The editors of Maxazine just received word of the death of Lilian Day Jackson. Lilian was the stepdaughter of the legendary jazz drummer Art Blakey and became best known in the Netherlands as the lead singer of the band Spargo in the 1980s. Jackson had been ill for some time. Daughter Bemshi already indicated in March that Lilian was terminally ill. Lilian Day Jackson passed away yesterday in the presence of her family.
American singer Lilian was born in Paris and later moved to the Netherlands, where she started her musical career as a backing vocalist for various artists. Spargo was founded in 1975 by Amsterdammers Ruud Mulder (guitar, vocals, previously played in rock/blues group Space 7, 1967-1975), Hans Elbersen (guitar, vocals, also previously played in rock/blues group Space 7), Ellert Driessen ( keys, vocals, composer, 1958), Jef Nassenstein (bass, vocals) and Leander Lammertink (drums). In the late 1970s, well after Elbersen’s departure, the group was joined by the originally American singer. Together they made a unique sound that became extremely popular both in the Netherlands and abroad.
Spargo
Spargo’s success started with the release of their debut album ‘Good Time Spirit’ in 1980. The album was quickly picked up by radio stations in the Netherlands and the song ‘You and Me’ became a huge hit. The song topped the Dutch charts for weeks and was later picked up abroad. Spargo’s second album, ‘One Night Affair’, also contained a number of major hits, including ‘Hip Hap Hop’ and ‘Just for You’. The album was produced by renowned producer Dicky Lafour along with Steve Melick and was a great success in the Netherlands, Germany and other European countries.
The powerful voice of Lilian Day Jackson
Spargo wasn’t only popular because of their catchy songs and the powerful voice of Lilian Day Jackson. The band was also known for their energetic and compelling performances. The combination of Lilian’s vocals and the funky rhythm section made every performance a party. After the breakup of Spargo in 1987, Lilian remained active in the music industry and collaborated with various Dutch artists. She also left for the United States and had a hit there with ‘Got To Control It’ and played in the TV series ‘Kanaal 13’ in the Netherlands.
Jackson was known for her powerful voice and her ability to engage audiences in her performances. Eventually, Spargo regularly met again for a few concerts. With the passing of Lilian Day Jackson, the Netherlands has lost one of its most iconic female singers from the 1980s. Our thoughts go out to her family and friends during this difficult time. Lilian Day Jackson turned 63 years old.
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