Kristy Jackson

I was born in W.Va., raised in CT and reside in NC. I was blessed to be brought up in a house full of music with Mom being a singer and piano player and Dad playing trumpet.

I started writing at age 6 course the songs were lousy and my Mom has the tapes to prove it! I've been fortunate enough to have made a living at writing songs for the most part with a big thanks to Reba McEntire who cut my song, "Take It Back" in the early 90's.

But even when I had a "real" job, I was always either playing at piano bars during the week and gigging with bands on the weekends. My early influences were Carole King, James Taylor, Ricki Lee Jones and Donald Fagen. (ok I'm giving away my age here) I got accepted into the Univ. of NC Music Dept. by playing a piece written by Keith Emerson but after a year of trying to keep up with classically trained musicians who could actually READ music, I switched to psychology but have used my degree to the extent that in being an effective songwriter sometimes means getting inside people's heads in order to empathize with what they may be feeling so I don't have to live through everything in order to be able to write about it. Otherwise, I'm certain I would be somewhere quite destitute!

The year 2002 was an extraordinary year in that I was able to perform "Little Did She Know" and honor so many of the families who lost members and friends because of the events of 9/11. Their courage and irrepressible faith have blessed me beyond words. My new full length CD, "Body & Soul", was a difficult one to produce because it was terribly personal but cathartic. Despite the reflections, I really am capable of writing up tempo songs but as I explained to my folks when they were ready to send me to therapy for writing depressing songs in junior high, writing has always been my outlet. When I'm happy, I don't need an outlet! :) Enjoy the journey.

- Kristy Jackson

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