Jackie Moore: The Soulful Voice of 1970s R&B
Jackie Moore is an American R&B and soul singer best known for her powerful, emotive vocals and her 1979 disco-soul crossover hit "This Time Baby." Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, she carved a notable career in the 1970s, scoring several charting singles on both the Billboard R&B and Hot 100 charts.
Early career
Born in 1946, Jackie Moore began singing in church in her native Jacksonville. Her professional break came in the late 1960s when she was discovered by producer Dave Crawford, who helped her secure a recording contract with the Atlantic Records subsidiary Atco.
Her debut single, "Dear John," was released in 1971 but it was her move to the Columbia-distributed Kayvette label that set the stage for her most successful period.
Breakthrough
Jackie Moore's commercial breakthrough arrived in 1973 with the release of the heartfelt ballad "Precious, Precious." The song, produced by Dave Crawford and arranged by the legendary Mike Terry, became a major R&B hit, soaring to number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and crossing over to the pop Top 30.
This success established Moore as a formidable soul vocalist and led to the release of her well-received album of the same name.
Key tracks
Precious, Precious — This 1973 soul ballad was her first major hit, showcasing her dynamic vocal range and earning a gold certification.
Sweet Charlie Babe — Another top 10 R&B hit from 1973, this track further solidified her reputation for delivering passionate, story-driven soul music.
This Time Baby — Her signature 1979 disco-funk anthem became a club staple, reaching number 5 on the R&B chart and number 52 on the Hot 100.
Make Me Feel Like A Woman — A later-career highlight from 1980, this song demonstrated her smooth transition into the burgeoning boogie and modern soul sound.
Following her peak chart years, Jackie Moore continued to record, moving to the TSG label in the early 1980s. While she did not replicate her earlier chart dominance, she remained a respected figure in soul music, with her recordings from the 1970s becoming prized by collectors of deep soul and early disco.
Her influence is often noted by fans of the genre's golden era, who celebrate her raw vocal power and the timeless quality of her biggest records.
For fans of Jackie Moore's brand of emotive R&B, the music of similar artists like Millie Jackson offers a similarly bold and narrative vocal style. Shirley Brown shares Moore's deep southern soul roots and powerful ballad delivery. The polished Philadelphia soul of The Three Degrees provides a complementary sound from the same era, while Candi Staton mirrors her journey from gospel-infused soul to dancefloor success.
Jackie Moore's classic hits maintain a steady presence on the airwaves, particularly on stations dedicated to classic soul, 1970s R&B, and vintage disco. Her songs are fixtures on specialty radio shows and online streams that celebrate the foundational sounds of dance music and soul history.
The soulful anthems of Jackie Moore can be heard regularly on the radio stations featured here on onairium.com, where listeners can discover the depth of her catalog and the enduring power of her voice on dedicated classic soul and R&B formats.
