The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, abbreviated as J5, and later known as The Jacksons) was an American popular music quintet from Gary, Indiana.
The group, active from 1962 to 1990, regularly played from a repertoire of R&B, soul, funk, and later disco. Considered "one of the biggest phenomenons in pop musicHuey, Steve. "The Jackson 5". All Music Guide. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:88q7g4jttv3z~T00 on August 20, 2005." during the early 1970s, the Jackson 5 are also notable for launching the career of their lead singer, Michael Jackson.
The primary members of the group were all the sons of Katherine and Joseph Jackson: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, and Randy. Joseph Jackson formed the band in 1962 and served as its manager, with Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and unrelated youths Reynaud Jones and Milton Hite comprising its original lineup. Within a year, Michael and Marlon joined the band, and Michael became lead singer as the group developed a following in the eastern and midwestern United States during the mid-1960s.
Signed to the Motown label from 1969 to 1975, and to CBS Records (as "The Jacksons") from 1975 until their disbanding in 1990, the Jackson 5 were one of the most popular groups of the era and became the first recording act to have their first four major label singles ("I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There") reach the top of the American charts. Several future singles, among them "Mama's Pearl", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Dancing Machine", were Top 5 pop hits and number-one hits on the R&B singles chart. Most of the early hits were written and produced by a specialized songwriting team known as The Corporation™; later Jackson 5 hits were crafted chiefly by Hal Davis.
While not the first act considered a "boy band", The Jackson 5 is one of the earliest examples of the type as it is defined today: five adolescents specifically packaged and marketed by a record label for crossover pop success. Upon their departure from Motown for CBS in 1975, the Jacksons, were forced to change their name and trade Jermaine (who remained at Motown) for Randy. The group took control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and "State of Shock", and the highly successful Victory Tour. The Jacksons officially disbanded in 1990.
The children found an outlet in music, with elder brothers Jackie (born 1951), Tito (b. 1953), and Jermaine (b. 1954) borrowing their father's guitar without his permission and playing along to the radio. Younger brothers Marlon (b. 1957) and Michael (b. 1958) were allowed to watch as long as they did not tell. Joseph eventually discovered that the older three boys were playing his guitar when one of the strings brokeTranscript of interview with Jermaine Jackson. Larry King Live. November 30, 2003. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/30/lkl.00.html on August 20, 2005.. Although he was furious at first, Joseph realized the boys had talent and began making plans to create a musical act for them.
In 1962, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine began performing around the Gary area with two neighborhood children, Milford Hite (on drums) and Reynaud Jones (on keyboards), in a group called The Jackson Brothers. Joe Jackson served as the manager, at first only part-time, and then eventually quitting his job at the steel mill. Jermaine sang lead and played bass, and Tito played guitar.
In 1963, younger brothers Marlon and Michael, joined the group as its tambourine and bongo players. Already showing talent as a singer and dancerRock of Ages, pg. 448 "Almost immediately adding Michael and Marlon, it became clear that Michael was their main attraction.", Michael replaced Jermaine as lead vocalist by mid-1967. Shirley Cartman, Tito's junior high orchestra teacher, noticed the group's talents and served as an early mentor to the group, by then calling itself The Jackson Five.
During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago, Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", and the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts in order to earn money.
Shirley Cartman got the Jackson Five a record deal with Gordon Keith's local Steeltown label, and the group began making their first recordings in 1967. Their first single, "Big Boy", became a regional hit. During this period, Johnny Jackson (no relation) on drums and Ronnie Rancifer on keys replaced Milford Hite and Reynaud Jones.
The Jackson Five had a number of admirers in their early days, including Sam & Dave, who helped the group secure a spot in the famous Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group won the August 13, 1967 competition during the Amateur Night showdown at the Apollo, impressing Motown Records artist Gladys Knight of The Pips. Knight recommended the group to Motown chief Berry Gordy, but Gordy, who already had teenager Stevie Wonder on his roster, was hesitant to take on another child act because of the child labor laws and other problems involved.
