((< T H E J a C K S O N 5

P E R F O R M E R S ((< THE JACKSON 5 ))) WHAT YOU WILL - the Jackson 5, the J5, the Jacksons - they were, in the end, Michael and four of his broth ers. And call him what you will, but Michael Jackson was and is one of the greatest stars ever to grace this business we call show ^ H e s t i l l s e n d s c h i l l s up and down my spine The Brothers when I play the Jackson 5’s version of “W ho’s Lovin’ You,” with its bluesy Jackson: Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, curlicues, executed by a singer aged all o f eleven years. He still amazes me Michael (standing), with his moves - from his preteen spins learned faithfully from James Tito (from left) Brown to his post-j5 inventions that placed him in league with Fred Astaire and Neil Armstrong. ^ B u t i t w a s w i t h t h e j a c k s o n 5 that Michael came to light, and the entire group deserves credit for shaking up the music scene of the early Seventies. T h e y b e g a n b y shaking up Motown Records. The label had begun the B Y BEN FONG TORRES : Sixties with an exhilarating and producers Freddie Perren, string of hit records. Motown, Deke Richards, Fonce Mizell set up in a couple of Detrofl and Gordy), the Jacksons houses, was the Sound ofYoung attacked the studio, the stage America, with a stable of artists and the charts. Gordy had whose very names exuded con promised that their first three fidence: the Miracles! The singles wouldgo to Number One. Temptations! The Marvelettes! The kids did him one better. But by the end o f the decade, Their first four singles hit the top Motown was a different com of the chart: “I Want Tou Back,” pany The label, for years a pio ‘ABC,” “The Love Tou Save” and: neer with its inventive songs, “I’ll Be There.” In the next two producers, arrangers and years, seven more singles would artists, found itself surrounded reach the Top Twenty Marlon David Jackson by competitors, some o f them I met them in early 1971 for a Tbriano "Tito" Adaryll Jackson paving new paths that Motown Rolling Stone cover story. had no choice but to follow. The engineers of the Motown Michael took the cover all by himself. By then, he was a certified Sound, which had set the pace for so much of pop music, now star and would soon cut his first solo single and album. The sto chased after the innovations o f others. Some artists, writers ry emphasized family, and I discovered a group o f down-to- and producers departed for competing companies. And earth individuals. Tes, they’d been disciplined and molded into Motown’s signature group, the Supremes, was breaking up. an entertainment machine, but each Jackson had his own mind. Berry Gordy and company badly needed Jackie was looking ahead to business an injection of youth and energy school and called his J5 work “something Enter the Jacksons. Born and raised in like a hobby” Tito was into music theory, the small, industrial town of Gary, Indian^ Jimi Hendrix and the blues. “I have one they ranged in age between seventeen B.B. King record about as old as me,” he (Jackie) and ten (Michael). Between them said. Jermaine, who sang lead until Michael were Tito, 15, Jermaine, 14, and Marlon, n. took the mike, was At a time of acid rock and psychedelic busy writing songs. The early Jackson soul, of war protests and black power, “I’ve got some 5, circa '68: Tito, Motown could offer a wholesome family saved up,” he said, Marlon, Jackie, group in ’fros and mod duds, dancing, “for when we go Michael, Jermaine playing and singing nonthreatening pop bankrupt.” Marlon (from left) music. On the surface, it was black bub didn’t say much, but blegum. Pseudo-psychedelic fashions to onstage, he reminded me of Bubba the hokey hilt. Cutesy choreography Knight, Gladys Knight’s pip o f a brother. behind the dervish that was Michael. Behind the star, he was the most natural, But, on closer inspection, they were the smoothest mover. Michael was the pic clearly no mere novelty act. Michael Joe Jackson ture of calm backstage. Seconds before They had been whipped into shape by showtime, he asked for a hot dog; instead, their musician father, Joe, who put his boys through countless he was hustled onstage to face thousands o f ecstatic fans. He rehearsals and talent shows. After a few wins, the Jacksons took them in stride, too. “If it weren’t for the screaming,” said got a nightclub engagement in Chicago, sharing the stage the twelve-year-old Michael, “it wouldn’t be exciting.” with comics and strippers. Playing the Regal Theater one The Jackson 5, in turn, invigorated young people everywhere. night, they caught the eye of Bobby Taylor, leader of the The paper Soul, began devoting a full page to J5 fan mail: Motown group the Vancouvers. Dear SOUL: Taylor persuaded Motown to give them an audition, helped I want to say how proud all us kids are to have a group like th ejy produce their first couple of sides, and, a few weeks later, a daz today. It wasn’t too long ago when kids got on the stage and were zled Berry Gordy Jr. was introducing the Jackson 5 to the rest laughed at. The J 5 can communicate with young and old, Black and of Motown at a party at his white. - CM., New York Jermaine La Jaune Jackson Detroit mansion. The group The Jackson 5 inspired imita Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson performed, and, as M ichael tion by groups both black and RVPPlJii recalled, “They gave us a stand white. They were the first pop ÉfesSSsSSiSmBMHH ing ovation. Diana Ross came ■ ■ ■ act since the Beatles to become _ over at the end and kissed each a cartoon show. And they were one of us.” Ross would later in the center of Motown’s artis introduce the Jackson 5 to the tic and commercial revival. press at a Beverly Hills night The Jackson 5’s greatest con i i l l l i i i club, leading to reports that I'"-:;;.:. tribution to pop culture, howev “" T i f i she had discovered the group. er, was Michael Jackson himself Shipped to Hollywood and The fact of his being is reason reshaped by Motown’s vaunted enough that the Jackson 5 are Artists Development group being inducted tonight into the and The Corporation (writers Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. * .

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