Born Jerry Naylor Jackson in Chalk Mountain, TX - March 6, 1939
Jerry began his successful career as a singer with his own country / rockabilly group in 1954 at age 15. In 1956, Jerry became a member of the San Angelo, Texas based rock group, The Cavaliers, who are remembered for their 1964 national number one hit recording, "Last Kiss."Jerry Naylor also began a duel career in broadcasting in 1954, working as a teenage radio disc jockey on the popular San Angelo, Texas KPEP country music radio station.
After spending a year in the service, Jerry continued working on radio, when in late-1960 The Crickets offered Jerry the lead vocalist spot. He would be with them for the next five years and appeared on their Liberty recordings until being sidelined by heart problems while in his twenties.
Rare still from UK film "Just For Fun", 1963
(Sonny Curtis & Jerry Naylor)
Jerry's health got better, but in 1965, The Crickets had disbanded briefly, and Jerry signed a multiple-performance contract with the popular ABC-Television network music variety show, "Shindig", as well as a solo-recording contract.
He later toured USAF bases in England in the late 60s and eventually released several records under the name "Jackie Garrard". His first charted record being "But For Love" on Columbia Records in 1970 (#42 in Cash Box). In 1975 he recorded "Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk" that went to #27 on Billboard's charts. From 1975 to 1986 Jerry would have a total of 9 more songs that would ease into the top 100 including "If You Don't Want To Love Her" reaching #37.
In the meantime he kept busy as a DJ on radio KLAC in Los Angeles before moving to Tennessee to become the host of the "Music City USA" TV show, and co-hosted the Academy Of Country Music Awards in 1976 with Loretta Lynn.
Jerry has co-produced television shows for ABC, Metromedia, Musifilms, Home Box Office, and Mike Curb Productions.
Jerry spent years producing a CD and DVD box set called "Rockabilly Legends"which he made available as a television infommercial. He has recently begun partaking in Buddy-related events.
He was inducted into The Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2001.
Jerry & his wife Pamela reside in Oregon.
There's much more to the story!
Visit Jerry's website:
www.JerryNaylor.com
