| MICHAEL JACKSON |
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Page 1 of 3 1958 - 2009 Who was Michael Jackson? Some say the real MJ was the one onstage. That was where he felt at home, in his body, and in control. It was certainly different from the shy soft-spoken oddball who in interviews seemed to inhabit the character of Peter Pan, the boy who would never grow up. Did this extraordinarily talented entertainer become another tortured out-of-touch genius living in a fantasy world? He has joined the ranks of the top-echelon icons whose lives are debated decades after their deaths. Elvis, Sinatra, James Dean, Valentino, Marilyn, and now Michael…. Michael (b. 1958) was the 8th of 10 children born to Joe and Katherine Jackson of Gary, Indiana. Dad Joe had been a musician in an R&B group called the Falcons. When Michael was a toddler, his older brothers Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine formed a band with their cousins. When Joe saw that his boys had some talent, he decided that they might be the family’s ticket out of Gary. The cousins were dumped and little brothers Marlon and 5-year-old Michael were added on tambourine, congas, and backup vocals.  Joe rehearsed them hard. Very hard. Michael particularly progressed and became (alternating with Jermaine) the group’s lead singer. When they won a talent contest in 1966 (with Michael singing “My Girl”), the brothers were soon being booked on the chitlin’ circuit as the Jackson 5. Michael was also developing his dancing which quickly took him to the forefront of the group. 1967 was the beginning of their ascent to fame. They won a very high-profile talent contest at the Apollo Theatre. And they made their first recordings. It was for a Gary, Indiana record company, Steeltown Records---they scored a local hit “Big Boy.” Eventually, they were seen by the right people. Performers Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and Motown musician Bobby Taylor were all instrumental in bringing the Jackson Five to Motown founder Berry Gordy’s attention. At first Gordy was not interested in an act that included kids. Having under-18-year-olds was very restrictive, as he had learned with “Little” Stevie Wonder. But when he saw them audition, he knew that they could be his next big act. And of course he was right.  Gordy groomed them just like he had done all his stars. And in August 1969, they hit the big-time---opening up for Diana Ross at the Los Angeles Forum. There was tremendous buzz about the new group. So when they released their first single in the Fall of 1969, the Jackson 5 became an “overnight” success story. “I Want You Back,” and follow-ups, “ABC” and “The Love You Save” all hit Number 1. Their fourth #1 single, a ballad, followed. “I’ll Be There” showcased Michael as the group’s lead singer. It became one of his signature songs.  They had also been making successful albums---their debut “Diana Ross presents the Jackson Five” and “ABC.” In the Fall of 1970, 12-year-old Michael and his brothers released their “The Jackson 5 Christmas Album” which included the perennial “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and Michael’s version of the classic “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” The songs are still played on radio stations nearly 40 years later at Christmastime. The album was re-released in 2003.  The Jackson 5 juggernaut continued into 1971 with 2 more singles “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Good-Bye.” Both peaked at #2. “Maybe Tomorrow” ended their Top 10 streak stalling at #20. Meanwhile, Gordy was grooming Michael for a concurrent career....on his own. His first solo effort, “Got to Be There” zoomed up to #4 by the end of the year. He followed it with the 1972 hits “Rockin’ Robin” (#2), “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (#16) and his #1 smash ode to a rat “Ben.” All the while he was still successfully heading up the Jackson 5 with 4 more Top 20 hits. It was now 1974, the dawn of disco. And the Jackson 5 ushered it in with their gold single, “Dancing Machine” (#2). 1975 was an unusually slow year for the brothers. They felt Motown was losing interest. They were also still not allowed to write, produce, or play instruments on any of their own records. Motown had people to do that for them---they were to be the voices and image only. They left Motown in 1976, but not without their name and one member. Berry Gordy owned the Jackson Five name and would not give it up. Jermaine had married Gordy’s daughter and stayed behind. The brothers became “The Jacksons” adding younger brother Randy to keep it a quintet. |
