Lindsay Raymond Jackson

Ray Jackson (born Lindsay Raymond Jackson, 12 December 1948, Wallsend, Northumberland) is a mandolin and harmonica player. He was a member and also joint lead vocalist, with Alan Hull, of the folk-rock group Lindisfarne from their original formation in 1970 until his departure in 1990. As the group's drummer Ray Laidlaw shared the same forename, Jackson was generally known in the group as "Jacka".

After leaving school he studied graphics at Newcastle College of Art and Industrial Design, where he met Laidlaw.

He designed the group's logo and the sleeve of their debut album Nicely Out of Tune. Alongside his activities in the group, he also played mandolin on Rod Stewart's solo albums Every Picture Tells a Story (1971), Never a Dull Moment (1972), and Smiler (1974). His playing can be heard particularly on the songs "Maggie May", "Mandolin Wind", and "Farewell". On the sleeve of Every Picture Tells a Story, he was not credited by name, only a reference: "The mandolin was played by the mandolin player in Lindisfarne. The name slips my mind."

In 2003 Jackson threatened legal action against Stewart, claiming that he should have been credited as co-composer of "Maggie May" alongside Stewart and guitarist Martin Quittenton for writing the musical "hook" of the song. Rod Stewart had called in Jacka to play on "Mandolin Wind" and was so pleased at the results that he asked Jacka if he had any ideas for the unfinished "Maggie May." Ray wrote the famous and instantly recognizable mandolin hook. In a statement he said, "I am convinced that my contribution to 'Maggie May,' which occurred in the early stages of my career when I was just becoming famous for my work with Lindisfarne, was essential to the success of the record. Furthermore, a writing credit would have given me a writing status which would have encouraged my writing efforts and could well have opened doors for me." His manager Barry McKay said that Jackson was asked to write something in the studio for the then unfinished record and wrote the hook. At the time, he had no idea he would be entitled to part ownership as joint composer, and was merely paid a £15 session fee. A spokesman for Stewart dismissed his claim as "ridiculous".

...
Wikipedia