Woody Jackson


Woodrow Wilson Jackson III, known professionally as Woody Jackson, is an American composer, producer and session musician. Jackson is best known for his scores for the video games Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. He operates and works at Hollywood-based Vox Recording Studios, which he overtook in 2009.

Early life and education

Woodrow Wilson Jackson III was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania, and raised in York, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia. Jackson studied at Virginia State University, where he took harmonica lessons. He eventually dropped out when his funds were depleted, and turned to playing guitar with the band The Useless Playboys.

Career

In 1992, shortly after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Jackson moved from Richmond to Los Angeles. In 1995, he collaborated with musician Bill Elm, who introduced Jackson to the band Friends of Dean Martinez. Jackson eventually acted as a fill-in for an absent guitar player before remaining with the band as a full member for some time. He also worked for McCabe's Guitar Shop for several years before becoming a session musician, working on the soundtracks of films like The Devil Wears Prada and Ocean's Twelve. His musical style has been described as a "smooth blend of Krautrock, funk, ambient and brick-smashing instrumental rap". Around 2009, Jackson took over Melrose Avenue-based Vox Recording Studios, which was established in 1931 and is said to be the oldest privately held recording studio in the United States. The same year, video game company Rockstar Games signed him to co-compose music for the upcoming game Red Dead Redemption, together with Elm. He would later also compose incidental music for Rockstar's L.A. Noire. In 2018, Jackson continued working with Rockstar as the composer for the prequel to Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2.

Personal life

Jackson is a baptised Mormon. He is married to Sharon Jackson, a talent agent and partner for William Morris Endeavor. The couple formerly occupied a home in the Nichols Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles; they bought the property for in 2003 and sold it in June 2017 for. Jackson has two daughters, Georgina Washington Jackson and Theodora Roosevelt Jackson.

Works

Video games

Television

Other

Accolades