Jackie began studying piano at the age of 5, inspired by her singer/actress mother, and a local Liberace-style piano player, Galen, who once kissed her on the cheek. After training classically, then attending Northwestern University's High School classical music institute, Jackie changed direction and began studying jazz with Larry Novak. She soon began playing at hotels, clubs, parties and corporate events. Her extraordinary jazz playing led her to a ten year stint as a pianist and band leader in Chicago, Los Angeles, and even Las Vegas and the Netherlands. Jackie began writing music while in Chicago, scoring the critically acclaimed original play 'Alien Affections' at the Director's Workshop.

Jackie had been a favorite at the Fairmont Hotel and Hotel Nikko for many years before moving to L.A.; during her time in Chicago she developed a devoted following and caught the attention of many celebrity listeners including James Earl Jones, Sinbad, Tony Bennett, Tom Selleck, Frank Sinatra Jr., McCoy Tyner, James Taylor, Paul Shaffer, Ernie Banks, Robert Goulet and Lou Rawls. In addition, Advance Records asked for a song of Jackie's to include in a compilation disc; her song, 'Looking for Yesterday', began to grab the attention of radio listeners and became a frequent request, even earning top 20 status in Synergy Magazine's charts for 2000.

Once in LA, Jackie began by playing solo piano regularly at Ducz Restaurant in Pasadena and performing with her contemporary latin jazz trio around L.A., including Muriel's Supper Club in Palm Springs and Jax in Glendale while honing her composing and arranging skills. In 2001, Jackie got the opportunity to record a piano track for the NAACP awards honoring Sydney Poitier. And, in 2003, she provided music for the Hyperion Theater's production of 'Sylvia'. Currently she is playing regularly at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena and working on an orchestral recording of originals and songs of her favorite composers.

With a degree in film and music from Northwestern University and continued studies at DePaul University and UCLA, Jackie is adept in film scoring, big band arranging and composing, string orchestration and jingle writing.

"Jackie, you've given me the first new idea I've had in years!!".

-- Gore Vidal