The Jackson family is an American family of musicians and entertainers from
Gary, Indiana. Many of the children of
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter (1783–1856) was an English marine painter in oils and watercolour, working at Bristol and Portishead. He gained notice for his portrayals of Brunel's steamships ''Great Western'' and ''Great Britain''.
Life
W ...
(or Joe) and
Katherine Esther Jackson were successful musicians, notably the brothers that formed the
Motown
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
boy band
the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons). Several of the siblings also had successful solo careers. Joe worked as their manager. The Jackson family, both as a musical group and as solo artists, have achieved success in the field of popular music from the late 1960s and onward. They are sometimes called the "
First Family of Soul" (a title first bestowed on the
Five Stairsteps),
[Moreover, as a unit, they were one of the few black groups to achieve "teen idol" status among music fans of all races, with hits such as '' I Want You Back'', '']ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
'', '' I'll Be There'', ''Dancing Machine
"Dancing Machine" is a song recorded by American R&B outfit the Jackson 5, and was the title track of their ninth studio album. The song was originally recorded for the group's 1973 album '' G.I.T.: Get It Together'' and was released as a remix ...
'', '' Blame It on the Boogie'', '' Heartbreak Hotel'' and ''Can You Feel It Can You Feel It may refer to: Albums
* ''Can You Feel It'' by Angel, 1989
* ''Can You Feel It?'' (EP) by Highlight, 2017
*''Can You Feel It'', a 1972 album by S.O.U.L.
*''Can You Feel It'', a 1973 album by Lighthouse
Songs
* "Can You Feel It" (Th ...
''. the "Imperial Family of Pop", or the "Royal Family of Pop", especially following the success of
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
and
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
, the former of whom is frequently dubbed the "King of Pop" and the latter of whom is frequently dubbed the "Queen of Pop".
The Jackson 5 originally consisted of
Jackie,
Tito
Tito may refer to:
People Mononyms
* Josip Broz Tito (1892–1980), commonly known mononymously as Tito, Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman
* Roberto Arias (1918–1989), aka Tito, Panamanian international lawyer, diplomat, and journ ...
,
Jermaine,
Marlon Marlon is a masculine given name. According to the ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', the popularity of Marlon Brando led to general awareness of the name (his father was also named Marlon), though the origin of the name is not known. Speculatio ...
, and
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
. In 1975,
Randy
Randy is a given name, popular in the United States and Canada. It is primarily a masculine name. It was originally derived from the names Randall, Randolf, Randolph, as well as Bertrand and Andrew, and may be a short form (hypocorism) of the ...
replaced Jermaine. Michael and Janet are regarded as the most popular members of the family, as both of them have had highly distinguished solo careers and are often hailed as two of the most influential pop and
R&B artists in history.
All nine of the Jackson siblings have gold records to their credits with
La Toya holding the distinction of being the first Jackson sister to attain one (awarded by the
Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique
The National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing (french: Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique; SNEP) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym ...
for "
Reggae Night
"Reggae Night" is a 1983 single by reggae artist Jimmy Cliff, from his album ''The Power and the Glory''. It was released by Columbia Records in the USA, Canada and Mexico and in most European countries on CBS Records. Written by Amir Bayyan and ...
", which she co-wrote for
Jimmy Cliff
James Chambers OM (born 30 July 1944), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. He is the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, t ...
). Janet is the first black female to receive the
''Billboard'' Icon Award.
The Jacksons are one of the most influential families in music history.
In 1997, the Jackson 5 was inducted to the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
. Michael was inducted as a solo artist in 2001, making him one of the few who have been inducted twice. Joining her brothers, Janet was inducted in 2019.
Michael, Janet, and the Jacksons were awarded stars on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...
in 1980, 1984 and 1990, respectively. In 2009, a television series entitled ''
The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty'' premiered on
A&E, documenting the Jackson brothers dealing with the sudden loss of Michael and preparing for a Jackson 5 reunion tour.
First generation
Joseph Walter Jackson was born on July 26, 1928, in
Arkansas, but he grew up in
Oakland, California, with his father Samuel Jackson, a school teacher. At age 18, he moved to
East Chicago, Indiana, to be with his mother Crystal Lee King and to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional boxer. At age 21, Joseph married
Katherine Scruse, 19, immediately starting a family. Even though he wanted to be a success in boxing it was not a job for a family man, so he obtained a job as an
overhead crane operator with East Chicago's
Inland Steel Company. His family continued to grow steadily and over the course of sixteen years he and Katherine had a house full of nine children. Joe Jackson always wanted to make it big and although he could not in boxing or in his own short musical stint in the 1950s with the band the Falcons, he saw the talent in his children, starting with Tito and his ability to play the guitar.
![Michael Jackson (1988)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Michael_Jackson_%281988%29.jpg)
Soon enough Joe Jackson formed a band of his sons
Tito
Tito may refer to:
People Mononyms
* Josip Broz Tito (1892–1980), commonly known mononymously as Tito, Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman
* Roberto Arias (1918–1989), aka Tito, Panamanian international lawyer, diplomat, and journ ...
,
Jermaine and
Jackie called
The Jackson Brothers in 1964 and became their manager. After several years of doing local talent shows, Joseph enlarged the band to include
Marlon Marlon is a masculine given name. According to the ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', the popularity of Marlon Brando led to general awareness of the name (his father was also named Marlon), though the origin of the name is not known. Speculatio ...
and
Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian an ...
, two of his younger sons, and then changed the name of the band to
The Jackson Five by 1966, remaining the group's manager. As their father he was a very strict disciplinarian and as their manager he enforced long practice sessions of singing and dancing in hopes of preparing them to make it big one day. In August 1967, the group made a debut at the
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater is a music hall at 253 West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue) in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a not ...
in
Harlem, New York, where they won the Amateur Night contest.
