In my posting about Billy Wright last June, I discussed briefly the tradition of the "tent show" queen in R&B and how many great R&B performers began their careers performing in drag. Well, my friend, collector and record dealer Barry Soltz sent in this wonderful clip of soul singer Jackie Shane (who I always thought was a woman) doing this rendition of Walking The Dog from some TV show in 1965. As you can see, Shane (who also recorded as Little Jackie Shane) was a man who performed (and probably lived) in drag. Shane who died back in '98 recorded for Stop and Sue and is quite revered amongst soul collectors. Great clip! Thanks Barry...
At the WFMU Record Fair in '06 or '07, high-end dealer Ozy (last name? Hefty dude in beret and wire-rim glasses?) offered me a copy of Jackie Shane's truly FIERCE live LP (Canadian only?) for $150.00. Like a fool, I passed...and have never seen it again.
Wow! Thanks for that clip!! "Sticks & Stones" and "Money" appear on the (essential) Frank Motley CD. "Any Other Way" and "In My Tenement" appear on the Sue Story box set.
man you guys don`t know the whole deal..I was 14 years old in 1967 when I first saw Jackie shane at a show in my town..A 12 hour dance faeturing 12 of the biggest RnB bands in Ontario at the time..The Mandala[five rogues] Ugly ducklings..Yeomen, shawn and Jay Jackso and the Majestics .Quiet Jungle,Lords of London and on and on but I was not ready for Jackie Shane..I knew his local hit "Any Other Way" and when he came out I was standing fron t row and probably looked as shocked as any kid ever looked..He was in full drag..I was really confused..in 1967 at 14 yeas of age I had not been hipped to the idea of transvestites..Anyhow it was great..I have Jackies cd which is a live show from a club in Toronto and the band is awesome..however try as I might I have never been able to track down any info re: whatever happened to the late great Jackie Shane.. sluggo
I'm just finishing up a Jackie Shane documentary for CBC Radio that will air sometime in the new year (probably January). It'll answer some of the questions posted here. It's full of Jackie's music and great interviews with Robbie Lane, Larry Ellis, and others.
-Elaine
PS-this video is from a Nashville-based TV show called "Night Train"
my name is pat back in the sixtys my cousin who is long dead was going out with shane and he and i were on the band tour and partyed with l.s.d. with shane for those who no its true my cousins name was steve dawson i have many stores in my brain and you can only amagine !! i am now 64 what a time it was1pat healey
Recently Posted to mapleblue by: "Johnny V" nojam@xplornet.ca veeverb Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:08 am (PDT)
Donny Walsh phoned from Costa Rica today to let me know Jackie Shane is living in Nashville very much alive... Apparently the recent CBC radio special prompted a mad search, and the rest is history...
Someone should do a movie of his life. I have a feeling it would be more interesting than that made for TV movie of little Richard. I can't find anything on Wikpedia about him.
This is great. Thank you. Do you have any tracks of his?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
Dave
"Do you have any tracks of his?"
ReplyDeleteYou can find Sticks & Stones here:
http://shindiggit.blogspot.com/2009/10/jackie-shane-sticks-and-stones-sue-776.html
and Comin' Down can be heard here:
http://soulfultorino.blogspot.com/2007/10/45-spotlight-jackie-shane-comin-down.html
At the WFMU Record Fair in '06 or '07, high-end dealer Ozy (last name? Hefty dude in beret and wire-rim glasses?) offered me a copy of Jackie Shane's truly FIERCE live LP (Canadian only?) for $150.00. Like a fool, I passed...and have never seen it again.
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for that clip!!
ReplyDelete"Sticks & Stones" and "Money" appear on the (essential) Frank Motley CD. "Any Other Way" and "In My Tenement" appear on the Sue Story box set.
Ran across an interesting 1948 Ebony article on female impersonators. Follow the link and scroll down a bit:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.queermusicheritage.us/drag-swanson.html
Looks like the great Johnny Jones on guitar -- he died recently.
ReplyDeletelooks & sound like Johnny Jones on guitar
ReplyDeleteman you guys don`t know the whole deal..I was 14 years old in 1967 when I first saw Jackie shane at a show in my town..A 12 hour dance faeturing 12 of the biggest RnB bands in Ontario at the time..The Mandala[five rogues] Ugly ducklings..Yeomen, shawn and Jay Jackso and the Majestics .Quiet Jungle,Lords of London and on and on but I was not ready for Jackie Shane..I knew his local hit "Any Other Way" and when he came out I was standing fron t row and probably looked as shocked as any kid ever looked..He was in full drag..I was really confused..in 1967 at 14 yeas of age I had not been hipped to the idea of transvestites..Anyhow it was great..I have Jackies cd which is a live show from a club in Toronto and the band is awesome..however try as I might I have never been able to track down any info re: whatever happened to the late great Jackie Shane..
ReplyDeletesluggo
One of my favorite vids.
ReplyDeleteA year or two ago I did some Googling and, as I recall, Jackie may've been murdered. But no one seemed sure.
And according to Wiki, he/she was a cousin of Little Richard.
Looks like Johnny Jones to me as well probably the Night Train show out of Nashville?
ReplyDeleteThis is Fantastic. Never heard of this guy before. Thanks, Jim.
ReplyDeletewanda
I'm just finishing up a Jackie Shane documentary for CBC Radio that will air sometime
ReplyDeletein the new year (probably January). It'll answer some of the questions posted here.
It's full of Jackie's music and great interviews with Robbie Lane, Larry Ellis, and others.
-Elaine
PS-this video is from a Nashville-based TV show called "Night Train"
my name is pat back in the sixtys my cousin who is long dead was going out with shane and he and i were on the band tour and partyed with l.s.d. with shane for those who no its true my cousins name was steve dawson i have many stores in my brain and you can only amagine !! i am now 64 what a time it was1pat healey
ReplyDeleteRecently Posted to mapleblue by: "Johnny V" nojam@xplornet.ca veeverb
ReplyDeleteTue Mar 30, 2010 9:08 am (PDT)
Donny Walsh phoned from Costa Rica today to let me know Jackie Shane
is living in Nashville very much alive... Apparently the recent CBC
radio special prompted a mad search, and the rest is history...
JV
Someone should do a movie of his life. I have a feeling it would be more interesting than that made for TV movie of little Richard. I can't find anything on Wikpedia about him.
ReplyDelete