Freddie Jackson, “Rock Me Tonight” and “You Are My Lady” Singer, Dies at 69

Freddie Jackson Robin Marchant/Getty Images

Freddie Jackson, the silky smooth R&B singer who had big hits in 1985 with “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady,” has died. He was 69.

Jackson died Monday, three days after his birthday, his family announced on Instagram. No cause of death was provided, but he revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with kidney disease.

“Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends and his music with everything he had,” they wrote. “For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever.

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“To everyone who ever sang along, danced or felt something when Freddie took the stage: Thank you. You were family to him, and he carried your love with him always.”

Jackson’s debut album, Rock Me Tonight, was released by Capitol Records in 1985, and the title track spent six weeks atop the Billboard R&B chart and peaked at No. 18 on the Hot 100. The second single from the LP, “You Are My Lady,” also made it to No. 1 on the R&B list while advancing to No. 12 on the Hot 100.

The album got Jackson two Grammy nominations, for best new artist and best R&B vocal performance.

Born in New York on Oct. 2, 1957, Frederick Anthony Jackson was raised in Harlem, where he sang gospel at White Rock Baptist Church. He honed his craft on the New York nightclub scene before moving to the West Coast in the late ’70s to sing lead and record three albums with the band Mystic Merlin.

His first album was certified platinum, as was his sophomore effort, 1987’s Just Like the First Time.

Jackson had another R&B chart-topping single with “A Little Bit More,” his 1986 duet with Melba Moore from her album A Lot of Love.

“My heart is broken over the loss of a great singer and even a greater friend, Freddie Jackson,” Moore said in a statement. “When we worked together on songs such as our hit, ‘A Little Bit More,’ his sense of humor had me laughing during the sessions. We had such a special relationship. I will forever miss my dear friend. Rest peacefully, Freddie.”

Other Jackson hits included “Tasty Love,” “Love Me Down,” “He’ll Never Love You (Like I Do),” “Jam Tonight,” “Do Me Again.”

In 1989, Jackson appeared as a lounge singer on The Golden Girls episode “Two Rode Together,” where he sang “It’s a Small World” to Sophia (Estelle Getty), and he performed “Love Survives” with Irene Cara on the soundtrack to the film All Dogs Go to Heaven.