JCKSN Ave, Composed of 5 Sisters, Preps for Album Debut
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Covering local news, politics, and more Subscribe for $7/month Channel 10 dailymemphian.com Friday nights at 7 Wednesday, January 9, 2019 MemphisDailyNews.com Vol. 134 | No. 5 Rack–50¢/Delivery–39¢ City Council tries again to fill three vacancies BILL DRIES votes starting with the District the District 32 state Senate seat. last week on The Daily Memphian council filing a lawsuit in Shelby Special to The Daily News 1 seat that has been vacant for Council attorney Allan Wade Politics podcast that if the coun- County Chancery Court for a for- Three weeks after they broke more than two months, there will has previously advised the body cil were to pass a resolution call- mal court order. for Christmas and the New Year, be some momentum on the coun- that the only time it can put such ing for such a special election, her “We don’t make those choic- the 10 Memphis City Council cil to put all three vacancies to races on the ballot is in even- office would have little say in the es,” she said. “If the City Coun- members will try again Tuesday voters in a special election – pos- numbered county election years. matter other than preparing to cil orders us to have a special to fill three vacant council seats. sibly the special general election Shelby County Elections Ad- make it happen. And if the group can’t get six already set for March 12 to fill ministrator Linda Phillips said And that could include the COUNCIL CONTINUED ON P3 “Our last name is Jackson. Jackson being the avenue that God uses to get His gifts out. Just being JCKSN Ave, composed of 5 a vessel and avenue. And it’s also a street.” The sisters range in age from 20s to early 30s. All five have been singing together since 2009; the group itself is officially six years old. sisters, preps for album debut But what is it like to be in a band with four of your sisters? “We all get along,” Madi said. “I don’t know how other girl groups have done it and not been related. But it works for us. We were raised a certain way, so we don’t fight.” “And we see the vision,” Hannah said. “We all learn from each other,” Mo said. The women’s parents are also musicians. Dad, Drew Jackson, is music minister at Breath of Life Christian Center and studied orchestration. Mom, Stacey Jackson, who serves as the group’s manager, is a singer (and was once in a rock band). “We grew up in the studio because of them,” Madi said. “They were in a band before we were in a band.” The five women are singers and songwriters, producing and co-producing their music. They all can play keys. Collectively, members of the band play clarinet, bass, guitar and drums. The music, and its influences, is eclectic. God is an influence, they all say. Outside of that, their answers include Stevie Wonder, Vulfpeck, India. Arie, Pharrell, Faith Evans, Kanye West, SWV, The Clark Sisters, Destiny’s Child, Bruce Hornsby, (From top to bottom) Sisters Peggy Gou, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Michael Jack- Mo Jackson, Kris Jackson, son and Prince. Madi Jackson, Jess Jackson, “We’re just Christians who make music who and Hannah Jackson make want to make an impact in a positive way in the up the band JCKSN Ave. The industry and the world,” Mo said. sisters grew up in Memphis “Without marginalization,” Jess said. singing and writing music Last May, JCKSN Ave performed during a cer- together before starting emony at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital their own band. where The Links, and its foundation, awarded the (Houston Cofield/Special to The Daily News) hospital $1 million for sickle cell research. The group has also performed at birthday parties, have ELLE PERRY city’s streets. There’s Southern Avenue, a group composed of five sisters: Madi, opened for other artists and have played other non- Special to The Daily News Summer Avenue and the now defunct Jess, Mo, Kris and Hannah. profit and charity events. Memphis musical groups have a Egypt Central. Mo explained the rationale behind history of naming themselves after the Included in that list is JCKSN Ave, the group’s name: JCKSN AVE CONTINUED ON P3 INSIDE Columns ............................ 3 memphisdailynews.com chandlerreports.com Public Records ................ 4 ©2019 The Daily News Publishing Company A division of The Daily News Publishing Company Memphis, Tennessee The standard for premium real estate Established 1886 • 134th year information since 1968 Public Notices ............... 10 Call 901.523.1561 to subscribe Call 901.458.6419 for more information Page 2 MemphisDailyNews.com Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Gov. Haslam grants clemency to Cyntoia Brown right thing” for Brown, who she said was “While she may never be able to fully forced into a “nightmarish situation” in recover from the unimaginable hardships sex trafficking. that she had to endure in life, her release Brown had testified she was beaten later this year and the support that I’m sure and threatened by a boyfriend/pimp nick- she will continue to receive can serve as named “Kut Throat.” an inspiration to her and others who have “The decision to grant her clemency had to endure a similar fate,” Camper said shows a tremendous amount of compas- in a statement. sion for the horrors that she has endured The Memphis Democrat said she hopes in her life,” Lamar said in a statement. to “create a truly just system” as the Leg- “But it also brings to light that we need to islature starts overhauling the criminal continue to fight for other young women justice system this year. like Cyntoia. Haslam and Gov.-elect Bill Lee both “Her story is tragic, but unfortunate- hope the Legislature will take on the task ly, it’s the story of many girls across this in 2019. state whose innocence and dignity has “While we have spent a considerable been stolen.” amount of time studying and implement- Legislation is needed, Lamar said, to ing sentencing and criminal justice reform reduce child sex trafficking and protect in our state, there is more work to be done,” victims. Haslam said. “I am hopeful serious consid- State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Mem- eration of additional reforms will continue, Cyntoia Brown, who is serving a life sentence for killing a man when she was a 16-year-old prostitute, talks with her attorney, Charles Bone (left), during her clemency hearing on phis Democrat, sponsored legislation in especially with respect to the sentencing May 23, 2018, at Tennessee Prison for Women in Nashville. On Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, Gov. Bill the 110th General Assembly designed to of juveniles.” Haslam granted Brown clemency, commuting her sentence and enabling her to be released change sentencing for juveniles. Congressman Steven Cohen of Mem- for parole supervision in mid-August after serving 15 years. (Lacy Atkins/The Tennessean via AP, Pool) “Fifteen years ago, Cyntoia Brown phis wrote a letter to Haslam Dec. 10 ask- found herself in a situation no teenage ing him to give consideration to clemency girl should ever have to face,” Akbari in the case. SAM STOCKARD she was robbing him during the murder. said. “Gov. Haslam’s commutation of Ms. “This was a case involving a 16-year-old Special to The Daily News The Tennessee Parole Board voted 2-2 Brown’s sentence demonstrates that we runaway who was a victim of sex traffick- Gov. Bill Haslam granted clemency on in May to keep her in prison. She was sen- in the state of Tennessee can show love, ing, was with a john, and was tried as an Monday to Cyntoia Brown, commuting tenced as an adult to a 51-year term and compassion and mercy for someone who adult,” Cohen said in a statement Monday. her sentence of life imprisonment and en- wouldn’t be eligible for parole until 2055. has experienced trauma that many of us “I praise Governor Haslam for giving the abling her to be released for parole supervi- Numerous state lawmakers, celebri- cannot imagine.” case the attention it deserved and, after a sion in mid-August after serving 15 years. ties and activists have called on Haslam Akbari called the decision a “victory” thorough review, reaching the conclusion “This decision comes after careful con- to grant her clemency, including freshmen for Brown and all Tennesseans in the that clemency is appropriate for a model sideration of what is a tragic and complex legislators Sen. Katrina Robinson and Rep. “fight” against sex trafficking and for ju- prisoner. His was a merciful and just de- case,” said Haslam, who leaves office Jan. London Lamar of Memphis, both of whom venile justice reform. She expressed pride cision and I commend him for making it. 19. “Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own said they plan to sponsor legislation this in the “dedication, commitment and cour- I also want to commend state Rep. Lon- admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. year to change sentencing laws for juve- age” of Nashville attorney Charles Bone don Lamar, House Minority Leader Karen Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile niles and those who commit violent acts and Brown’s legal team. Camper and state Senators Katrina Rob- that would require her to serve at least 51 while involved in prostitution. “Over the past year, I’ve been speaking inson and Raumesh Akbari for seeking years before even being eligible for parole Robinson, who sent Haslam a letter at with Ms.