and it’s this lost moment that makes his music seem all the more enchanting.
I recommend you look into Jackie Shane, and that you remember, if nothing else, his words: “I live the life I love and I love the life I live/And I hope you’ll do the same.”
by Erin Sheehy
PS: Besides the video, listen to his live and studio versions of “Any Other Way.”
Comments on Jackie Shane »
I remember Jackie from the 60′s as I grew up just out side Toronto, he played the crowd and his music was great. I just recently purchased his live performance CD which sure was hard to locate.
I agree with all that you have written and recommend the CD to all.
If you have any other information on his muisc or what can be purchased where, please drop me a line . Thks. Jb.
Great article, well-written that describes Jackie to a tee — especially the “feline looks.”
And who doesn’t love cats!
I knew Jackie during his reign in Toronto and even had the honor of writing the liner notes for his LP (now a CD).
I came across this article while searching Google for news about a Jackie Shane special that is supposed to be airing sometime this year.
I lost track of the producer, a charming lady named Elaine Banks, who did a lot of research on the Jackie Shane phenomenon.
Might air in Canada on CBC Radio or Sirius Satellite/
Very interesting. I stumbled on the video on Youtube and listened to everything I could find. I would look forward to a special-but what a movie this would make. Think of the soundtrack!!
Gerry – the Jackie Shane story will air sometime in the early new year (Jan?) on CBC radio 2′s “inside the music”. I’ll post the date once I know it.
Fergus – the soundtrack will be killer; he released more than “a couple of 45s and one live LP”
~Elaine
PS – the above vid is from a mid-60s Nashville TV show called “Night Train”. It was on a few years before Soul Train.
I’m so excited to hear from other people who are interested in Jackie Shane!
Jim – I believe Continental Records sells a CD of Jackie’s singles, and you can often find some of his 45s online.
Elaine – Thanks for the corrections. I can’t wait for the special!
-ES
I shall never forget Jackie Shane; he was a great entertainer!
Please let me know where I can purchase his music.
Thanks.
In reply to Carol’s requested 12/15/2009, his CD can be purchased from Contiental Records Comp. Ltd. Streetsville ON. PO. Box 7, L5M 2B7. Tel 905-813-9544, Fax, 905-812-4993.
http://www.gocontiental.com / http://www.directoryofrecruiters.com
Hope this helps. Jim.
I was fortunate to be a listener of music during the early 60′s. JS, as memory serves, did local gigs for the boomers of the time. In early 1967 I noticed a mention of JS apearing at a little jazz club east of Yonge steet, the saphire. I arraged to get a few of my friends together on the first Friday JS appeared, and after several drinks each we headed downtown. That was the beginning of Fridays at the Saphire Tavern. About 15 of us regularly attended. JS, I recall did the circuit around southern Ontario that summer and the following year released the live LP from the Saphire.
Jackie rec. several sides with Frank Motley (in the US i think). I’d suggest contacting Curley Bridges for more details. Curley came to Canada with the Motley Crew. He was the lead vocalist, pianist for 13 yrs. Curley still plays & records in Toronto for Electro-Fi. Curley is the pianist on Jackie’s live album. I have a CD somewhere by Motley that has 5 or so tunes by Jackie.
I saw one of those shows with Jackie & The Hitchhikers around ’66/67.
Elaine, did i ever get back to you – i’m cleaning off old emails when i came across this. After much searching i had found that the DJ was Norman B. Hopefully you were able to piece it all together. Let me know when it is to air as i’ll try & get some plugs in the papers here.
