Wanda Jackson Artistfacts

October 20, 1937
Wanda Jackson, hailed as the "Queen of Rockabilly," blazed a trail as one of the pioneering women in both country and rock 'n' roll. Discovered by country singer Hank Thompson, she signed her first recording contract with Decca Records in 1954. With her distinctive raspy vocal growl and glamorous look, she earned the moniker "the sweet lady with the nasty voice." Over her extraordinary seven-decade career, she has released more than 30 albums. Her profound impact on music was officially recognized with her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 1955, Jackson toured with Elvis Presley, and they briefly dated. Presley, recognizing her immense talent, encouraged her to venture into rock music. Jackson recollected to Fox News in 2017: "The thing that Elvis did for me was giving me the courage to sing this new music, like he was doing. I would tell him, 'I can't do that Elvis because I'm just a country singer! Besides, I'm a girl. I can't sing that stuff.' And he said, 'I know you could if you try.' He made me promise that I would try. I kept my promise."

Jackson and Presley split in 1956 when the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" was signed by Col. Tom Parker and transitioned into a film career.
Jackson achieved huge success in Japan with her single "Fujiyama Mama," which spent six months at #1 on the Japanese chart in 1958. The song was deemed too controversial for American audiences due to its sexual nature and references to the atomic bomb.

"Nobody would play it. They barely had accepted Elvis and the others, and they weren't too sure about accepting a teenage girl singing this kind of music," Jackson said.

Nevertheless, the song resonated powerfully in Japan. Its popularity led to Jackson touring the country in 1959, solidifying her international acclaim.
"Funnel of Love," recorded by Jackson in October 1960 in Nashville, is hailed as one of her best vocal performances. Released in 1961 as the B-side to "Right or Wrong," the song has had a lasting influence, notably inspiring Adele's "Rolling In The Deep."

Jackson recalled to Rolling Stone in 2012: "When she told me that, it just sent chills over me. I thought, 'Boy, if I helped give the world that song, that's all right!'"

Jackson opened for Adele during her 2011 North American tour, joining the British singer for 10 sold-out dates.
In 1965, Jackson ventured to Germany. She worked with a vocal instructor to learn German and recorded several songs in the language, including "Santo Domingo." Despite spending six hours in the studio grappling with the pronunciation, Jackson's effort was rewarded as the song became a major success, even reaching #1 in Austria.
Jackson collaborated with The White Stripes' Jack White on her 30th album, The Party Ain't Over, released on White's Third Man Records label in 2011. In her autobiography, Every Night Is Saturday Night: A Country Girl's Journey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jackson recalled: "It was clear that Jack was for me in every way, and I felt honored by the respect he showed me."

White selected a diverse array of songs for Jackson to record, including Little Richard's "Rip It Up" and Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good." He also reached out to Bob Dylan, who requested Jackson cover his original "Thunder on the Mountain."

The Party Ain't Over peaked at #58 on the US Billboard 200, making Jackson the oldest female artist to appear on the chart at the time, at age 73.

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