Windian Records Founder Travis Jackson Killed in Collision

A construction worker killed in a traffic accident Wednesday night has been identified as Travis Jackson, who was known to many in the DC music community as the drummer in the garage-punk band the Points and the co-owner of local label Windian Records.

Jackson, 34, was working on a construction site along Suitland Parkway in Southeast DC about 11:25 last night when the driver of a BMW sport-utility vehicle lost control of the vehicle, striking a parked vehicle with a trailer attached, the Metropolitan Police Department says. The trailer spun around and struck Jackson, who was standing next to the parked car.

The driver of the BMW was transported to a local hospital where she was treated and released. Jackson, who lived in Alexandria with his wife, Ashley, and one-year-old son, Lincoln, was pronounced dead by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

“Last night a proud family man and a talented artist was taken from us too early,” Eric Brady, who ran Windian with Jackson, writes in an e-mail. “Travis Jackson was only 34, but was an accomplished musician, ambitious businessman, loving husband, and doting father, and he leaves behind a legacy that DC will hopefully remember for years to come. He loved supporting local art, and our label will continue that support going forward, in Travis’ honor.”

As a record producer, Jackson specialized in raucous garage rock. New releases from Windian, which he started in 2009 after the Points stopped playing regularly, were instantly recognizable from their boisterous Facebook posts and tweets, usually written in all caps, and their ear-splitting guitar licks. Windian’s roster included some of the Washington area’s nosiest, grimiest bands such as Title Tracks and the Shirks, and re-releases of punk relics from all over, including Syracuse, New York’s the Penetrators.

Jackson was a trove of punk history, too. In December, he unearthed a letter from Ethel Kennedy to proto-punk rockers the Hangmen thanking them for playing a show at the Kennedys’ Hickory Hill estate. “Kathleen and Bobby still haven’t recovered,” Kennedy wrote. Windian is reissuing the Hangmen’s 1966, album Bitter Sweet, in March.

Brady says Windian plans to set up a fund for Jackson’s family and throw a tribute show.

Benjamin Freed

Staff Writer

Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.