Eddie L. Jackson, 63, guitarist
When folks bought a car from a certain salesman at a certain dealership at 24th Street and Passyunk Avenue in the 1980s, they might have been surprised to learn they were dealing with a man who was once in the musical spotlight.
When folks bought a car from a certain salesman at a certain dealership at 24th Street and Passyunk Avenue in the 1980s, they might have been surprised to learn they were dealing with a man who was once in the musical spotlight.
In 1967, Eddie L. Jackson was the guitarist in the Philadelphia quartet Brenda and the Tabulations, whose biggest hit, Dry Your Eyes, scored high on the sales charts.
Devon Allen, son of Mr. Jackson, said that the single was a "No. 2 hit on the U.S. soul chart, No. 20 on [the] U.S. pop chart."
On Monday, May 3, Mr. Jackson, 63, of North Philadelphia, died of a brain aneurysm at Temple University Hospital.
Born in Forest City, N.C., Mr. Jackson graduated from Dunbar High School there in 1964 and moved to Philadelphia a year later.
In 1966, his son said, Mr. Jackson joined with Maurice Coates, Jerry Jones, and Brenda Payton to form Brenda and the Tabulations.
The group's other hits, mostly on the rhythm-and-blues sales charts, "included Right on the Tip of My Tongue [No. 23 on pop chart, No. 5 R&B chart], Who's Lovin' You [No. 19 R&B], and Stay Together Young Lovers" (No. 44 R&B), his son said.
The group broke up in the 1980s, his son said, but Mr. Jackson then wrote Touch of You for Kool and the Gang.
A 1992 obituary for Brenda Payton Hill reported that she and her husband, Jim Hill, had run a record company since 1985.
In 1986, members of the Tabulations were among several rhythm-and-blues and doo-wop groups honored with an evening at what then was called the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum.
And in 1987, the group was among 75 Philadelphia-grown performers - from Bobby Rydell to Eddie Fisher - honored at the first Philadelphia Music Awards presented by the Philadelphia Music Foundation.
Besides his son, Mr. Jackson is survived by his adoptive mother, Lillian Coates; another son, Anthony R. Howard; three brothers; and six grandchildren. Besides his longtime companion Lorraine Robinson, he is also survived by former companions Beverly Allen and Gwen Howard.
A viewing is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, May 10, at True Vine Baptist Church, 521 W. Lehigh Ave., followed by a life celebration there at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Peace Cemetery.