Jackie Brenston (August 24, 1928 or 1930[note 1]  – December 15, 1979) was an American singer and saxophonist who, with Ike Turner's band, recorded the first version of "Rocket 88" in 1951.

Brenston claimed he served more than three years in the 82nd Airborne, but records show that he enlisted on January 19, 1946, and was released on December 18, 1946.

King to recommend them to studio owner Sam Phillips in Memphis, Tennessee, where the band made several recordings in early March 1951, including "Rocket 88" on which Brenston sang lead and was credited with writing.

Brenston later said that the song was not particularly original; "they had simply borrowed from another jump blues about an automobile, Jimmy Liggins' "Cadillac Boogie" ".

After one further recording session, Brenston left Turner's band to pursue a solo career.

Turner wrote one of Brenston's last recordings, "Trouble Up The Road" / "You Ain't The One" was released on Sue in 1961.

[13] Brenston's final recording session was in Chicago with Earl Hooker's band in 1963, and released on Mel London's Mel-Lon label, but alcoholism took a toll on his career.

"He never had another hit and became an alcoholic ... Brenston finally quit music, became a truck driver and died forgotten in 1979.

Of his legacy, the music historian Richie Unterberger wrote, If ever there were a case of the record overshadowing the artist, it would be Jackie Brenston's 'Rocket 88.'