Performance · Other credits
Paul Jackson Jr.
Los Angeles, United States
Paul Jackson Jr. is credited on 3,655 releases across 1,316 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1978–2025 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.
3,655
Credits
1,316
Albums
6
Decades active
1,906
In collections
Biography
Showing the Discogs bio
Guitarist, but also bass, keyboards player and producer
Warning Not to be confused with jazz bassist Paul Jackson.
Born on 30.12.1959 in Los Angeles (USA)
One of the most wanted L.A.-based session guitarists during the '70s and '80s.
Has worked for The Temptations, Gerald Alston, Bobby Womack, Luther Vandross, Patrice Rushen, The Jacksons, Pointer Sisters and many more...
He has also released some solo records with Atlantic at the end of the '80s and other, more smooth jazz oriented, in the beginning of the new century on Blue Note.
Guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. joined "The Tonight Show Band" in 2010 with Musical Director Rickey Minor.
Jackson began his career in entertainment at 7 years old while acting on numerous television shows, commercials and films such as "Good Times" and "The Sting." At age 12, Jackson started playing the guitar. He joined the family band that included his siblings, his mother, and good friend Cornelius Mims.
When he was 18, Jackson broke into the Los Angeles studio scene and has since contributed his talent to such artists as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Patti LaBelle, The Crusaders, Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, Ella Fitzgerald, Dave Koz, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Bobby Brown, Steely Dan, Chicago, The Temptations, Lionel Richie, Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Jewel, and Barry White. He remains one, if not the most recorded guitarist in history.
Jackson's television credits include "American Idol," NBC's "America's Got Talent", "The Grammys", and "Celebrity Duets." He was the composer for the TV shows" "Martin" and "Townsend Television" and composed music for the movie "Undercover Brother." Paul was also the musical director for the NARIS Icon Awards.
In addition, Jackson also boasts an impressive solo career that includes six CDs, the first of which received a Grammy Award nomination, and a #1 single at jazz radio.
Jackson resides in Los Angeles.
Bio from Discogs
Credited work
3,655 releases · 1,316 albums · active 1978–2025
- Performance · 6,700
- Other credits · 296
- Production · 231
- Engineering · 38
Studios: Lion Share Recording Studios · Larrabee Sound Studios · Ocean Way Recording · Studio 55, Los Angeles
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Thriller
1982

Random Access Memories
2013

Bad
1987

Head Hunters
1973

True Blue
1986

Whitney Houston
1985

Whitney
1987

Footloose (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1984

Dangerous
1991

Bad Girls
1979

Rapture
1986

Starboy
2016

Lionel Richie
1982

Chicago 17
1984

We Are The World
1985

Two Against Nature
2000

Break Out
1983

Cupid & Psyche 85
1985

Street Life
1979

HIStory - Past, Present And Future - Book I
1995

In Your Eyes
1983

Destiny
1978

Straight From The Heart
1982

Triumph
1980
Frequent collaborators
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