WANDA JACKSON

Wanda Jackson

In the male-dominated world of early rockabilly, there was one woman’s voice that proved without question that sassy, cool rebellion had more to do with charisma than chromosomes. Her name is Wanda Jackson. One listen to her playful growl against the backdrop of smooth, demure female artists of that day, and one glance at her shimmy in the bright, handmade fringe stage clothes that she made with her mother, and fans were transfixed. Not just everyday fans, either, but fans like Elvis Presley who wound up dating the young singer. It may well be that it’s impossible not to like her. In 1960, only 15 years after the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Jackson dropped the single “Fujiyama Mama” on the unsuspecting country. Despite lyrics that boast “I can cause destruction, just like the atom bomb,” the song went straight to number one in Japan. While she is probably best known for her early rock-and-roll tracks like “Mean, Mean Man,” “Honey Bop,” and “Let’s Have a Party,” she branched off in the mid 1960s with a string of country hits that include a poignant cover of the Stonewall Jackson song “Why I’m Walkin’”. Then, as if to prove the adage that good girls go to heaven but bad girls go everywhere, Jackson began a well-respected gospel career. In return, God seems to have blessed her with undiminished vocal chops and unstoppable appeal. Appearing as a special guest of the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, this show is a rare chance to experience a true living-legend of American music, who will participate in a Q&A session following her performance.

—buck quigley

7pm. Adam’s Mark Hotel, 120 Church Street.

(827-3534/buffaloniagarafilmfestival.com) $12-$15.