transgender soul pioneer jackie shane makes a come back after four decades

After decades of estrangement, 1960s soul pioneer Jackie Shane has re-emerged for a younger generation of music lovers. Best known for her single “Any Other Way”, Shane’s vocal stylings and gender-bent personal style, the soulstress made waves for misunderstood, queer, and questioning fans in the States, but especially in the Toronto area, identify with what seemed like the only other kindred spirit in their world. But after many years of obscurity, Shane’s magnificent body of work is being re-issued in a two-disc boxed set with extensive liner notes called “Any Other Way,” out Oct. 20

Born in Nashville in 1940, Shane said she self-identified as a woman trapped in a man’s body by the time she was 13 years old. By 1959, Shane had moved to Toronto where she began wearing wigs and makeup as part of her onstage act, as well as in her personal life. Before disappearing from public life, Shane trained under Little Richard and shared states with the likes of Etta James and Jackie Wilson and the Impressions.

Jackie Shane performing. Credit via Numero Group

Image via Numero Group