Why? A pioneer that shaped the sound of R&B in the 1960s (esp. the Toronto Sound), helped cultivate Toronto’s early queer community, and influenced glam rock and funk.
Where to start?
“Sticks and Stones” probably sums up her ethos best, as a trans woman who lovingly presented her queerness on stage. https://youtu.be/u00HYZXxxOA
Many of Jackie’s most beloved performances are covers making them entirely her own. “Any Other Way” is her most famous single. She has a smoldering and heartfelt voice feels like it’s singing just for you. The lyrics take on a double meaning for Jackie, living far away from her mother who she cared dearly for:
“She wants to know how I feel
Tell her that I am happy
Tell her that I am gay
Tell her I wouldn't have it
Any other way”
“Walking the Dog” is one of the few video recordings of her performing that’s widely available. You can get a taste for her style, all the more impressive because she was out and proud at time when it was illegal for her to dress the way she did. That said, the descriptions others give, and the impression you get in the only live recording of a concert of hers is that she was a unforgettable and divine presence.
When you look at comments on Jackie’s songs, people come out of the woodwork to say how unforgettable she was. Sadly, the wider world neglected her legacy after she retired in 1971. This may have been in part due to her unwillingness to compromise with the queerphobic and exploitative music industry, as well as wanting to take care of and be close to her mother in the US.
Boosting the glorious Jackie Shane for #BlackFriday
I shared about her on #TransMusicMonday this week. An R&B singer from the 60s who shaped the Toronto Sound, she left the segregationist South in the US to be an unapologetically beautiful presence in night clubs in Toronto and LA. Give her a listen today in the thread above if you haven't had the chance before.
Remember the transcestors during #TransAwarenessWeek! Boosting Jackie Shane, a pioneer that broke ground on the R&B sound that would inform so much of modern music. She was an out and proud trans woman at a time when it was illegal to be us. Go through this #TransMusicMonday thread and listen to her amazing voice. Connect with the legacy of creativity our trans elders have gifted us. 💖
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