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The Jackson 5
Given the built-in obsolescence of pop stars, it is remarkable
that the singer who made the biggest impact in 1970 should have
still made world headlines almost a quarter of a century later.
But Michael Jackson, the 11
year old frontman of The Jackson 5, was no ordinary pop star. . .
During that first year with Motown Records
the group spent 13 weeks at Number One in the US singles charts as
their four releases - I Want You Back, ABC, The
Love You Save and I'll Be There - sold in excess of 15
million copies. Each of their three 1970 albums went Top 10 in the
USA, and they re-established Motown as
the Voice of Young America.
In 1970 the group consisted of Sigmund Jackson (Jackie) (19),
Toriano (Tito) (17), Jermaine (16), Marlon (13) and Michael, but
the three oldest boys had already been performing for eight years
- known as the Jackson Family - their three-part harmonies were
augmented by cousins Johnny Jackson and Ronnie Rancifer. Managed
and coached by their father Joe, a crane driver who once played
guitar with Detroit R&B band The Falcons (who featured Wilson
Pickett as lead singer), the quintet made a living in the
clubs and bars around their hometown of Gary, Indiana.
It wasn't until 1964 that Marlon and Michael (at the ages of 7
and 5 respectively) were judged ready to enter show business and
joined the vocal line-up, relegating their cousins to pianist and
drummer. The name was changed to The Jackson 5, and by winning
talent contests they started to establish themselves beyond Gary's
city limits.
Although legend has it that Diana Ross 'discovered' The Jackson
5, credit for such scouting actually goes to Gladys
Knight. In 1967, after they had supported her and The Pips at
a concert in Indiana, Gladys wrote to Motown
label owner Berry Gordy suggesting he check them out. A year later
- after The Jackson 5 had performed as far afield as New York
City, where they won Amateur Night at Harlem's Apollo Theater and
released an unsuccessful single, Big Boy, on a local label
- the group were noticed by another Motown
act, Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers, who also recommended them.
In June 1968, Berry Gordy and Diana Ross attended a fund-raising
concert for Gary's mayor - the brothers were on the bill and Gordy
was sufficiently impressed to sign them on the spot.
Within weeks the family had moved to California for 'grooming'
and rehearsals. In October, their first live performance as a Motown
act was at the Hollywood Palace as special guests of Diana Ross
and The Supremes (hence the
"discovery" confusion - A mix-up that was compounded by
their first album being called Diana Ross Presents The Jackson
5.) The corporate thinking was that the boys would need this
glamour-by-association factor to give them a leg-up.
In 1975, The Jackson 5 left Motown for
CBS Records, much bigger royalty cheques and the freedom to write
their own songs. Motown sued for $20 million (for breach of
contract) and retained the name 'The Jackson 5'. The group had to
now call themselves The Jacksons and lost brother Jermaine who
remained with Motown - he was, after all,
married to Motown boss Berry Gordy's daughter, so his decision was
unsurprising! Younger brother Randy took his place in the group.
The Jacksons reunited with brother Michael in 1984 for what
they announced would be "our final farewell tour as a
family" to promote the largely uninteresting album Victory.
The 40-city tour started on July 6 in Kansas City.
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Michael Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Jermaine Jackson
Tito Jackson
Jackie Jackson
Randy Jackson
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