Dee D. Jackson
Dee D. Jackson (born Deirdre Elaine Cozier, 15 July 1954, Oxford, England) is an English singer and musician. In the 1970s, she worked as a film producer in Munich, Germany, before moving into music, working with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey.
Dee D. Jackson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Deirdre Elaine Cozier |
Born | 15 July 1954 |
Origin | Oxford, England |
Genres | Pop, Italo disco, space disco |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1977–present |
Labels | Jupiter Records, Carrere Records (France), AVI and United Artists Records (US), Durium (Italy, UK) |
Associated acts | Gary Unwin, Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey |
Website | www.deedjackson.com |
Career
After years working for other artists, Jackson released her first single in 1977, "Man of a Man", which has not been included in any of her albums. The single did not get the public's attention. Her next attempt was the release of her biggest single, "Automatic Lover" in 1978, which reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] In Germany, the single reached No. 5.[2] It also climbed high up the South African singles charts. In Brazil, the success was such that the Brazilian media produced its own version of Dee D. Jackson. A Brazilian girl (Regina Shakti, who later became a spiritual yoga and physical therapist) dressed like Jackson, and along with her robot and a meteor man, were introduced on TV programs there as the real Dee D. Jackson. Shakti was introduced as 'D. Dee Jackson' to avoid problems with royalties.[3]
In 1976, Jackson married[4] and had a baby boy named Norman.
In 1978, she released her first album Cosmic Curves, a science fiction/disco LP, produced by Gary Unwin and his wife Patty. The second single from Cosmic Curves was released later that year, and "Meteor Man" was a hit in Argentina, Brazil, Europe and Japan. More modest airplay saw it reach No. 48 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]
The following year, Jackson released another single, "Fireball". It failed to feature in the UK chart, but enjoyed reasonable airplay in Italy, Germany, Brazil and Argentina. After months of exhaustive promotion, travel, and TV appearances, Jackson spent two years before recording a new album.
Thunder & Lightning was released at the end of 1980. In Italy it was released under the name The Fantastic featuring a different album cover. The first single "SOS (Love to the Rescue)" failed again in the UK, but once more France, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Japan and Germany reacted more positively.
In the early 1980s, Jackson moved to Los Angeles, California and, in 1981, a greatest hits album called Profile was released in Germany. But after spending only months living in the US, she relocated to Italy, and subsequently released the Italo disco singles "Talk Me Down" (1981), "Shotgun" (1982), "Moonlight Starlight" (1984), "Sweet Carillon" (1984) and "Heat of the Night" (1985). In 1988, "Automatic Lover" was remixed by Michael Cretu (Enigma), and released as a single entitled "Automatic Lover 88 Digital Max Mix", another hit in Japan.
A new album Blame It on the Rain was issued in 1995, with the attendant single release "People". She is currently married and living in Turin, Italy, where she owns a record company, DDE Records Ltd.[5]
Since 1996, Jackson has written songs and produced for other musicians. With the duo Nylon Moon, Jackson wrote the lyrics and melody and sang backing vocals on the track "Poppy Fields". Another track, "Maybe My Day", was included in the soundtrack of La Stanza del figlio.
Discography
Albums
- 1978: Cosmic Curves - AUS #79[6]
- 1980: Thunder & Lightning
- 1995: Blame It on the Rain
- 2010: Space and Time
Compilation albums
- 1981: Profile
- 1998: Il Meglio
- 2012: Starlight – The Ultimate Collection
Singles
- 1977: "Man of a Man"
- 1978: "Automatic Lover" - AUS #56[6]
- 1978: "Meteor Man"
- 1979: "Which Way Is Up"
- 1979: "Fireball"
- 1980: "S.O.S. (Love to the Rescue)"
- 1980: "Thunder and Lightning"
- 1981: "Talk Me Down"
- 1982: "Shotgun"/"How Do You Want Your Love"
- 1984: "Moonlight Starlight"
- 1984: "My Sweet Carillon"
- 1984: "Sky Walking"
- 1985: "Heat of the Night"
- 1996: "People"
References
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 273. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Ehnert, Günter (ed.): Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956–1980. Hamburg: Taurus Press, 1990, p. 105
- "Vídeo do dia: Regina Shakti, a Dee D. Jackson brasileira" (in Portuguese). Trash 80's. 2 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- GRO Register of Marriages: Adrian T.S. Tedd = Deirdre E. Cozier – JUN 1976 20 2228 OXFORD
- "New Release" (in Italian). Dderecords.com. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 150. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
External links
- Dee D. Jackson website
- Dee D. Jackson fansite (in Italian)
- Dee D. Jackson discography at Discogs
- Dee D. Jackson Photo Gallery