While most other blues musicians relish the chance to tour Europe and meet the high demand for classic American roots music overseas, Big George Jackson was hesitant to leave the comforts of home in Minnesota. And it literally was a comfort issue.
"We'd be put up in these little Dutch houses and other places with these tiny beds," remembered Jeremy Johnson, longtime guitarist in Jackson's band. "George just wasn't built for those tours."
At 6½ feet, Jackson loomed large literally and figuratively in the Twin Cities blues scene for five decades, singing and playing harmonica with a deep voice and gritty groove that was equal parts Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. He died unexpectedly in his sleep of natural causes Tuesday at his Brooklyn Park home.
"He went very peacefully," said his wife, Tonya Palmer-Jackson.
Jackson, 71, grew up in Minneapolis in a large, blues-loving family with seven siblings. His parents emigrated north from Mississippi and Memphis, and father Francis "FB" Jackson played harmonica and guitar at home. After becoming a dad himself, George worked a day job at Minnegasco (now CenterPoint Energy) and performed at night and on weekends.
The last of the "Big" men in Minnesota blues circles — Big John Dickerson died just two weeks ago, while Big Walter Smith passed in 2012 — he was a mainstay at Wilebski's/Blues Saloon, Famous Dave's Uptown, the Schooner Tavern and other Twin Cities venues, and at festivals such as Bayfront in Duluth, Lowertown Blues in St. Paul and the Roots, Rock & Deep Blues Fest in Minneapolis.
He was due to return to the latter event in July at the Hook & Ladder Theatre after a lull in performing since last summer, when he busted out of the pandemic lockdown for a few outdoor gigs.
"He didn't want to tour anymore, but he still loved to play locally whenever he could," said Johnson, who played with Jackson for 25 years in a long-solidified band with Phil Schmid, Dwight Dario and John Schroder.
