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The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 1

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 1

1 Unit 10 Notes

2 Joseph • The Early Years – Joseph Walter Jackson • Born 26 July 1929 to Samuel and Chrystal Jackson in Fountain Hill, Arkansas. • His father Samuel ruled with an iron fist. He and his four siblings were not allowed to socialize with friends outside the home. • In Joseph’s younger days, he was a boxer. • In the mid-1940s Joseph was briefly married to another woman. Shortly thereafter, the marriage was annulled. • In the mid-1950s he started a music career with his Luther, and played in that group, the Falcons, until they split and Joseph returned to his full time job at U.S. Steel.

3 Katherine • The Early Years – Kattie (Katherine) B. Scruse • Born 4 May 1930 to Albert Scruse and Martha Upshaw in Barbour Country, Alabama. • Played clarinet in her high school band. • Had polio at a young age. This caused the limp that she still walks with to this day.

4 Joseph & Katherine • The Early Years – Met in a nightclub in Chicago, Illinois in 1945. – Began Dating in November of 1949 after Joseph’s annulment.

5 Joseph & Katherine • The Early Years – Right before Joseph left for California to pursue his career as a boxer or a musician, Katherine became pregnant with their first child. • As a result of this, Joseph never followed his own dream. Instead, he took a job at U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana. The family would live there until the late in a cramped house at 2300 Jackson Street that described as being “no bigger than a garage.” – After being laid off in 1958, things became so hard for the that Joe and his brother Luther resorted to stealing leftover potatoes from a potato farm.

6 Joseph & Katherine • Children – Maurleen Reillette (Rebbie) Jackson (29 May 1950) – Sigmund Esco (Jackie) Jackson (4 May 1951) – Toriano Adaryll (Tito) Jackson (15 October 1953)

The Jackson 5 & 1 – Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (11 December 1954) – La Toya Yvonne Jackson (29 May 1956) – Marlon David Jackson (12 March 1957) – Brandon Jackson (12 March 1957 – 12 March 1957) – Michael Joseph Jackson (29 August 1958 – 25 June 2009) – Steven Randall (Randy) Jackson (29 October 1961) – Damita Jo Jackson (16 May 1966)

7 Michael Fights Back • Joseph Hits Michael – Of all of the boys in the Jackson family, Michael was who would fight back against his father. – Once, when he was just three, Joseph spanked him for something he had done. Crying, Michael then took off one of his shoes and hurled it at his father. Joseph ducked; the shoe missed him. Infuriated, Joseph grabbed Michael and, according to Marlon, held him upside down by one leg and pummeled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks.

8 Michael Fights Back • Joseph Hits Michael – When Joseph released Michael, he ran to his room, sobbing, “I hate you.” Those were fighting words for Joseph. He followed Michael into the bedroom, slammed the door and then let him have it. – Joseph also locked Michael in closet for hours one day. This sort of parenting was horrible and traumatizing for young Michael.

9 Joseph Discovers The Jackson • Tito Breaks Josephs Guitar – Tito would sneak into his father’s room while he was away at work and play his guitar. – Sometimes Jackie and Jermaine would join him and they would sing together. – Once, their mother walked in on them rehearsing and they all stopped in fear, but she did not make them stop. She let them continue to sing. – Late one night, after working weeks of double shifts at the steel mill, Joseph came home to find his treasured guitar with one broken string.

10 Joseph Discovers The Jackson Brothers • Tito Breaks Josephs Guitar – Joseph went storming into the boys room (a small room that all six boys shared) and woke them screaming and demanding to know who had been playing his guitar. – Once he finally got it out of them that Tito had been then one using his guitar while he was away, Joseph took him out into the living room and beat him with a belt. – Later that same night, and after fixing the broken string on his guitar, Joseph woke up the entire family so that they could all hear Tito play. What Joseph found was that not only could Tito play the guitar quite well, his brothers and he had worked out vocal melodies, harmonies, and dance moves for some of the songs he performed.

11 Climbing Mountains

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 2 • Michael’s First Performance – At the tender age of five, Michael performed Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music for his class. The other children in the class were so impressed by his self-confidence and talent that they gave him a standing ovation. – His teacher began to sob. Katherine attended the performance with Joseph’s father, Samuel, who was not a sentimental man, yet even he was moved to tears by Michael’s mellifluous performance.

