Joe Jackson

After studying violin and piano as a child, Joe Jackson began playing in bars at the age of 16 before studying musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. However, Jackson rejected a beckoning future in classical music in favour of becoming a rock and pop artist, forming the bands Edward Bear and Arms & Legs and in 1978 was signing by A&M Records as a solo artist. His 1979 album 'Look Sharp!' included the breakthrough hit 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?' Other hits followed, notably 'It's Different for Girls' but, often compared to Elvis Costello, Jackson gradually diversified to incorporate other musical styles, collaborating with Lincoln Thompson on reggae crossovers and forming a swing band to express his love of jazz on 'Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive', paying tribute to the songwriting of Cole Porter on 'Night & Day' (1982) with more jazz standards on 'Body & Soul' (1984). Jackson continued to expand his approach with experimental works and concept albums and in 1999 he released classical album 'Symphony No 1', whilst in 2003 he reunited his original band for a return to pop on 'Volume 4'. In the 2000s he also established a parallel career as an author, writing his autobiography 'A Cure for Gravity' about his life from childhood to his mid-twenties. In 2005 he teamed up with Todd Rundgren and string quartet ETHEL to tour America and Europe. He released 'The Duke' in 2012 followed in 2015 by 'Fast Forward' and in 2019 by 'Fool'.

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