John Wilson Howe ’69

Jackson, a resident of Reseda, Calif., died May 13, 2023, following a long illness.

He was born in Chicago and grew up in Evanston, Ill., in a home where jazz was a constant presence. He attended Evanston Township High School, where he played in the Windjammers, a jazz group started by his father, Jack Howe ’30. Jackson also took part in musical productions, singing groups, and band, foreshadowing his activities at Princeton and his later professional life.

As a Princetonian, Jackson is remembered for his music making, both as a member of the Nassoons and most notably as one of the founders and key members of the Charter Bus rock band, composed largely of members of Charter Club and of our class. His bandmates recall him playing trumpet with one hand and keyboard with the other; then putting down his trumpet and “singing like an angel.”

Graduate work in music at UCLA followed, then a job at Atlantic Records, which his father helped Ahmet Ertegun start and where he was Ertegun’s assistant. He helped to produce hit records like “Take a Letter Maria” and “Goodtime Charlie’s Got the Blues,” as well as recordings by the group Kansas.

Those of us who attended our 25th and 45th reunions fondly remember performances by the reconstituted Charter Bus. At the 45th we were “Dancin’ in the Streets” as we followed the Charter Bus in the P-rade. Jackson’s beloved wife, Carole; and his cherished sons, Adam and David, were part of that happy crowd. We join them in mourning the passing of our spirited, multi-talented classmate.