Ray Jackson (musician)

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Ray Jackson (born 12 December 1948 in Wallsend, Northumberland) is an English musician best known as the mandolin and harmonica player and one of the vocalists of the folk-rock band Lindisfarne. In the band he was often called “Jacka” because another member shared his first name.

After leaving school, he studied graphics at Newcastle College of Art and Industrial Design, where he met fellow musician Ray Laidlaw. He joined Lindisfarne at their start in 1970 and stayed with the group until 1990, contributing both instrumental playing and lead vocals on some songs.

While with Lindisfarne, Jackson designed the group’s logo and the sleeve for Nicely Out of Tune. He played mandolin on Rod Stewart’s early 1970s albums, including “Every Picture Tells a Story,” “Maggie May,” “Mandolin Wind,” and “Farewell.” He was not named on the sleeve of Every Picture Tells a Story, and he later claimed a writing credit for the Maggie May hook, pursuing legal action in 2003, though the matter remained disputed.

In Lindisfarne, Jackson often sang lead on songs written by Rod Clements, such as “Meet Me on the Corner.” He stayed with the band when three members left to form Jack the Lad in 1973, designing the sleeve for Rough Diamonds and playing harmonica on the album. He also played mandolin on Chris de Burgh’s debut album Far Beyond These Castle Walls.

When Lindisfarne broke up in 1975, Jackson pursued a solo career with EMI. Only one single, “Take Some Time,” was released, and it sold poorly. He and his manager later sued EMI, claiming the label ruined his solo career; the court ruled EMI was not obliged to provide material or promote the work, and damages were awarded against EMI.

Jackson also formed Harcourt’s Heroes with Charlie Harcourt, and Lindisfarne reformed in the late 1970s. The band enjoyed a revival with hits like “Run for Home,” and Back and Fourth, which included writing by Jackson and Harcourt. He also contributed to songs on later Lindisfarne albums, including “Warm Feeling,” “King’s Cross Blues,” and “This Has Got to End.”

In 1980 he released a solo album, In The Night, produced by Hugh Murphy. The album featured songs co-written with Harcourt and covers like Everything Will Turn Out Fine. Jackson later reflected that some tracks sounded a bit old-fashioned but praised the experience and musicians who played on it.

In the mid-1980s Lindisfarne’s success waned, and Jackson retired from performing for a time, working in sports marketing. He returned to perform at a memorial concert for Alan Hull in 2005 at Newcastle City Hall and later turned to visual art, opening an art studio and picture-framing business in Witney, Oxfordshire, where he became known for detailed paintings of period buses.

More recently, Jackson helped form Gathering – Legends of Folk Rock with Jerry Donahue, Clive Bunker, Rick Kemp, Doug Morter, and Kristina Donahue. In February 2013, he announced a one-off return show at Newcastle City Hall to support the venue, which sold out, and Lindisfarne announced plans for a reunion. In January 2015, Lindisfarne Official confirmed that Ray Jackson had retired from Lindisfarne.