The most recognizable singing voice on Schoolhouse Rock (“I’m Just a Bill,” “Conjunction Junction”) passed away before 2019 ended. Jack even provided Bill’s voice for The Simpsons in what was one of their best ever retro jokes…
He also contributed a composite Schoolhouse Rock character for an episode of Johnny Bravo, which was written by Seth McFarlane years before he left to create Family Guy.
What I learned about Jack while writing this was that he was Merv Griffin’s sidekick/band leader for 16 years, a contemporary and good friend of Chet Baker and an actor; he had his own sitcom Run, Buddy, Run in the Sixties and was in Sally Field’s The Girl with Something Extra in the Seventies. Heck, I totally didn’t notice him on Dragnet, Gilligan’s Island, Petticoat Junction and ready…Star Trek:Next Generation; it was 11001001 and he’s the piano player while Riker is in a holodeck simulation of a New Orleans jazz bar. Odd choice since the trumpet was Jack’s speciality when he wasn’t singing.
Thank you for everything you did Jack! Especially drumming all the rote education stuff during Saturday morning cartoons on ABC. You were a true Renaissance Man.