Oh, just in case you people are not clued in. Johnny Jones passed away last year. Jones who played with Bobby Bland also did a show with Gatemouth Brown called “The Beat” – available on DVD. Billy Cox was Jones’ bassist in ’62. For more see Gibson’s Guitar YouTube stuff on Johnny Jones – he comments on Hendrix. This likely is the earliest footage of Hendrix
Yes, i found the disc – a bootleg i believe. Called “Honkin’ At Midnight” Has all of Jackies singles with Motley Crew except Sue 788. The CD has 26 tracks from ’53 – ’56 featuring Jimmie Crawford, Larry Ellis, Calvin Ruffin, The Earls but most by Curley Bridges. Curley is 76 years old tomorrow (Feb 7) and last reported in Barrie, Ontario. He released his 3rd CD on Electro-Fi. Just speculatin’ but is Shane actually “Angel Face” who made several discs under that name with Frank Motley. I will send an email to Elaine but my last contact with her was early 2008. Bridges is the key. Is The Mighty Pope still around
I Got Mine: The Story of Jackie Shane
CBC Radio’s Inside the Music
Sunday, February 28th: 3:00 p.m. EST on Radio 2; and 9:00 p.m. EST on Radio 1
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=302862211733
How to listen:
In Canada:
On FM radio: find your frequency here: http://www.cbc.ca/frequency/
or on sirius satellite 137: http://www.cbc.ca/sirius/index.html
Everywhere else:
online: http://www.cbc.ca/listen/index.html
or: http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs.html?INSIDE_THE_MUSIC – go to “listen now” in the right-hand column
More information:
Inside the Music website: http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs/insidethemusic/
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
Wonderful, Wonderful. I will be listening & will pass onto all my friends
That was marvellous, Elaine. (Yes, I beat the rush and listened on the CBC Atlantic feed!) Thank you very much indeed for a splendid job.
It was great to hear that Steve Kennedy had been able to reach Jackie on the phone in Nashville as recently as 2005. He surely can’t be that hard to find now. I for one will be trying and will let you all know if I have any success.
Following on from Elaine’s February 23 message here, you may also like to see the responses to her wonderful documentary posted at Facebook and at CBC’s Inside the Music site itself:
http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=302862211733
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs/insidethemusic/2010/02/28/jackie_shane.html#socialcomments
For any one who missed the broad cast, you can hear it again, In Canada:
On FM radio: find your frequency here: http://www.cbc.ca/frequency/
It will air in the next day or so, you will have to keep checking the internet site to Inside the Music , Listen again ( grey bar ).
It was a great hour of information, thank you Elaine for keep us informed. jb.
If you ever reach Jackie, please tell him that he so very much impressed me that I still think of him and his music, even after all these forty some years!
Cheerio and God Bless.
Carol-Faye
Been away for a few days. was unable to listen but someone burnt a copy of the show & i will listen tomorrow. So then Jackie was not murdered in California. Mmmmmmmm. If he still is alive & living in Nashville then blues guitarist, producer, lyricist Fred James might know of his whereabouts. Also Colin Linden. Fred James has recently been reissuing a lot of Nashville R&B/Blues including the late Johnny Jones
I said on February 28 here that I’d try to help find Jackie, but some reports I’ve now received indicate that a certain degree of tiptoeing is called for here. After all, he’s 70 in a couple of months, and I don’t think he’s going to welcome any approach that doesn’t pay due regard to the fact that a lot of water has passed under the bridge since he left Toronto. So, yes, let’s by all means contine to work on getting word to him that his fans have never forgotten him, but let’s at the same time temper our urge to acclaim his achievements with due caution, thereby avoiding causing him anxiety about needing to try to live up to any unrealistic expectations some of us might have!
After reading comments here & elsewhere & finally getting to hear Elaine’s show i wonder (& I’ve speculated before) if Jackie Shane is a stage name . Attempts have been made to track him down but nothing shows. Does anyone know if he has a real name?????? Jeremy, you mentioned that he turns 70 shortly… do you have a birthdate????? Can somebody connect me with Steve Kennedy??? With my sources and some correct information “Jackie Shane” can be located whether he is alive or not
Very interesting thread. I’ve included Jackie on my radio shows several times, but of most interest would be the gallery I’ve set up showing the recordings, at
http://www.queermusicheritage.com/drag-shane.html
And I’ve told Elaine this already, but Huge Congrats to her on such a superb job on the documentary.
