Although Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson never enjoyed a chart hit under his own name, his honking saxophone graced many hits in the '40s and '50s. Jackson earned his nickname when a member of the Cootie Williams Orchestra heard his hard blowing solos on Williams's Jukebox hit "Gator Tail." He formed his own group while still playing with Williams and his screaming saxophone became a big attraction on jukeboxes and live appearances during the early '50s. He married R&B singer Ruth Brown and naturally worked with her both live and in the studio, examples of which round out this overview of the early years of one of the all time great tenor saxophonists. Acrobat. 2005.
9 Gonna Hoot and Holler Saturday Night - Eddie Mack
10 Cool Mama
11 Blow Jackson Blow
12 More Blues at Midnight
13 Later for the 'Gator
14 Call of the 'Gators
15 Steam Roller Blues - Eddie Mack
16 Beauty Parlor Gossip - Eddie Mack
17 'Gator's Groove
18 Harlem Nocturne
19 Rock! Rock! Rock!
20 Wine-O-Wine
21 Good Gliding (Aka 'Gator's Got to Go)
22 Street Scene (Aka Sentimental Rhapsody)
23 Estrellita
24 R B Blues - Ruth Brown
25 Daddy Daddy - Ruth Brown
26 Tears Keep Tumbling Down - Ruth Brown
Although Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson never enjoyed a chart hit under his own name, his honking saxophone graced many hits in the '40s and '50s. Jackson earned his nickname when a member of the Cootie Williams Orchestra heard his hard blowing solos on Williams's Jukebox hit "Gator Tail." He formed his own group while still playing with Williams and his screaming saxophone became a big attraction on jukeboxes and live appearances during the early '50s. He married R&B singer Ruth Brown and naturally worked with her both live and in the studio, examples of which round out this overview of the early years of one of the all time great tenor saxophonists. Acrobat. 2005.