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One of
the most successful pop groups of the early 1970s, the Jackson 5 was
formed in Gary, Ind., by musician manque Joe Jackson, who in 1966
encouraged his more talented male progeny -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine,
Marlon and Michael -- to start a pop quintet. In 1968 the group auditioned
for Berry Gordy of Motown Records, who promptly signed the Jackson 5 to
his pioneering label. Thanks to the precocious talent of then 10-year-old
Michael, the group fast won the hearts of America, scoring four No. 1 hits
in 1969-70: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love
You Save" and "I'll Be There." ("I'll Be There,"
which sold around 3.5 million copies, became Motown's most successful
single to date.)
Within a year, however, their novelty was wearing off, though they still reached the Top 10 with "Mama's Pearl" and "Never Can Say Goodbye." Still, with upstart acts like the Partridge Family and the Osmonds reducing the singing family shtick to cliché, Michael and Jermaine left the group to begin solo careers. After scoring a final Motown hit with 1974's "Dance Machine," the remaining Jackson siblings - Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and brother Randy -- jumped to Epic Records and became the Jacksons. |
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Epic teamed the group up with Philly soul producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. The result was mature, danceable R&B such as Enjoy Yourself. The Jacksons recorded a second succesful album with Gamble & Huff and then took the step of writing and producing their own material. The Destiny album, written and produced by the Jacksons was a breakthrough for the group. It was an outstanding album that included the massive funky dance hit Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground). Michael's voice was becoming ever more distinctive and it would be just a year before his leap to superstardom. The next album Triumph was not released until 1980 following Michael's solo success with Off the Wall. Triumph featured somewhat edgy, adult R&B including the eminently danceable Can You Feel It and Lovely One. |
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The Jacksons created a mini-movie music video to accompany the album which climaxed with computer-enhanced images of the Jacksons as benevolent giants sprinkling glittering magical dust over the world. Jermaine returned to the group for 1984's Victory. It was a strongly anticipated event following Michael Jackson's Thriller. The album sold well and included scorching dance hits such as State of Shock with Mick Jagger and Torture, but compared with Thriller's sales, it was a disappointment. The brothers embarked on a major sold-out world tour and then called it quits as a group. Several of the brothers reunited with their sisters to record 2300 Jackson Street in 1989 but much of the magic was gone. Rumor has it that all the brothers are working on a new Jackson 5 album, but this has yet to materialize.- from various online sources |
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