R&B singer Freddie Jackson’s passing on October 5 was announced by his family Tuesday. It sparked interest in the Rock Me Tonight singer’s family and personal life – much of which was kept private despite his widely publicized celebrity life.
In fact, his 1994 single My Family deals explicitly with his family life and never having children. Four years later, on June 29, 1998, the Los Angeles Times published a profile of the singer titled, “Freddie Jackson Won’t Sell His Soul For A Pop Hit. Keeping the public away from his private life doesn’t mean he never discussed it in his music. After the release of the song, he was asked about why he never had children by journalist Mark Berbiers in an interview published that year . I’ve been around a couple of fellas who for whatever reason can’t really be with their family. “That song is appropriate for guys who want to pick up the phone and say, ‘Look I want to come by and see my baby. Let’s talk this over’. The most important thing is the child. I am concerned with the family. I was born and raised in Harlem. I know what a broken home is about. I know what it’s like to be brought up with mommy being mommy and daddy. It’s a big responsibility to have a child and you have to dedicate a lot of time. Jackson spoke about why he never wanted the public to know about his romantic life.
“Most people think I only make songs for the ladies but on this album there’s one, My Family that addresses guys’ problems,” he said. “The family is so separated and split today and guys are walking away from their responsibilities, if they have kids.
“When I’m with whoever I want to be with, that’s nobody else’s business. I’d rather keep my life private so the fans can keep their fantasies about me. I don’t want to spoil anything for them.”
“I don’t want them to know what I do,” he said.
