On December 13, 2023, I claimed that the Federal Reserve officially declared the death of inflation. I did not know it at the time but inflation had also just died in the world of entertainment. Earnest “The Voice” Jackson, Jr. passed away a week earlier on December 6th. Jackson came to public fame after NPR’s Planet Money discovered his 1975 song “Inflation”. Some unnamed person sent Planet Money the song on a cassette tape. They naturally loved the song and decided to release it as part of a 3-part series and economics lesson that demonstrated what it takes to make a hit in the music industry. That mystery tape changed Jackson’s life just in time.
Planet Money released the song in November, 2022 under their newly formed Planet Money Records label. They had to track down all the members of the band who performed the song, Sugar Daddy and the Gumbo Roux (including Randy Jackson of American Idol fame!), and convince them to agree to terms. Planet Money even promoted the song and as of December, 2023 achieved over 2 million streams. I was one of many fans who streamed the song often and regularly to help the cause.
It is ironic Jackson died just as economic inflation (apparently) died. It is doubly ironic that Jackson passed away so soon after he finally realized his lifelong dream to get signed and hear his own song on the radio. I never got around to figuring out how to make “Inflation” a theme song for this site. Instead, I have written this small acknowledgement and memorial to Jackson for giving so many “Inflation” as a form of edutainment. I also extend a HUGE thank you to Planet Money for making the adventure happen, especially given it was a money-losing enterprise for them. The person who sent that tape must have known something…!
Earnest Jackson, Jr. died at the age of 75.
{Note: On January 2, 2024, I submitted a Wikipedia entry for Earnest Jackson. I hope to get it approved for publishing within the next month or so. It will be my first ever Wikipedia entry.}
What a terrific way to start 2024!
Good luck with the Wikipedia article. I have some relevant experience, I wrote a sizable one once. Suffice to say there are surprises in store. My advice is: don’t fall in love with your article any more than you would a stock. :-}
Thanks for the heads-up! I am definitely bracing myself for scathing critique and many iterations ahead. 🙂