Wanda Jackson doesn’t appear ready to bequeath her crown as The Queen of Rock and Roll anytime soon.
Jackson brings her iconic voice to Central Park’s SummerStage tonight as part of the free concert series. Jackson hit the road this summer with The Hi-Dollars from Nashville behind her, after recent tours backed by The Lustre Kings and The Third Man House Band. On the strength of heavy touring for several years, she promises to deliver truly classic American goods to her ever-growing audience.
Jackson recently earned a new generation of listeners by first recording a 7” single, and then a full-length LP with Jack White. White added guitar and production chops to a comprehensive effort from Jackson, featuring the country, rockabilly, and gospel sounds that made her an international star. The record also featured impressive covers of Bob Dylan’s “Thunder on the Mountain” and the late Amy Winehouse’s astonishing cut, “You Know I’m No Good.” Third Man Records has also made Jackson’s live appearance at their Nashville headquarters available on wax and DVD to premium subscribers throughout July.
Jackson has lived up to the suggestion of the LP’s title, The Party Ain’t Over. She has toured extensively in America, Europe, and Japan throughout a career that began in 1950s for a teenage country and rockabilly sensation. At 73, she shows no signs of becoming an absentee icon to her adoring supporters.
Irish rockabilly star Imelda May starts the show for Wanda Jackson at 7PM. The doors open at 6PM, but remember that free shows at SummerStage work on a first-come, first-serve basis, so arrive early and stake out a place in line.
