Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Jackson made her Broadway debut in 1967 as Irene Molloy in the all-black cast of Hello, Dolly!
Jackson portrayed Alberta Hunter in Cookin' at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter, a revue that originated at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, Florida in 1997 and then played in various venues in the United States,[2] such as the Lyceum Stage, San Diego, California in March and April 2003.
[4] She portrayed Billie Holiday in the 2005 Long Wharf Theatre (Connecticut) production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.
In reviewing her performance, Frank Rizzo of Variety said she "nicely suggests rather than mimics the famous Holiday" and added, "Jackson handles the gliding jazz minimalism beautifully.
[6] Jackson's feature films include The Bonfire of the Vanities, Freedomland, Steam, and Forged, scheduled for release in 2010.