Earl Edward Jackson Jr.

Earl E. Jackson, Jr., passed peacefully on January 6, 2023, in Winchester, VA. He is survived by his loving wife Cathie (Brown) Jackson, son Christopher Jackson, sister Karen Jackson, nephews Ben Andreachi and Gambit Meeks, great nieces Genevieve Meeks and Elizabeth Andreachi, great nephew Daniel Andreachi, mother-in-law Rosie Brown, and countless friends across the globe.

Born October 5, 1953, in East Chicago, IN, to Earl E. Jackson, Sr. and Elaine (Miga) Jackson, he embraced music at a young age. His skill with clarinet and sax made him a legend, and he toured with greats such as Duke Ellington, Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, and many others. He performed with President Nixon at the Great Wall of China and played USO shows with Bob Hope throughout Vietnam, all while earning a music education degree from Indiana University. He taught at many schools throughout the US and China, but his own programs included Southside HS in Ft. Wayne, IN, W&L HS in Arlington, VA, and for 35 years, the Landon School in Bethesda, MD. He received Washington Post Teacher of the Year honors in 2000, and he was named by the Council on American Private Education as Teacher of the Millennium.

Visitation will take place at Gawler’s Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 13, from 4-8. A funeral service will be held at Gawler’s on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 1, followed by interment at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA. A foundation is being established in his name to support music education and live music.