Jackdawg

Jackdawg was a rock trio formed in the late 1980s by three music veterans: John McFee (Doobie Brothers, Clover), Stu Cook (Creedence Clearwater Revival), and Keith Knudsen (Doobie Brothers). The trio came together after their previous project, Southern Pacific, wound down, and decided to shift their sound away from country-rock toward a grittier, more contemporary rock vibe heavily influenced by their 1990s surroundings. They recorded their self-titled album at McFee’s Lizard Rock Studio in California, with McFee handling lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, and harmonica, Cook on bass, and Knudsen on drums—all three contributing to the group’s rich harmonies.

Despite the album’s strong creative start, the group’s momentum stalled when their manager died during the label shopping phase, leaving the recordings shelved for nearly two decades before finally seeing release on CD in 2009 and getting official vinyl reissues in 2025. The record blends swampy rock, pop hooks, and vibrant three-part harmonies—standout tracks include “Bayou Rebel,” their cover of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night,” and “The Girl from Oz,” the latter inspired by Australian rock icon Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls. Jackdawg’s story is a classic tale of what-ifs, but the music captures the chemistry and experience of three players with deep roots in rock history.