Jackson C Frank
His story is not a happy one, but his music is delicate and beautiful and definitely deserves a listen.
A fire at his school left 15 of his fellow students dead and an 11 year old Jackson with severe burns and trauma that would haunt him, affecting his mental stability for the rest of his life. He learnt guitar while recuperating and travelled to England on the large insurance payout.
At this time the English folk scene was thriving and Frank spent time with other Americans who had come to be part of the scene, such as Dave Van Ronk, Tom Paxton and a then unknown Paul Simon, who produced his eponymous album. Frank also befriended many British folk musicians like John Martyn, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, using his money and position at the Cousins Club to help them out when possible. At this time he had a relationship with Sandy Denny and was championed by John Peel.
In 1966 his health began to deteriorate and he returned to the US with severe depression, which worsened after the death of his son in the 1970s. In the 1980's he began living on the street and through simple wrong-place-wrong-time bad luck, he was shot in the eye and consequently blinded. In the 1990s, a fan named Jim Abbot sought him out and helped him move into a retirement home in Woodstock where, with renewed enthusiasm, he began to record some new demos. Jackson C Frank died of pneumonia and cardiac arrest in 1999.
Although never really famous, his work has been known through the artists that have covered him; a list including Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Simon and Garfunkel, Counting Crows and Fairport Convention.
Despite his many misfortunes in life he created some of the loveliest songs I have ever heard. Have a listen.
Perfect little song, 'Blues Run The Game'.
'You Never Wanted Me'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVx4Buw1qtk
Raw and sound quality lacking but a wonderful much later track called 'Tumble In The Wind (Version 1)'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_4N05coN2g
There is currently no Jackson C Frank website, but an interesting account of his life is provided at http://www.folkblues.co.uk/artistsfrank.html through a phone interview with the man himself.
And more info at this Allmusic page http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jackson-c-frank-p182067/biography.
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