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Baptismal and birth records, Kingston 1861
Thomas Ellis Jackson was born in Kingston in 1861, and in 1882, in his early twenties, established the Kingston Choral Union, to train members in the works of the great composers, and to improve choral singing in the island. The choir started with a membership of 30, and put on public concerts through the 1880s and 1890s. In 1896 the highly successful and flourishing Choral Union won first prize in an island-wide choral competition.
In the early 1900s the Kingston Choral Union was the island’s premier choral group. In 1906, Sir Alfred Jones, of the Elder Dempster Line which shipped Jamaican bananas, sponsored this group of Black singers on a tour of Britain, starting with its appearance at the Colonial Products Exhibition in Liverpool. Ellis Jackson led the group, planned its programmes and spoke for it on official occasions. The first tour was so successful that a further tour was undertaken in 1907-8; in the aftermath of the terrible 1907 earthquake the choir received an enthusiastic reception in concert halls and theatres all over Britain. They returned to Jamaica to great acclaim, and appreciation for their promotion of Jamaica and the potential of its people. From then on the group was always known as ‘The Jamaica Choir’, and often ‘The Famous Jamaica Choir’.
Back home Ellis Jackson made the remarkable and courageous decision to build his own theatre for the Choir and other performers, while Kingston dithered about rebuilding the city’s theatre after the earthquake. His theatre, called Covent Garden, was situated at 1 Sutton Street, between James Street and Smith Lane; it was opened officially in July 1911. Here he put on a variety of shows, into the early 1920s, including films, local and foreign vaudeville and music hall turns, children’s concerts and boxing, as well as concerts of classical, popular and local music. He also took similar performances around the island. Many of the prominent singers of the day received their training from him.
In the 1920s and ’30s Jackson revived the Kingston Choral Union and Jamaica Choir, with some limited success. He co-operated with the UNIA and Marcus Garvey from time to time, and his choir appeared on various sacred and secular occasions. When he died on March 3, 1940, at his home on Barry Street, he had been largely forgotten, except by some older people. Letters and articles in the press reminded Jamaicans of his great contribution to the island’s musical history, and his funeral at the May Pen Cemetery was attended by leading musicians of the day.
As well as managing the Choir and the theatre, Jackson was a competent singer and violinist. Although his career has been largely forgotten, he has a good claim to being Jamaica’s first Black impresario.
As well as managing the Choir and the theatre, Jackson was a competent singer and violinist. Although his career has been largely forgotten, he has a good claim to being Jamaica’s first Black impresario.
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