Jacksons

Randy-Marlon-Jackie-Tito-Michael
The
Jacksons

    Without a doubt The Jackson clan can be billed as the First Family of disco music. For nowhere has a more talented group of siblings charted more disco hits than the offspring of Katherine and Joe Jackson. From Michael's mega success to Janet's chart domination to the lesser achievements of Jermaine, LaToya, Rebbie and Randy, individually and collectively, they have and continue to chart club hits since the birth of disco.
     By all accounts, the Jackson family's upbringing in nearby Gary, Indiana, was strict; their mother Katherine was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and their father Joe was a stern, temperamental disciplinarian. One night, Joe discovered that Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine had been playing his treasured old guitar without permission; though initially furious, he quickly discovered that his sons had genuine talent.
     With Joe's persistance the boys began performing around the area together in 1962, teamed with two cousins (Johnny Jackson and Ronnie Rancifer), who were later replaced by Marlon and five-year-old Michael. Joe became their manager and continued working as a crane operator part-time. The group practiced and rehearsed often, and improved as dancers, singers, and instrumentalists at a rapid rate. In particular, little Michael proved himself a dynamic performer, soon replacing Jermaine as the featured lead vocalist, and establishing himself as a nimble dancer able to mimic talents like James Brown. At first, the group was known as Ripples & Waves Plus Michael, then the Jackson Brothers, and finally The Jackson 5.
     In 1966, the Jackson 5 won an important local talent competition with a Michael-led rendition of the Temptations' "My Girl," the female portion was won by another future disco artist Kellee Patterson. Their father also booked their first paid professional gigs that year. In 1967 the group won another talent competition, this time at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater, where they earned an influential fan in Gladys Knight (the first person to recommend the group to Motown). At the end of the year, the Jackson 5 made their first studio recordings for the small Gary-based Steeltown label, and their single "Big Boy" became something of a local hit. Championed again to Motown by Bobby Taylor, a member of the Vancouvers who'd seen the group in Chicago, and Diana Ross, the Jackson 5 finally got a chance to audition for the label in the summer of 1968.
     Desperately needing new blood, an impressed Berry Gordy signed the group and flew them out to his new headquarters in Los Angeles, where he and his assistants groomed them to be the label's next breakout stars. Having lost his famed Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team, Gordy formed a new partnership with Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, and Deke Richards dubbed the Corporation, which set about crafting material for the group.
     On October 7, 1969, the Jackson 5 released their first single, "I Want You Back," it was an instant smash, hitting number one on both the pop and R&B charts. So did their next two singles, "ABC" and "The Love You Save" (both from their second album "ABC"), which solidified the group's so-called bubblegum-soul sound and certified them as pop sensations. "Third Album" was released before year's end, spawning the hit ballad "I'll Be There," which not only proved that the group (and lead singer Michael) were more mature and versatile than their bright, bouncy initial singles let on, but also made them the first group in pop history to have their first four singles hit number one. It also became the best-selling single in Motown history, spending a stellar five weeks at number one. And it had still been less than a year since the group's national debut.
     A virtual Jackson 5 cottage industry sprang up in the wake of their success, producing everything from dolls to a cartoon show. Meanwhile, following their four straight number ones, the Jackson 5 opened 1971 with a pair of number two hits, "Mama's Pearl" and the ballad "Never Can Say Goodbye"; "Maybe Tomorrow" was their first single not to make the pop Top Ten, though it still reached the R&B Top Five. That year, Motown executives began grooming Michael and Jermaine for solo careers that would run concurrently with the Jackson 5. Michael was the first to debut on his own (toward the end of 1971), and was an instant success; his first two singles, "Got To Be There" and "Rockin' Robin," both made the Top Five, and later in 1972 he scored his first pop number one with "Ben." Jermaine debuted at the end of 1972, and his first single "Daddy's Home" reached the Top Ten, though the follow-ups didn't sustain the momentum as well as Michael.
     Their prolific album release schedule slowed a bit, and while their singles continued to perform reliably well on the R&B charts, they were no longer a surefire bet for the pop Top Ten. After a relatively lengthy drought, the Jackson 5 scored what would be their last major smash for Motown, the 1974 number-two hit "Dancing Machine," a nod to the emerging sound of disco (it also topped the R&B charts).
     The group's frustrations with Motown had been building, not only did the label seem less interested in their career, but they still refused to allow the Jacksons to write or choose their own material, or play their own instruments on their records. Finally, in early 1976, they left Motown to sign with Epic. When the legal battles finally ended, Motown won a breach-of-contract settlement and retained rights to the Jackson 5 name, forcing the group to become the Jacksons. They also lost Jermaine, whose marriage to Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel made it extremely impractical for him to join his brothers. He was replaced by younger brother Randy, who had been appearing (unofficially) with the group as a percussionist for some time.
     The group's 1976 Epic records debut, "The Jacksons," was produced and written by Gamble & Huff. The album spawned one minor hit, the perky disco track "Enjoy Yourself." Despite the promise, "The Jacksons" is hampered by derivative tracks and a lack of knowing what to do with the group, particularly lead singer, Michael Jackson. Still at a lost as to what to do with the brothers, Gamble & Huff put together their second effort for Epic, 1977's "Goin' Places." The title couldn't have been more wrong....the album tanked, no club or radio hits were forthcoming. For a brief moment it seemed like the Jacksons career might actually be over and that maybe leaving Motown wasn't the best move.
     However, the group truly assumed control over their music and hit full stride on 1978's "Destiny," which most regard as the strongest studio album the Jacksons recorded together in any incarnation. "Destiny" was self-produced and largely self-written. The album spawned two major club hits, the 12" singles of "Blame It On The Boogie" and "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)." The latter received a european remix and was released on a second 12" single in 1979 and extended the life of the album. The success of the album gave Michael the confidence to re-ignite his solo career with 1979's "Off The Wall."
     The album made Michael a star in his own right, signifying his arrival as a mature adult artist, but he remained with his brothers for the time being, helping them record a Grammy-nominated follow-up to "Destiny" in 1980's "Triumph." The album once again gave clubgoers a reason to dance with three 12" single smashes. "Lovely One," "Walk Right Now" and "Can You Feel It." The latter was also the boys first video release. The album also featured two more haunting hits, "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Time Waits For No One." This remains there most pleasing album ever released and must have for any collection.
     The staggering success of Michael's next solo album, "Thriller," signaled the beginning of the end for the Jacksons, but not quite yet; Jermaine re-joined the group for 1984's "Victory," the only album to feature all six brothers. The 12" single "State Of Shock," which featured guest vocalist Mick Jagger, hit number three that year, and the group's ensuing tour was a blockbuster success, despite expensive (for the time) ticket prices. Michael and Marlon both left the Jacksons, the latter trying out an unsuccessful solo career; Randy, Tito, and Jackie appeared as the Jacksons on the soundtrack of "Burglar," and subsequently became highly regarded session musicians. The Jacksons reconvened in 1989 for the album "2300 Jackson Street," which featured every Jackson sibling save LaToya on the title cut. However, it wasn't as successful as hoped, and to date there have been no further reunions on record. In 1997, the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.