Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy L. Jackson Sr.
Hi Roy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In all honesty, I recall my oldest sister Royleesha Hickerson taking me with her to the Miss TSU pageant. We arrive at the venue and there’s a saxophonist taking a solo with the T.S.U. jazz band, directed by Howard Harris. In amazement, I chase the saxophonist to his car after the concert is over, and I introduce myself to him. Upon meeting him, I discovered that he’s Brent Nabors, a recent transfer from Grambling State University. I was captivated by his phrasing and texture that night and knew immediately what I wanted to do. Fast forward, I was playing with the same cat in the Eternal Life gospel community choir under Professor Mark Gordon’s direction years later.
Under the leadership of Pastor A. D. McCraw and my late father, Pastor Roy L. Jackson Sr., the journey of my spiritual ancestry and musical influence began at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Inspiring the nature of my spiritual tenacity at an early age, listening to the sound of the organ both inside and outside the parameters of home and church, the choir singing, the drums playing, and hearing the word of God piqued my interest in the nature of my spiritual tenacity. I was able to perceive the voice of God and the call over my life. As a saxophonist and drummer for the church, I served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher for the youth and young adults. I was able to embrace the traditions of the Baptist church because of each of these things, which kept me committed to working for the church. I believe my demeanor regarding my spiritual formation was further shaped by devotional periods and doxologies that brought life to what a church service actually was. Of course, the grooming of my late father and pastor, Rev. Roy Lee Jackson along with my mother Carole Jean Jackson provided me with the opportunity to be committed to education and the study of God’s word at an early age.
William Singletary, my first teacher and great saxophonist, introduced me to jazz at the beginning of my musical journey. Each night he played with the “La Big Band” in Houston, he would give me cassette tape recordings to listen to. I was able to create my own sound based on the aura created by these recordings. In my 8th grade year, I won a gold medal at the U.I.L Solo & Ensemble Competition for Adagio & Allegro by George Frederic Handel (1685-1759). I eventually got a spot in the local newspaper, since the solo shouldn’t be performed until high school. Due to the difficulty of the solo, this is supposed to take place in your latter years of high school. Roderick Kennedy and William Singletary, my band directors, groomed me to succeed. As a result, I continued my journey to M.B. Smiley High School. By my sophomore year, I became the Student Director from 10th – 12th grade and served as the main director of our legendary Jazz Combo at M.B. Smiley High School. The combo was extremely special from a musical perspective: Saxophonist – Roy L. Jackson Sr., Vibraphones – C. J. Harris, Bass – Joseph Fontenot, Drums – John Fontenot, and Keys – Chris Miller. Each of us participated in the Summer Jazz Workshop so it was magic each time we played.
During the Summer Jazz Workshop, led by the legendary Bubbha Thomas, I was groomed for professional musicianship as a jazz saxophonist. Conrad Johnson, Kyle Turner, and “now colleagues” like Professor Rodney Goods, William Thomas, son of Bubbha Thomas, were my earliest musical influences. A number of awards were presented to me at the Summer Jazz Workshop, including the Horace Alexander Young Award for Outstanding Soloist & Performance, the Conrad Johnson “Improvisational Award,” and the Duke Ellington Memorial Award, the most prestigious award in the program. During high school, I participated in the ACT-SO competition at M.B. Smiley High School and won first place 2 consecutive years in the contemporary music category. The NAACP also sponsored me to represent my high school at the state-wide competition. The experience was breathtaking and extremely humbling.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely not been easy, but it has been very fulfilling… Allow me to explain… God provided me with gifts that were accompanied by pain, because the same church that raised me was distasteful to where God was leading me as a point of reference between jazz and gospel music. As a young adult, in middle school, there were several Sundays when the spirit of God moved, and I recall pastor A.D. McCraw saying: “Not here, we don’t play music like that.” There were several Sundays when the spirit of God moved, and I recall pastor McCraw standing up from the pulpit, telling me to bring the music down. Honestly, I was young, I was still learning, but I knew in my heart there was more to come. Fast forward 5 years later and I was employed at my first church as a saxophonist at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 16. In terms of music, the church had a contemporary feel that held true to choir music and doxologies, but with a twist. At the time, Pastor L.V. Adams offered me employment as a saxophonist, but he gave me a prohibition statement: “You cannot outrun God, and sooner or later, you will have to confess your calling to ministry.” Therefore, at 16 years old, I was thrilled to earn a great wage and be part of a ministry that appreciated my talents. It may be best to examine this particular perspective by understanding that some gifts are actually perfected through pain, so never judge a book by its cover, because powerful disciples are born from painful experiences.
Could you tell our readers more about what you do and what makes you unique?
The greatest thing ever was confessing my calling to the ministry and obtaining my license and certificate as an ordained minister of the gospel February 6, 2022. “Life became so much easier”, allowing God to have His way. Aside from the gifts and talents, I have a strong affinity for education. In addition to my associate degree with “Highest Honors” in paralegal technology from Houston Community College, I have (2) certificates, one for Law Office Assistant and one for Law Office Clerk. Summa Cum Laude from University of Houston Downtown with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in qualitative analysis of criminal justice from University of Houston Downtown. After 16 years of practicing and professional paralegal work in Houston, Texas, I am now pursuing my teacher’s certification to begin teaching on the collegiate level. I am most proud of my academic achievements and commitment to education. Education has allowed me to maneuver through life with comfort, perhaps the most fascinating paradigm of my life. I’ve obtained multiple awards of recognition of my academic endeavors from multiple state representatives over the years such as: Outstanding Educational Achievement from Sheila Jackson Lee, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Academic Accomplishments from Rodney Ellis, an award for Academic Excellence & Moral Integrity from state representative Jew Don Boney Jr., and Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from now Mayor Sylvester Turner, an Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from state representative Garnet F. Coleman, and Outstanding Youth Honoree Award from state representative Carol Mims Galloway City Council Member District B, and etc. Currently, I hold the office of secretary for Alpha Phi Sigma, a prestigious collegiate criminal justice honor society. I am also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Golden Key Club Honor Society.
By day, I am a Paralegal, and by night, I am a professional jazz saxophonist and recording artist. It’s my greatest joy to be a father and to be engaged to the love of my life, Kristi Rena. My educational intrigue and always being gifted in the arts were always distinguishing factors among those who grew up around me. Nonetheless, during the course of a typical weekday, I’m known as a paralegal expert and have been instrumental in winning cases as a practicing paralegal since my years of collegiate training. To my kids, I’m known as the “greatest dad ever” to (2) daughters Ty (12) and Skye (10), and my son Roy Jr. (17). I’m a product of Northeast Houston and the North Forest Independent School District, “which is no longer”. I was exposed to ideals that could have caused me to fall apart as a victim of cultural catastrophes or elevate to something greater, obviously, I chose the latter.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I love fried chicken and enjoy some good soul food or bbq. Moreover, I love to travel the country whether playing or not, and be around large or small intimate bodies of water. Water simplifies the quandary of life for me and allows me to be inspired aside from prayer time and consistent time reading and studying God’s word. Lastly, I’m a practical guy, so I can adapt to change when needed and also inspire change wherever I go. Thanks for your time Voyage, blessings!!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @melodictheorist
- Facebook: Roy L. Jackson Sr.
- Youtube: Roy L. Jackson Sr. “Time Change” featuring David Caceres
- SoundCloud: Roy L. Jackson Sr.