JD Doyle
Nice work JD. I’m positive that even more Jackie Shane recordings will come to light. I have found another contact in Nashville & will be exploring further today. Just a note on the Charles Brown/Amos Milburn recording, Huey Smith is the pianist and Dr. John is the pianist on “Sing My Blues”/”Trouble Blues” session. “Trouble Blues” issued on Teem1005. Grand Prix LPs 418 & 422 feature more Frank Motley recordings. There will soon be a story published on the “DC” label. By the way the vocalist Angel Face is Elsie J Kenley. Thats her singinging “Boomerang Lover” on Honkin At Midnight CD.
There was a second posting by Ron Simmonds just after the one above, but it hasn’t appeared here yet for some reason. Anyway, among other things, Ron’s asking whether I’ve had any success yet in my bid to find Jackie in time for us to get together to celebrate his 70th birthday on May 15.
Ron: in light of the quote by “kimdog” on JD Doyle’s page (see his posting of March 11) and what I myself wrote on March 8, I’d prefer not to say anything more here at this stage. Instead, please would you contact me at jeremy.pender@btinternet.com. Suffice to say I’ve so far been in touch with, among others, Fred James, Marion James, Clifford Curry and Jimmy Church in Nashville, all of whom seem to rather like the idea of a birthday celebration for Jackie if such a thing could be arranged in time and, more importantly, would be welcomed by him.
Oops! Please ignore what I said just now about Ron’s missing “second posting”. What he’d written on March 10 only came through to me on today’s feed, arriving after what he’d written on March 15.
This is just to let you all know that contact has at last been made with Jackie, who’s alive and well, thank you, which of course means that all that previous speculation can now be gracefully put aside, thank goodness! However, it’s a little too soon to say what, if anything, we might all do next, but I’ll post updates here as soon as I can. That said, I don’t think it would be entirely inappropriate for me to suggest that you might like to consider not making any mid-May arrangements you can’t easily wriggle out of!
Copies of “I Got Mine” are now on their way to Jackie, and I expect to be able to post another update here by about the start of next week. In the meantime, though, I think we can take comfort from the knowledge that Jackie is very touched indeed by all the recent attention and kind words, even if slightly overwhelmed too!
I’ve just noticed that nowhere in these comments does the link to the “Listen Again” page for “I Got Mine” appear:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs/insidethemusic/itm_listenagain/2010/03/01/i_got_mine_the_story_of_jackie_1.html
It does now!
Just a follow-up, any new postngs sense March 25th ?
Regards to all, jb.
For various reasons, not least the awful flooding in Nashville, it proved too difficult to organize a celebration there for Jackie’s 70th birthday on May 15. However, I was able to let him know that our thoughts were with him and that we’re all grateful for his work over the years, especially in Toronto. Jackie is very appreciative of all the hard work Elaine and others put into the making of “I Got Mine” and wants to single out Rev. Larry Ellis for special praise for his own contribution.
If any of you would like to send Jackie a brief message which I can relay over the phone — he doesn’t do email — please get in touch with me at jeremy.pender@btinternet.com.
Nothing new here since March 25…..4.50am
CAN ANYBODY READ THIS ????????????
Ya or Na
The “Listen Again” link for “I Got Mine” has changed. It’s now http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs/2010/03/i-got-mine-the-story-of-jackie-shane.html.
glad jackie is alive and well?when will he go public and grace his presence to his long admiring fans?jackie if you see this post-please coming forward and reclaim your fame!
rjc,
Please see my posting of May 26. The most we can really all hope for is to just maintain the present arrangement. That is to say, Jackie’s very grateful for the messages I’ve been relaying to him from well-wishers, but he’d be more comfortable if we didn’t hanker for anything more just now.