Deon Jackson (January 26, 1946 – April 18, 2014) was an American soul singer and songwriter.
Jackson was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. He studied clarinet and drums as a child, and while in Ann Arbor High School he formed his own vocal group, concurrently performing in area talent shows as a solo act and composing his own original material. While performing one of those songs at a high-school concert, Jackson was discovered by producer Ollie McLaughlin, who'd previously launched the career of soul diva Barbara Lewis; McLaughlin soon produced Jackson's debut single, 1962's self-penned "You Said You Love Me."
The record was a Detroit-area hit, as was its follow-up, "Come Back Home," but neither earned any national recognition. Jackson spent the next two years relentlessly touring the Southeast Michigan school dance and nightclub circuit, resurfacing on record in 1965 with the smooth soul classic "Love Makes the World Go Round" -- issued on McLaughlin's nascent Carla label; the single was popularized locally by CKLW personality Robin Seymour and became a nationwide smash, falling just shy of the pop Top Ten. An LP of the same name was issued on Atco in 1966, and that spring Jackson returned with a minor hit, 1966's "Love Takes a Long Time Growing.
Jackson toured heavily on the local club circuit before releasing his next record, 1965's "Love Makes the World Go 'Round" on Carla Records. The tune became a major pop hit, and an album was released subsequently on Atco Records.After two final Carla efforts -- the 1968 singles "I Can't Go On" and "You Gotta Love" -- Jackson landed at Shout for the following year's "He then faded from view, living and performing in the Chicago area. He is often referred to as a "one hit wonder". However, in the UK he is well known and respected on the Northern soul scene, where his records and unissued recordings are still played to this day. UK artist Kiki Dee had a minor US hit in 1971 with her cover of "Love Makes the World Go Round."
Rumors of post-1960s sessions remained unconfirmed, and in the years to follow, Jackson largely made his living touring the Chicago cocktail lounge circuit, later becoming a teacher and counselor in the school district of Wheaton, Illinois with special needs students. In 1989, Jackson married Kim Jackson. Afterward, Jackson faded into obscurity and began a second career when he was 54 in the year 2000 as a student supervisor at Wheaton Warrenville South High School in Wheeling, Illinois. He also taught students piano.
After having a brain hemorrhage at his home, Jackson died at the Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois, on April 18, 2014, at the age of 68. Although as a singer/songwriter he never fulfilled the enormous creative and commercial promise of his mid-'60s material, his peak output remains much adored.(Edited from Wikipedia, AllMusic & Blackpast)
