In remembrance of James Jackson, we send our prayers. If any of you post e mail relating to the loss of Jackson I have been asked to fax them to the Sun Ra house. So sorry to share this sad news.

Gloria Powers

I've been informed that a memorial service will be held for James Jackson on Friday August 15 , from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, at the Afro-American Museum 701 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106. Their phone number is (215) 574-0380.

Prayers for Pleiadians.

Gloria

While still in his formative years, Jac distinguished himself by demonstrating his formidable artistic abilities. His musical genius was first glimpsed when he began his career as a self taught jazz flutist in his mid-teens. Initially, he played with local jazz bands in and around New Haven. In the early 1960's, anxious to expand his musical horizions, he left for the Big Apple.

In the early to mid sixties Jac lived with his young family on the Lower East side of Manhattan. He supplemented his musical earning by painting and making jewelry in his shop. It was during this period about 1964, that he met up with and joined Sun Ra.

With that cosmic collision of spirits a new energy was created. Its effects have been felt around the world. A musical vibration that will forever grow and change, ebb and flow, pulse and beat wildly in the primordial, mercurial universe that is the legacy of Sun Ra and Jac his disciple in Space **** the Place.

Jac is survived by his father James Edward Jackson Sr. and his stepmother Mary Ellen Jackson of New Haven, Connecticut. His brothers Jerome J. Jackson and Joseph J. Jackson of New York, his sisters Althea Jackson Tyson, Judtih Ann Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson of New Haven. In addition he leaves behind three daughters, Stephanie Jackson Jones of Adrian Michigan, Leah Jackson of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Kiri (Jackson) Mansa of Raleigh, North Carolina. A son Suif Jackson of New York, six grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and countless loving friends.

The Viewing for Jac Jackson will be August 15, 1997 from Noon to 2:00 PM at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 41 W. Rittenhouse Street, Philadelphia, PA.

The Memorial Service will be at the Afro American Historical and Cultural Museum, at 7th and Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA.,on August 15, 1997 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers please send any donations in memory of Jac Jacson to Sun Ra Arkestra Foundation for Sun Ra oblist fund care of Marshall Allen, 5626 Morton Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19144.

Sun Ra Arkestra will dedicate the Los Angeles performances to Jac Jacson on August 22, 1997 at Billboard Live, 9034 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, Ca and on August 23, 1997 at California Plaza, 350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA.

Susan Pearlstine

James Edward Jackson Jr., a jazz musician and member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, died Sunday. He was 65 and lived in Germantown.

Jackson, whose friends and followers called "Jac," was found dead in his bedroom in the band's Germantown rowhouse. He died of arterial sclerosis, according to the band's trombonist, Tyrone Hill.

"He was one of the most dedicated musicians I've ever seen,'' Hill said.

A bassoonist also known for playing a drum carved from a tree trunk, Jackson taught himself to play the flute while growing up in New Haven, Conn.

In the early 1960s, he moved to New York City, hoping to expand his musical horizons.

There, he met up with and joined Sun Ra, the band's founding leader, who died in 1993.

The Arkestra, whose repertoire stretches from intense African percussion to jazz and space-age free-flowing sermons, moved from New York to Philadelphia 20 years ago.

Since then, Jackson and the other members have been living and playing music out of the same rowhouse on Morton Street.

His followers, in his obituary, wrote that his partnership with Sun Ra was "a musical vibration that will forever grow and change, ebb and flow, pulse and beat wildly in the primordial, mercurial universe that is the legacy of Sun Ra and Jac his disciple in Space . . . the Place."

Rhoda Blount, a former dancer with the band, described Jackson as "a serious cat who got down to business" when it came to performances and practices.

She said he used to stand on a stool and play a large drum that he had made from a tree trunk. He called it his Egyptian Infinity Drum.

Survivors include three daughters, Stephanie Jackson Jones, Leah Jackson and Kiri Jackson Mansa; a son, Suif; six grandchildren; his father, James Edward Jackson Sr., and his stepmother, Mary Ellen Jackson; his brothers, Jerome J. and Joseph J.; his sisters, Althea Jackson Tyson, Judith Ann Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum, 7th and Arch streets.

Friends may call noon to 2 p.m. today at Mount Zion Baptist Church of Germantown, 41 W. Rittenhouse St.

Contributions may be made to the Sun Ra Arkestra Foundation, c/o Marshall Allen, 5626 Morton St., Philadelphia, 19144.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(Posted by Christopher Anderson)

"The music is a journey, the journey is endless...."
Sun Ra

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