(June 21st 1900 - January 1st 1994)

Native to St. Louis, Dewey Jackson was a cornetist and band director who began playing professionally circa 1912 with the "Odd Fellows Boys' Band". He went on to work with Tommy Evans from 1916 to 1917 followed by a stint with "George Reynolds's Keystone Band" and work on the riverboats with groups led by Fate Marable and Charlie Creath. Jackson organized his own "Golden Melody Band" active between 1920 and 1923. Then he assembled his "St. Louis Peacock Band" and obtained a booking on Streckfus Lines' new steamer the "S.S. Capitol" for the 1925 '26 season. Dewey's only major engagement off of the river boats during the period was a four months stint with Andrew Preer at the Cotton Club in New York City in 1926. Returning to the St. Louis region he played only sporadically during the 1940's but returned to music full time during the 1950's.