at 15:15 on August 19, 2008, EDT.
By Corey Williams, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


In a Feb. 27, 1997 file photo ,the Spinners from left John Edwards, Bobby Smith, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson and Billy Henderson pose for photographers during a Rhythm & Blues Foundation news conference in New York. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Marty Lederhandler/file


DETROIT - Pervis Jackson, the man behind the deep, rolling bass voice in a string of 1970s R&B hits by The Spinners, has died after being diagnosed with brain and liver cancer. He was 70.

Jackson died about 2 a.m. Monday at Detroit Sinai-Grace Hospital, said his wife Claudreen.

Doctors found tumours late last month but had been awaiting tests to determine if they were malignant. He was diagnosed with cancer two days ago, she said.

"I was watching him waste away the past month," Claudreen Jackson said. "He wasn't eating. He was losing weight, coughing. At the end of July, we took him to the doctor. His words were 'I'll be all right. I'll be all right."'

The native of the New Orleans area was one of the original five members of the group, which started out in the late 1950s singing doo-wop in Detroit. They worked under the Motown label in the 1960s but shot to stardom after moving to Atlantic Records in the 1970s.

Motown legend Smokey Robinson said in a statement that he was saddened to hear of Jackson's death.

"He was a wonderful person and a good friend of mine," the statement read. "His death was a surprise to me as I was unaware of his illness. My condolences to his family. He will be missed."

Jackson last performed July 19 in California with the remaining original members of the group, Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough, and two new members, his wife said.

With song's like "Mighty Love," "I'll Be Around," "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)" and "Then Came You," The Spinners were a constant on the R&B and pop charts during the 1970s.

They compiled 12 gold records, according to the group's official website, and were nominated for six Grammy awards, said Recording Academy spokeswoman Lourdes Lopez.

Jackson had been planning to perform with the group later this month in South Africa and in Wales in September, his wife said.

"I am extremely proud of the example he set in his music. The Spinners' music was clean," said Claudreen Jackson, 69. "What comforts me is he is one person who lived his life exactly the way he wanted to."

She met Pervis Jackson in 1964. They married in 1968.

He also is survived by four adult children.


©The Canadian Press, 2008

Already posted


http://prince.org/msg/8/279649

funkpill said: