Esric Jackson…..Sri Lanka’s and Melbourne’s ‘comeback kid’- BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE
Strength, resilience and a God given talent is what personifes Esric Jackson, one of Sri Lanka’s outstanding vocal talent over several decades.
And there’s no sign of his love for entertainment and being in the thick of it waning. Not in the near future anyway.
His sojourn into music began at tender age in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, where a promising musical career was dramatically interrupted and forced into a U turn.
Trying to help a stranded Colombo band to raise enough money to buy them return transport home, he related in a Television interview with Noeline Honter, on Channel 31 in Melbourne, how he got into hot water with local politicians.
“I felt sorry for the guys when I found out their plight which made at least one of them reach the point of being suicidal. They had come to perform at a gig that was disastrous, hence no payment and they needed to get back home”, he recalled.
He spoke to some locals who said if he would sing at a political rally he could make enough to help his fellow musicians.
Not realising the ramifications of his good intention, he soon found out that he had got himself into a life threatening situation, which his dad got wind of.
He was summarily packed off to a relatives home in Kotte. And that is where he relaunched his musical career before taking it to great heights.
Reinventing himself has been history of his musical journey.
He established himself as a musician in Sri Lanka with famous dance band the Pioneers, where he met Sandra in 1971 when she was accepted as the band’s female vocalist.
He was then a rhythm guitarist and lead vocal singer in a band that gained fame when they competed and won the famous Jaycee Show which was a big draw at the time.
They wed on 1974 in Sri Lanka. He then migrated to Melbourne in Australia in 1975.
After finding their feet in a new country together, they launched back into their passion for music. And with it
was born the now famous Replay 6.
Overcoming personal adversity healthwise, Esric is working his way back to normalcy and appears to be steadily getting back to his former self. His outlook is one of determination and pure grit.
Blessed with five grandchildren from daughters Candice and Tatum, he now has the added role of being a doting grandad, apart from overseeing his business of supplying and installing bathroom necessities including superior quality wardrobes and showerscreens in
Melbourne.
It’s been over five years since Esric’s wife Sandra Jackson succumbed to Pulmonary Fibrosis, and a life that brought joy to thousands of music fans here in Australia and around the world, was a life that
was tragically cut short.
Sandra was instrumental in promoting and mentoring many budding musicians here in Australia and from overseas. And her own contribution, which was indelible, left many in awe at her power packed performances. She was renowned for her incredible version of Tina Turners hit “Simply the best ” which she was tagged to for most of her wonderful and unforgettable musical career.
Esric has been dealing with his own battles since, having recovered from dreaded Cancer that threatened to take him as well, around a year after Sandra passed on.
Regaining his health and composure after a considerable period, Esric has relaunched himself into the mainstream of Melbourne’s music scene, a passion and God given gift that he and wife Sandra have imparted for over 50 years.
Esric Jackson’s interaction and livewire contribution to music and musicians here in Australia and around the globe is no secret, as many, particularly in Sri Lanka will readily testify to. He has an afility to being a friend in need to many.
He is widely known for his charitable contributions to many, in Australia and Sri Lanka, and is always on hand to help out when needed.
Back with renewed enthusiasm, a second wind, and a determination to continue his journey which he and Sandra began over 50 years ago, Esric has earmarked several projects in the near future which will see his bands, Replay 6 and Ebony led by Cameron Colombege, produce dances that will be much sought after for quality and musical class.
A tireless contributor in his pursuit of perfection and blessed with a clever marketing brain, there is no doubt the music industry will benefit from his injection and creative mindset which has been instrumental in the success of his musical journey.
Esric and Sandra’s love for music has seen interaction with some of the best musicians in the world since their involvement in the Australian scene in the early 1970s.
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Village people, Dr. Hook, Smokey, Gloria Loring, Marcia Hines, Ricky May, Jade Hurley and Kahmal to name a few, is an incredible musical journey that they experienced with the band Replay 6 at its inception.
He continues to work feverishly with an insatiable hunger for fresh avenues to enhance his musical commitments.
It’s an outlet that at this stage that seems to have no limiting bounds.
For a full set of photos, please visit eLanka Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=eLanka.com.au&set=a.6482469831785694
