The Jackson 5/The Jacksons

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 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.