The English musician, Joe Jackson first found fame early in the brief new-wave rock era before venturing in to jazz-infused pop. The singer/songwriter's eclectic work features an adventurous spirit, biting wit and bold experimentation. Known for an unpredictable temperament, the enigmatic artist aggressively objected to the ban on smoking in public places, even writing a well-researched pamphlet on the subject in 2005.
Born David Jackson in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, he joined a violin class at eleven in order to avoid having to play sports in school. Jackson later switched to the piano and took to studying it seriously, with the goal of becoming a classical composer. However, he soon drifted towards pop music, making his first professional gig playing at a pub at sixteen. He later earned a scholarship to study at London's Royal Academy of Music where he was further exposed to jazz and classical. But Jackson kept his toes in pop music, eventually joining several rock bands.
After deciding to use a nickname "Joe" professionally, he formed his own band and made a demo that got him signed to A&M Records in 1978. Jackson's debut in 1979, "Look Sharp!" was an exciting mix of rock, jazz and new wave that was well-received due to the singles, "Sunday Papers", the title track and "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" which reached number thirteen on the UK pop chart and number twenty-one in the US. The follow-up album, "I'm The Man" was released later that year and was also a success with the single, "It's Different for Girls" peaking at number five in Britain.
Jackson's major breakthrough came with his fifth album, "Night and Day" in 1982 which serves as tribute to the spirit of Cole Porter and New York City. The single, "Stepping Out", about the excitement of a night out on the town, would become his biggest hit, reaching number six on the US and British charts. The song would earn Jackson Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
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