Freddie Jackson, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer behind 1980s hits “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady,” died Monday at age 70, three days after his birthday, his family said. His family posted a statement on his official Instagram account praising him as “more than a legendary voice” and said details regarding arrangements will be announced in the coming days. Born and raised in Harlem, Jackson sang gospel at White Rock Baptist Church, started in the New York club scene, and released his debut album Rock Me Tonight in 1985, which was certified platinum and earned him Grammy nominations for best new artist and best male R&B vocal performance. His 1987 sophomore album Just Like the First Time was also certified platinum, and he became a mainstay on Billboard R&B charts through the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2024 Jackson revealed a diagnosis of kidney disease and said he had partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness of the condition; the article notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 1 in 7 American adults has chronic kidney disease and many are unaware of it.