Gordon Keith, the owner and producer at
Steeltown Records in Gary, Indiana, discovered the ''Jackson Five'' and signed them to their first contract in November 1967. "
Big Boy", the boys' first record which was produced by Keith, was released on January 30, 1968. It became a local hit. In March 1969, they signed a
Motown
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
record contract and became known as the ''Jackson 5''. The group enjoyed the fame Joseph Jackson had been longing for in his life. He continued to manage The Jackson 5 into stardom and after the band had many No. 1 hits on the ''Billboard'' hot singles charts; Joseph moved them to a mansion in
Encino, California, with his own hefty salary he had obtained as their full-time manager. After many years as a band and with Michael as lead singer, the group continued to churn out even more hits and wealth, but tensions grew and in 1979, Michael severed ties with his father/manager and went on to pursue an international solo musical entertainment career. Four years later, in 1983, Michael's siblings fired Joseph Jackson as their manager. In 1993, Michael Jackson accused his father of physical and mental abuse; a few of the other siblings confirmed this claim, but others denied it.
Katherine Jackson (née Kattie B. Scruse) was born on May 4, 1930, in
Barbour County, Alabama, the child of Prince Albert Scruse (1907–1997) and Martha Mattie Upshaw (1907–1990). She was left with a permanent limp after acquiring
polio syndrome in her childhood. She later recovered from her illness after moving with her family to
East Chicago, Indiana, where she would remain until meeting her husband Joseph Jackson. The couple moved and bought a small home in
Gary, Indiana, where they birthed and raised nine children and she was a stay-at-home mother.
Throughout her life, Katherine remained a devoted
Jehovah's Witness and raised her children strictly under the same spiritual teachings she received. Also, as a talented pianist and vocalist who shared her talents with her children, she was later credited for being the foundation of her children's success. After her sons' rise to fame as The Jackson 5, she strongly supported her children and became the costume designer for their shows and performances. Some of the memorable moments of her unconditional support were seen when her son Michael was tried and later acquitted for molestation charges in
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peace ...
and
2005
File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...
. Katherine now lives in
Calabasas, California where she cares for the children of her
late son, Michael.
After allegations that she may have been held against her will by Randy and Janet Jackson, Katherine lost custody of Michael's children, ultimately regaining it in 2012.
Second generation
![Janet Jackson 1998](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Janet_Jackson_1998.jpg)
Together, Joe and Katherine Jackson had ten children. Their son Brandon (Marlon's twin) died shortly after birth. The other nine grew up to become professional musicians, among other professions.
*
Maureen Reillette "Rebbie" Jackson (b. May 29, 1950)
[
* Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (b. May 4, 1951)][
* Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (b. October 15, 1953)][
* Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (b. December 11, 1954)][
* La Toya Yvonne Jackson (b. May 29, 1956)][
* Marlon David Jackson (b. March 12, 1957)][
* Brandon David Jackson (born and died March 12, 1957)
* ]Michael Joseph Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
(August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
* Steven Randall "Randy" Jackson (b. October 29, 1961)
* Janet Damita Jo Jackson (b. May 16, 1966)[
]
Extramarital
* Joh'Vonnie Nakia Jeboo Jackson (b. August 30, 1974)
Third generation
There are twenty-seven children who make up the third generation of the Jackson family along with several great-grandchildren. Among them, some have followed in the family's footsteps into the entertainment industry.
The three children of Michael Jackson are probably the most well-known of the third generation. Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (b. February 13, 1997), also known as "Prince", Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (b. April 3, 1998) and Prince Michael Jackson II, also known as "Blanket", and now called "Bigi" (b. February 21, 2002), have been discussed in the press numerous times throughout their lives, particularly since their father's death in 2009.
Rebbie, Tito, Jackie and Jermaine have also had children, who have come under varying degrees of media focus. Austin Brown
Nathaniel Austin Brown (born November 22, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer
Early life
Brown was born in Tarzana, California, on November 22, 1985, to Nathaniel Brown and Rebbie Jackson. He is a member of the Jackson ...
(b. November 22, 1985), the only son of Rebbie Jackson, is a singer-songwriter who has released several successful singles in the pop/R&B genre. Tito Jackson's three sons, Toriano Adaryll "Taj
Taj may refer to:
Buildings
*Taj Mahal, a medieval mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra
*Taj Palace, an Abbasid palace in medieval Baghdad
*Taj-ul-Masajid, mosque in Bhopal
* Taj building, Nowshera, Pakistan
*Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, inte ...
" Jackson (b. August 4, 1973), Taryll Adren Jackson (b. August 8, 1975) and Tito Joe Jackson (b. July 16, 1978) make up the R&B/pop music group 3T. 3T has released three studio albums and has gone on to have moderate success in the industry, primarily outside of the United States. Sigmund Esco "Siggy" Jackson, Jr. (b. June 29, 1977), the eldest son to Jackie Jackson, is a hip-hop artist who goes under the name "Dealz". Siggy has been a ghostwriter for a number of independent artists and has obtained mild success as a solo artist. Jermaine La Jaune "Jay" Jackson, Jr. (b. January 27, 1977), the eldest son to Jermaine Jackson, portrayed his father in the 1992 miniseries, '' The Jacksons: An American Dream'', a biographical film about the Jackson family. On January 3, 2017, at age 50, Janet gave birth to Eissa Al Mana, the newest member of the Jackson family.
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
{{Authority control
African-American families
People from Gary, Indiana
People from Lake County, Indiana
American musical families
·