Woody Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Woody Jackson at the 2012 IndieCade | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Woodrow Wilson Jackson III |
| Born | Oil City, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Website | woodyjacksonmusic.com |
Woodrow Wilson Jackson III, known professionally as Woody Jackson, is an American composer, producer and session musician. Jackson is best known for his work with Rockstar Games, composing scores for its video games L.A. Noire, Red Dead Redemption (with Bill Elm), its prequel Red Dead Redemption 2, and Grand Theft Auto V (with Tangerine Dream, The Alchemist and Oh No). He has owned and operated Electro-Vox Recording Studios in Hollywood since 2009.
Early life and education[]
Woodrow Wilson Jackson III was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania, and raised in York, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia.[1] Jackson studied at Virginia State University, where he took harmonica lessons.[2] He eventually dropped out when his funds were depleted, and turned to playing guitar with the band The Useless Playboys.[2]
Career[]
In 1992, shortly after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Jackson moved from Richmond to Los Angeles.[2] In 1995, he collaborated with musician Bill Elm, who introduced Jackson to the band Friends of Dean Martinez.[3] Jackson eventually acted as a fill-in for an absent guitar player before remaining with the band as a full member for some time.[3] He also worked for McCabe's Guitar Shop for several years before becoming a session musician, working on the soundtracks of films like The Devil Wears Prada and Ocean's Twelve.[2] His musical style has been described as a "smooth blend of Krautrock, funk, ambient and brick-smashing instrumental rap".[2] Around 2009, Jackson took over Melrose Avenue-based Electro-Vox Recording Studios, which was established in 1931 and is said to be the oldest privately held recording studio in the United States.[2][4][5] The same year, video game company Rockstar Games signed him to co-compose music for the upcoming game Red Dead Redemption, together with Elm.[2] He would later also compose incidental music for Rockstar's L.A. Noire.[2][3] In 2018, Jackson continued working with Rockstar as the composer for the prequel to Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2.[6]
Personal life[]
Jackson is a baptised Mormon.[1] He is married to Sharon Jackson, a talent agent and partner for William Morris Endeavor.[2][7] The couple formerly occupied a home in the Nichols Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles; they bought the property for US$925,000 in 2003 and sold it in June 2017 for $3.29 million.[7][8] Jackson has two daughters, Georgina Washington Jackson and Theodora Roosevelt Jackson.[9]
Works[]
Video games[]
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Red Dead Redemption | Composer, with Bill Elm[3] |
| Undead Nightmare | ||
| 2011 | L.A. Noire | Incidental music[3][5] |
| 2012 | ModNation Racers: Road Trip | Song "Le jeune jus"[10] |
| Max Payne 3 | Studio provision[11] | |
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | Composer, with Tangerine Dream, The Alchemist and Oh No[12] |
| 2018 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Composer[6] |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Nashville | Additional music for the first season, with T Bone Burnett[2] |
Other[]
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Play for Japan: The Album | Song "Moshi Moshi"[5][13] |
Accolades[]
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Spike Video Game Awards[14] | Best Original Score | Red Dead Redemption |
| Inside Gaming Awards[15] | Best Original Score | ||
| Game Developers Choice Awards[16] | Best Audio | ||
| GameSpot Best of 2010[17] | Best Original Music | ||
| 2011 | Game Audio Network Guild Awards[18] | Audio of the Year | |
| Music of the Year | |||
| Best Interactive Score | |||
| Rookie of the Year | Bill Elm, Woody Jackson (for Red Dead Redemption) | ||
| 2013 | VGX[19] | Best Soundtrack | Grand Theft Auto V |
| 2018 | The Game Awards 2018 | Best Score/Music | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Defend Music signs composer Woody Jackson". Defend Music. March 14, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Weiss, Jeff (November 20, 2013). "Woody Jackson Helped Score Grand Theft Auto, But That's the Least of It". LA Weekly.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Jeriaska (November 4, 2011). "Myths, Mavericks, And Music Of Red Dead Redemption". Gamasutra.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Trunick, Austin (August 26, 2013). "Primal Scream: Out of the Darkness". Under the Radar.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jeriaska (July 5, 2011). "Interview: Yamaoka, Shigihara, And Jackson Play For Japan". Gamasutra.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Makuch, Eddie (September 20, 2018). "Red Dead Redemption 2 Includes Woody Jackson's Music Again, And That Is Great News". GameSpot.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Leitereg, Neal J. (June 14, 2017). "'Grand Theft Auto' composer gets top dollar for Nichols Canyon home". Los Angeles Times.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ David, Mark (April 19, 2017). "William Morris Endeavor Partner Sharon Jackson Lists Hollywood Hills Home (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ The Game Awards (December 6, 2018). "Red Dead Redemption 2 Wins Best Score/Music | The Game Awards 2018". YouTube.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "ModNation Racers: Road Trip Original Soundtrack". Game-OST.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "First Max Payne 3 Soundtrack Details: HEALTH Crafting the Game's Original Score". Rockstar Games. March 5, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Campbell, Colin (November 3, 2014). "'The Music of Grand Theft Auto V' offers 59-track collection on vinyl and CD". Polygon.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Rose, Mike (May 24, 2011). "Game Music Composers Unite For Japanese Relief Album". Gamasutra.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Polo, Susana (December 12, 2010). "The 2010 Spike Video Game Awards". The Mary Sue.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Machinima.com Aired Second Annual Inside Gaming Awards Live Via UStream". PR Newswire. December 11, 2010.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "11th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards". Game Developers Choice Awards.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Mihoerck, Dan (December 20, 2010). "Best of 2010 – Best Original Music Winner". GameSpot.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "9th Annual GANG Awards – 2010 Released Games". Game Audio Network Guild.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Sarkar, Samit (December 9, 2013). "VGX names Grand Theft Auto 5 game of the year". Polygon.
{{cite web}}: