The Jackson Five, the #69 Artist of the Rock Era

"They were all awesome."

"So talented."

"We love you boys!  Always!"

"The Jackson 5 was one of the best groups ever."

"Fantastic group!"

"Absolutely love them!"

"Classic group."

"One of the very best groups."

"When they came out, no one had heard anything like them.  And that's still the case."

"An amazing act--sent down from heaven!"

This family act formed in 1964 in Gary, Indiana.  At first, Tito, Jermaine and Jackie Jackson formed the Jackson Brothers with their father Joe.  Six-year-old brother Michael played congas and friends Milford Hite and Reynaud Jones played drums and keyboards, respectively.  Another brother, Marlon, joined later on tambourine.  In 1965, the group rename themselves the Jackson Five Singing Group, later shorted to the Jackson Five.

In 1966, the Jackson Five won a talent show at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Gary.  Johnny Jackson and Ronnie Rancifer replace Hite and Jones, and Joe Jackson booked the group at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois and the Apollo Theater in Manhattan, New York.  The Jackson Five won talent competitions on both shows.  Gladys Knight was at the Apollo and sent a demo of the group to Motown, only for the label to reject them.

In 1967, Joe Jackson signed a recording contract for the group with Steeltown Records.  While they opened for Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers at the Regal Theater, Taylor got behind the group and arranged for an audition with Motown in Detroit, Michigan.  That led to a recording contract with Motown in 1969.

Label boss Berry Gordy, Jr. asked the boys to move to Los Angeles.  Later in the year, they opened for the Supremes, with Diana Ross of the group becoming a big fan and strong promter.  While performing in L.A., the Jackson Five recorded "I Want You Back", and released it as a single later in the year.  The song went to #1 on both the Popular and R&B charts in the U.S., #2 in Ireland and #6 in the U.K.  The single sold over two million copies.

In December, the brothers released their debut album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, a #5 album.

 

The group released the album ABC in 1970, which took them to #4.  The title song went straight to the top.

 

"The Love You Save" also topped the chart for two weeks.

 

Third Album in 1970 also peaked at #4.  When "I'll Be There" reached #1, the Jackson Five became the first artist to go to #1 with each of their first four singles.  The song stayed at #1 for five weeks and is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  Soon, the Jackson Five became Motown's best-selling group.

At the end of the year, the group released The Jackson 5 Christmas Album. Their version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" has become one of the best.

 

The group released another holiday standard--"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".

 

The brothers released the single "Mama's Pearl", a #2 smash.

 

The group released the album Maybe Tomorrow in 1971.  "Never Can Say Goodbye" climbed to #1 on the R&B chart and #2 overall.

 

The group did a masterful job of marketing, with a Saturday morning cartoon series, stickers, posters, coloring books and many more Jackson Five memorabilia for sale.  They appeared on Diana Ross' television special Diana! in 1971, as well as two of their own:  Goin' Back to Indiana and The Jackson 5 Show.  The Jackson 5 also released their Greatest Hits album.  The single "Sugar Daddy" peaked at #3 R&B and #10 overall.

Michael Jackson began his solo career in 1971, one that would reach superstardom later in the decade and beyond.  But by that time, music was again changing.  The Motown producers known as The Corporation split up in 1973.  Disco was beginning to pulsate throughout the United States.

In 1972, the Jacksons, as they were now known, left Motown and signed with Epic Records.  Jermaine stayed with Motown and began a solo career, replaced in the Jacksons by brother Randy.   But five singles failed to reach the Top 10. 

 

In 1974, the Jacksons released the album Dancing Machine.  The title song brought them back in a big way, as it went to #1 R&B and #2 on the Popular chart.

The following year, the group released the album Moving Violation with little success.

 

The Jacksons starred in their own weekly variety series on television and released their self-titled album in 1976.  The album was certified Gold.  "Enjoy Yourself" rose to #6.

 

The follow-up "Show You The Way To Go" stalled at #26 overall but reached #6 on the R&B chart.  It also hit #1 in the U.K. and #5 in Ireland.

The next year, the brothers released the album Goin' Places.

 

The album Destiny in 1978 went Platinum and yielded the hit "Blame It On The Boogie", #6 R&B and #4 in Australia and #8 in the U.K.

"Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" in 1979 returned the group to the Top 10 and sold over two million singles.

 

In 1980, the brothers released the album Triumph, which sold over one million copies.  "Lovely One" stopped at #12 overall but hit #2 on the R&B chart.

The Jackson Five were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980.  The Jacksons' 1981 live album was also certified Gold.

Meanwhile, Michael's solo album Off the Wall in 1979 generated spectacular interest, but that paled in comparison to his 1983 release Thriller, which became the biggest-selling album of all-time.

 

In 1984, the Jacksons released the album Victory, the top-selling album of their career at six million copies in the U.S. alone.  "State Of Shock" was actually a duet between Michael and Mick Jagger without any of the other brothers, and reached #3 in the United States and #8 in Ireland.  

After the Victory Tour, Michael announced he was leaving the group, and Marlon announced he was beginning a solo career a few months later.  In 1989, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Randy released the album 2300 Jackson Street, the final album the group recorded.

In 1997, the Jackson Five were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (presented by the Bee Gees, above) and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.  The group released their compilation album 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection:  The Best of the Jackson 5.

In 2001, all six brothers reunited for two shows at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York for a 30th anniversary special which celebrated Michael's solo career.

In 2011, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon reunited for 27 concerts.  

The Jackson 5 chalked up 30 career hits, with 11 reaching the Top 10 and four big #1 songs.

The group has sold an estimated 100 million records.

Two of the group's songs ("ABC" and "I Want You Back") are honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.  "I Want You Back" is also in the Grammy Hall of Fame.