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Willis "Gator" Jackson (April 25, 1932 – October 25, 1987)^[1] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Born in Miami, Florida,^[1] Jackson joined Duke Ellington alumnus Cootie Williams's band in 1949 as a teenager, after being discovered by Eddie Vinson. During the 1950s he participated in R&B and jazz recordings, primarily as a session musician. He also toured as leader of the backing band of singer Ruth Brown, whom he married.^[1] Jackson joined Prestige Records in 1959, making a string of jazz albums which proved to an influence on the burgeoning soul jazzmovement.^{[citation needed]} During this era, Jack McDuff and Pat Martino became famous through association with Jackson. Jackson's main influences were Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet.^{[citation needed]}

Jamaican ska innovator Prince Buster has cited Jackson's song "Later for the Gator" as one of the first ska songs.^[2]

Jackson died in New York one week after heart surgery, in October 1987, at the age of 55.^[1]

[edit]Album discography

• Please Mr. Jackson (Prestige, 1959) - with Jack McDuff and Bill Jennings


• Cool "Gator" (Prestige, 1959-60) with Jack McDuff and Bill Jennings [also released as Keep on a Blowin]


• Blue Gator (Prestige), 1959


• Cookin' Sherry (Prestige), 1959


• Together Again (with Jack McDuff) (Prestige) or (La Voix De Son Maître, 1965, French, different cover), 1960


• Really Groovin' (Prestige) or (Swingtime, Danish release, 1989), 1961


• In My Solitude (Moodsville), 1961


• Together Again, Again (with Jack McDuff) (Prestige), 1961


• Thunderbird (Prestige), 1962