From these sources, The Jackson Five developed many of their vocal arrangement styles and dance movements. The group's multi-lead vocal style was inspired by that of The Family Stone, while young Michael adapted Jackie Wilson and James Brown's impassioned singing and dancing styles into his own.
On July 23, the Jackson 5 had their Motown audition, for which they performed James Brown’s then current hit “I Got the Feelin’”. Berry Gordy was not in attendance, but the audition was videotaped and sent to him in Los Angeles. Gordy's initial reluctance to sign the group disappeared when he finally saw the boys perform. Gordy decided to sign the Jackson Five to Motown, and hosted a party at his Detroit mansion on November 25, 1968 to introduce them to the Motown staff and stars.
Motown began negotiations to buy out the Jackson Five's Steeltown contract, completing the deal in March 1969. By the summer, Bobby Taylor began producing the group's first recordings at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit. The early Taylor-produced Jackson Five records were all covers of both contemporary hits and Motown-standards, including Sly & the Family Stone's "Stand!" and their famous rendition of The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", written by Smokey Robinson.
In mid-August 1969, Gordy moved the Jackson Five and Joseph to California, and he and Suzanne de Passe began the process of grooming them as the label's next big act, while the rest of the family remained in Gary. While looking for a house in California, Joseph, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie lived with Berry Gordy, while Michael and Marlon lived with Gordy's girlfriend, Motown star Diana Ross.
While Ross was active in the Jackson 5's early development, and housed Michael and Marlon for several months until Joseph Jackson found the family a home, there is no truth to the story involving her discovering the group at a benefit show for the mayor. The people who were more instrumental in the Jackson 5's early success, including Shirley Cartman, Sam & Dave, Gladys Knight, and Bobby Taylor, did not receive credit for their contributions until two decades later.
The Jackson 5 practiced and rehearsed continuously during the late summer and early fall of 1969. Diana Ross formally introduced the Jackson 5 to the public on August 11, 1969, at a Beverly Hills, California club called The Daisy. Towards the end of August, the Jackson Five made their first television appearance, singing The Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing" at the Miss Black America Pageant in Madison Square Garden, New York City.
The Jackson 5's first single, "I Want You Back," was written and produced by four Motown songwriters and producers - Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards, and Freddie Perren - who were collectively billed as The Corporation™. "I Want You Back" was released as a single for The Jackson 5, as Motown decided to officially bill the group, on October 7. The group performed "I Want You Back", Sly & the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song", The Delfonics' "Can You Remember", and James Brown's "There Was a Time" as part of their appearance on The Hollywood Palace as special guests of Diana Ross & the Supremes. "I Want You Back" was the only single from the Jackson 5's first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, which was released in December, 1969. The song reached number one, ousting Beatles' "Let It Be" from the top spot of Billboard charts.
Now successful, Joseph was finally able to arrange to move Katherine and the rest of the family out to California in 1970. First moving into a two-story residence at 1616 Queens Road in Los Angeles (once home to Our Gang child actor Spanky McFarlandMaltin, Leonard & Bann, Richard W (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life & Times of Our Gang. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press, p.262. ISBN 051-758325-9. Upon their first meeting at the 1984 Academy Awards, Michael Jackson and Spanky McFarland learned that they had both lived at 1616 Queens Ave. in Los Angeles upon their respective first moves to the area.), the Jackson family moved to a gated mansion they called "Hayvenhurst", which was purchased by Joseph in March 1971.
"Jacksonmania" swept the nation, and within a year of their debut the Jackson 5 were among the biggest names in popular music. The group essentially replaced The Supremes as Motown's main marketing focus, and, capitalizing upon the youth-oriented appeal of the Jackson brothers, Motown licensed dozens of Jackson 5-related juvenile products, including stickers, sewable patches, posters, and coloring books. A new teen magazine aimed at African-American youth, Right On!, began publication in 1971, and focused heavily on the Jackson 5; at least one Jackson adorned the cover of every issue published between January 1972 and April 1974. Animation producers Rankin-Bass produced The Jackson 5ive, a Saturday morning cartoon that debuted on September 11, 1971 and ran for two seasons on ABC. The Jackson 5 starred in two of their own television specials, Goin' Back to Indiana (aired September 16, 1971) and The Jackson 5 Show (aired November 5, 1972).
