Jackson C. Frank Milk and Honey (1965)
From an accident in his childhood that killed most of his classmates and that only he survived with heavy burns, to homelessness caused by family problems and mental health issues, to another accident in his adult life that cost him most of his eyesight—the life of American singer/songwriter Jackson C. Frank was shaped by unimaginable misfortune. It’s no surprise that his career as a musician remained unsuccessful, too. Yet, fortune and success were always around the corner—literally: In the early 1960s, Frank used to hang out with Steppenwolf’s John Kay; later on he convinced future Led Zeppelin collaborator Sandy Denny, whom he used to date, to leave her work as a nurse to become a singer; and at one point Frank even shared a flat with Simon & Garfunkel. All of these acquaintances have named Frank as an influence. And over the years his songs were covered by musicians such as Nick Drake, Chromatics and Laura Marling. But Frank, who died after a heart attack at the age of 56, left this world without a penny in his pocket…
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