Oliver Jackson (April 28, 1933 – May 29, 1994), also known as Bops Junior, was an American jazz drummer.
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Biography
Jackson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on 28 April 1933, where he played in the 1940s with Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Wardell Gray, and had a variety show with Eddie Locke called Bop & Locke.
After working with Yusef Lateef from 1954 until 1956, he moved to New York, where he played regularly at the Metropole in 1957 and 1958. Following this, he worked with Teddy Wilson, Charlie Shavers (1959–61), Buck Clayton, Benny Goodman (1962), Lionel Hampton (1962–64), Kenny Burrell, Earl Hines (1964–70 intermittently) and the JPJ Quartet with Budd Johnson. Jackson was mentored by, and lived for two years with, Earl Hines.
Later in life he played with Sy Oliver (1975–80), Oscar Peterson, and George Wein's Newport All-Stars. As a bandleader, Jackson led a 1961 date in Switzerland, and recorded at least five albums for Black & Blue Records between 1977 and 1984.
His brother, bassist Ali Jackson, performed with him both at the beginning and towards the end of their careers. His nephew, Ali Jackson Jr., is a jazz drummer.
Jackson died from heart failure in New York City at Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital. He was 61.
Discography
As leader
1984: Billy's Bounce (Black & Blue)
As sideman
With Ray Alexander
Rain In June (Nerus Records, 1992)
With Gene Ammons
Bad! Bossa Nova (Prestige, 1962)
With Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant Plays (Signature, 1959)
Little Susie (Columbia, 1960)
With Kenny Burrell
The Tender Gender (Cadet, 1966)
With Buck Clayton
One for Buck (Columbia, 1961)
With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Jaws Strikes Again (Black & Blue, 1976)
With Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon with Junior Mance at Montreux (Prestige, 1970)
With Johnny Hodges
Triple Play (RCA Victor, 1967)
With Major Holley and Slam Stewart
Shut Yo' Mouth! (1981)
With Illinois Jacquet
The Blues; That's Me! (Prestige, 1969)
With Etta Jones
Love Shout (Prestige, 1963)
With Paul Gonsalves