In 1971, Motown began a spin-off solo career for Michael, whose first single, "Got to Be There", was a Top 5 hit. Michael also sang the title track for the 1972 motion picture Ben. His other successful solo singles included "Rockin' Robin" and "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (both 1972). Jermaine started a solo career of his own in early 1973, and had a Top Ten hit with his Shep and the Limelites cover "Daddy's Home." Jackie also recorded a solo album, but his releases failed to chart. Despite fan rumors that all three Jacksons might leave the group as they released solo work, the solo careers of Michael, Jermaine, and Jackie co-existed alongside that of the group as a whole, allowing Motown to expand the success and sales of Jackson 5-related releases.
Against the wishes of his father, Jermaine began a relationship with Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel. Jermaine and Hazel Gordy's relationship was highly publicized in magazines such as Right On!, Ebony, and Jet, and the two were married at a gala wedding ceremony held on December 15 1973 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Critics, the Jackson 5, and Joseph Jackson agreed that the main reason for the group's declining success was Motown's refusal to update their image or allow them creative control. Although they played their own instruments on stage and had begun writing songs of their own, the Jacksons were not allowed to play on their own records or record their own material. Feeling that the Jackson 5 could be more of a success without Motown, which was by this time declining in success and popularity, Joseph began shopping for a new record deal for his sons.
At first part of CBS's Philadelphia International Records division, and later moving over to Epic Records, the Jacksons continued releasing popular singles such as "Enjoy Yourself" (1976) (produced by Philadelphia International's Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) and 1979's "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (written by Michael and Randy and produced by the group).
After losing the Jacksons, Motown would not have another success of their caliber for the duration of Berry Gordy's ownership of the label. Gordy often said of the Jackson 5 that they were, coming after the label's most famous acts, "the last big stars to come rolling off Motown assembly line"(1997) "The Jackson 5". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved from http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=125 on August 20, 2005..
In 1978, Michael starred alongside Diana Ross in the Motown/Universal Pictures motion picture The Wiz, an adaptation of the Broadway musical based upon L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Quincy Jones was the producer of the film's songs, and he and Michael began work on Michael’s first Epic solo album, Off the Wall, the next year. Off the Wall, released in 1979, sold seven million copies, featured four Top 10 hit singles and two number-one singles, causing some speculation about whether Michael would leave the Jacksons.
Michael continued to perform with his brothers, releasing the album Triumph in 1980, which featured the minor hit "Can You Feel It." Although Triumph was mildly successful, it was nothing compared to Michael's Off the Wall or its follow-up, Thriller, which went on to become the most successful album of all-new material ever. Around that same time, the boys released the gold-selling Live album and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Yesterday, Today, Forever television special, broadcast on NBC on May 16, 1983, featured a reunion performance between Jermaine and the other brothers, their first time together in nearly seven years. The Jackson 5 reunion was overshadowed, however, by Michael's landmark performance of "Billie Jean" on the same program, which introduced his trademark "moonwalk" dance.
The Jacksons released the album Victory in 1984, featuring the hit single "State of Shock" with guest star Mick Jagger, and supported the album with the massively successful Victory World Tour. The Victory album and tour marked the official return of Jermaine to the group's lineup, making them a sextet.
The brothers eventually drifted apart to take on solo projects, a period during which Michael became a pop superstar in his own right. The Jacksons reunited for one last album, 2300 Jackson Street in 1989. While every Jackson sibling except for LaToya appeared on the title track, a #9 R&B hit single, most of the album featured Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, and Randy by themselves. Michael and Marlon had limited participation on this LP. A CD compilation of hits from the CBS/Epic years, The Essential Jacksons, was released in 2004, as was a separate compilation assembled by Universal/Hip-O, The Jacksons Story.
