R&B singer Freddie Jackson has died at the age of 69. His family announced that he passed away on October 5, 2026, just three days after his birthday. The cause of death has not been officially confirmed.

Jackson was born on October 2, 1956, in Harlem, New York. He began his musical career singing gospel before joining the funk group Mystic Merlin in the early 1980s.

He became a major R&B star after releasing his debut album Rock Me Tonight in 1985. The title song spent six weeks at No. 1 on the R&B chart. His signature hit, “You Are My Lady,” also became a major success and earned him a Grammy nomination.

His second album, Just Like the First Time, produced several more No. 1 R&B hits, including “Tasty Love,” “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” and “Jam Tonight.” Jackson ultimately had 10 No. 1 R&B hits during his career.

Beyond music, Jackson appeared in television and film, including Family Matters, The Golden Girls, and King of New York.

In 2024, Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with kidney disease. He spoke publicly about facing the illness with openness and resilience, but it has not been confirmed that the disease caused his death.

His final album, My First Love, was released in 2023, and he continued performing and touring until 2026. His family remembered him as a kind and generous person whose music became part of many fans’ lives.