This was written when I was a young guy (really) and someone said to my wife; “You’re married to him? Wow, he’s like the grandfather of Boston Rock Drummers!” Ouch.This was 23 years ago. Jeeez. I thought I was young NOW.Mickey O’Halleran took that back handed compliment and wrote this article. All grammar and spelling errors are as printed. The excerpt appeared in a “Salute to Drummers” story published in New England Performer Magazine, copyright 1993 by Mickey O’Halloran and used with his kind permission Mickey died on March 28, 2001 at the age of 53.
Salute to Boston Drummers - Tim Jackson by Mickey O’Halloran Tim Jackson is probably the Grandfather of Boston Drummers. In this day and age with mature headaches like a mortgage, shuffling the kids off to soccer practice, holding a Masters in Education, and more and more of that precious acting work (stage plays, extras, etc.), who needs all the band work thrown his way? Even as a 17-year-old, Tim had seen (and heard) a lot. His high school band opened for The Young Rascals twice, BB King and the Beck/Page Yardbirds. His history also stretches back to college with Larry Hoppen in a pre-Orleans band called ABRAXIS. He was in the top Rhode Island band of the time, (late 60’s) Benefit Street. He was on Columbia records with John Paul Jones (not the Zep bassist) and was produced by Brooks Arthur (Bette Midler, Janis Ian, Dusty Springfield). They played Max’s Kansas City in the early 70’s. He worked then with famed jazzer Jeff Lorber. His resume includes his involvement in Vas Deferens, a band that was the precursor to the punkish, lyrically sound, but oh-so-arty scene which followed. Tim has played out and recorded the theatrical groundbreaking Splendaids and with toured with seminal folkie Tom Rush. He played Europe and the Montreuax Jazz Fest with the legendary LaVern Baker.
If you ever lived in or around New England than at least one of his bands was “the” band of your era. In the early eighties there were the Young Rationals. He’s had national hits as a Chartbuster (Warner Bros.) with Robin Lane, stayed with some of those guys in The Grey Boys, and has worked with Barry Marshall. (Hey, who hasn’t?). He did a stint with Stormin’ Norman and Suzy, and also recorded with Roger Salloom on the “Get Out of Worcester” album, (which incidentally is sound advice). He’s done folk records and fiddle records, corporate soundtracks, and reggae.
He was also a member of TVS (Total Vocal Sound) and the band Night Visitors that cut the lead track, “Jody”, on the Leslie Palmiter conceived WCOZ compilation album, “Best of The Boston Beat,” in 1979. In his spare time he’s worked on soundtracks and movie scores and contributed mightily to John Sayles’ silver screener Brother From Another Planet, Lianna, Secaucus 7, Lone Star, and others for Mason Daring. The scope and variety of his work is mindboggling. He presently spends these modern days play-acting out a 60’s revival fantasy as Stash in a band he began with his long time buddy Peter Hoffman.called The Band That Time Forgot (got-got), an act seeped in camp, and complete with incense, lava lamps, Nehru jackets, bellbottoms, lovebeads and other psyche trappings.
Although scheduling forces BTTF to turn down as much work as they accept, the boys (and go-go dancer Jenny Jasmine) have left the studio with their theme song, and a “tres” psychedelic version of Kenny Roger’s First Edition staple, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In”), which somehow sums up Mister Jackson’s years in the business.