During the 1980s, Michael Jackson became one of the biggest music stars in the world, and released Thriller and Bad, two of the best-selling LPs of the century. His notable success eventually tapered off in the USA during the 1990s and 2000s, a period during which he became notorious for behavior that was considered eccentric and allegations of child sexual abuse, two of which resulted in major criminal cases. A 1993 case was settled out of court, and a second case in 2005 ended with Michael being acquitted of all charges.
Following the dissolution of The Jacksons, Jermaine Jackson returned to his solo career. Marlon Jackson also began a solo career, but neither he nor Jermaine had any charting success. Eventually, Marlon then became a real estate broker and co-owner of the Black Family Channel.
Tito Jackson, like his father before him, organized his three sons into a musical group called 3T, which had a Top 5 UK hit, "Why", in 1997, which featured a guest appearance from Michael. Soon afterwards, Tito began a low-key career as a blues musician. Randy Jackson remained out of the spotlight, mostly assisting his brothers in various ventures. Currently, Randy is the webmaster for Michael's official website, mjjsource.com.
The Jackson 5's influence on later performers has been profound, inspiring a number of performers from diverse fields, including indie rock band Dashboard Confessional , R&B groups New Edition Huey, Steve. "New Edition". All Music Guide. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:9yez97q7kr5t~T00 on August 20, 2005. Excerpt: "New Edition's early, Jackson 5-inspired material made them the forerunners of two generations of teen pop..." and B5 Rashbaum, Alyssa & Paco, Matt. "MTV News - You Heard It First: B5". MTV.com. Retrieved from http://www.mtv.com/news/yhif/b5/ on August 20, 2005. B5 (the "Breeding 5") was styled after the Jackson 5. Excerpt: "Since that fateful meeting, the Breeding brothers...have worked with sought-after producers including Rodney Jerkins, who produced their debut single, a cover of "All I Do" by the Jackson 5, a group with whom they are often compared.", and boy band Hanson Erlewine , Stephen Thomas. "Hanson". All Music Guide. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kxkniknjbb59~T00 on August 20, 2005. Excerpt: "Sounding like a re-vamped 'Jackson 5' for the '90s...". Perhaps the most noteworthy and coincidental, though, is Five Star, a British black family act from the mid-80's comprising of siblings Stedman, Doris, Lorraine, Deniece and Delroy Pearson. (Note the similar family name). The group were also managed by their father, Buster Pearson and began recording when youngest member Delroy was just 12 years old. The group were often compared to the Jackson Five by press, and Doris once described her perfect moment as '..Doing a dance routine with Michael Jackson - on our wedding day." The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. In addition, two of their songs ("ABC" and "I Want You Back") are among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
In 1981 Motown announced that the label sold over 100 million copies of Jackson 5 albums and singles worldwide. Epic Records stated sales of more than 30 million for The Jacksons group by the end of 1984.
In 1992, Suzanne de Passe and Jermaine Jackson worked with Motown to produce An American Dream, a five-hour television miniseries broadcast based on the history of the Jacksons in two parts on ABC. The first installment of the miniseries covered the decades from Katherine and Joseph Jackson's first meeting in 1945 up until the first Jackson 5 releases on Motown in 1969, while the second part covered the years from 1970 to 1984, and the effects of the Jackson 5's phenomenal success on the family.
Among the actors featured in the miniseries were Angela Bassett as Katherine Jackson, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Joseph Jackson, Billy Dee Williams as Berry Gordy, Vanessa L. Williams as Suzanne de Passe, Holly Robinson Peete as Diana Ross, Bumper Robinson as teenage Jackie, Jason Weaver as pre-teenage Michael, and Terrence Dashon Howard as adult Jackie. The miniseries was the highest rated show of the week, won an Emmy Award and was nominated for three more, and won two Young Artist Awards. The Jacksons: An American Dream was later rebroadcast on VH1 and released to VHS and DVD.
The three girls of the Jackson family, although never members of the group, also enjoyed musical careers of their own:
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