12 Wasting Money •Buying On Time – Following Michael’s performance of Climb Every Mountain, Joseph rounded up all of the money he could and invested it into a instruments and equipment to begin rehearsing the group that would soon become The Jackson 5. – Many fights ensued between Joseph and Katherine after his decision as to the wasted money that should have been used on home improvements, clothing for the family, and food.

13 Getting a Switch • Marlon Learns the Hard Way – Throughout many of the early years of the Jackson 5 it has been said that Marlon struggled the most with dancing and singing. – Because of this, there were many times that Michael was pitted against Marlon in the form of an example as to what Marlon was doing wrong. – Most other times, Marlon was either punished by the fury of Joseph’s belt or forced to go outside and “get a switch” with which he was punished.

14 Getting a Switch • Marlon Learns the Hard Way – Because of these problems, Joseph told Katherine that he was planning to drop Marlon from the group. Katherine, who was normally quite about her differences of opinion with Joseph, put her foot down and forbade Joseph from removing Marlon from The Jackson 5. – Due to his constant drive to be as good or better than Michael and mostly out of fear of yet another beating from Joseph, Marlon worked tirelessly to improve and became arguably the best dancer of the brothers. Even Michael has been quoted as saying that Marlon was the best dancer of the group. – His singing improved so much that when Jermaine left the group in 1976, Marlon took over the majority of his solos.

15 The First of Many • 1965 RHS Talent Show – All of the hours, days, and weeks of preparation finally paid off when The Jackson 5 won their first talent show in 1965 at Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana. – Joseph, obsessed with winning each and every contest he entered his boys in, that in one instance where the boys came in second place and won a color television, Joseph simply took the boys and left without claiming their prize. His point was one that he reiterated time and time again; “Either you’re a winner in this life, or a loser. And none of my kids are losers.”

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 3 16 The Night Clubs and Bars •Late Nights – Quite frequently, Joseph Jackson would have his sons performing at any venue they could possibly obtain. – Such bookings would include bars and strip clubs. • Joseph, who was normally strict, allowed his boys freedom at these places.

17 The Night Clubs and Bars •Late Nights – These types of events also sent very mixed messages to the boys, especially to the youngest of them, Michael. His mother a devote Jehovah’s Witness was very clear and strict about her feelings on such behavior. Joseph on the other hand frequently kept a girlfriend on the side and was not very secretive about this in front of the boys who were torn between keeping this secret from their mother whom they adored, or betraying their father whom they feared.

18 The Night Clubs and Bars •Late Nights – One recollection of Michael’s was a story from when he was nine years old. After performing at a fairly seedy strip club, he was allowed to stand in the wings of the stage and watch as the male audience leered and whistled at women stripping until naked on stage. Once, Michael watched in fascination as a well-endowed stripper took off everything but her underwear. The, at just the “right” moment , she pulled two large oranges from under her bra and took off a wig to reveal that “she” was actually a he.

19 The Night Clubs and Bars •Late Nights – The other major conflict with such performances with the hours the boys were forced to keep. Very frequently, after performing at a bar or club, Joseph and his sons would not arrive home until four o’clock in the morning with school the next day. – A typical performance day for The Jackson 5 was… • School all day • Homework, dinner, and rehearsal in the evening • Performance all night

20 The First Record Deal • Steeltown Records – After winning another talent contest, this one at Beckman Junior High School in Gary, Indiana, the boys were brought to the attention of a man named , who owned a small local label called Steeltown Records. Keith immediately signed the brothers to a limited record deal in 1967. – On a Saturday morning not long after, Joseph took the boys down to Steeltown Records and they began to record their first song for their first . They were so bright eyed and excited. The final album included seven tracks, six of which Michael sang lead on.

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 4 21 The First Record Deal • Steeltown Records – Two singles were eventually released on Steeltown in 1968: • Big Boy – Jackson 5 (1968) • We Don’t Have to be Over 21 (to Fall in Love) – Jackson 5 (1968)

22 On The Road Again • In 1968, when The Jackson 5 played The Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois, recording artist arranged for some of Motown’s executives – but not , founder and owner of Motown Records – to attend the show. • There was some interest in the group at that time. However, when word got back to Berry that the Jacksons were an up-and-coming act, he still showed no interest in terms of signing them to the label.

23 On The Road Again • In July 1968 – the group performed at Chicago’s High Chaparral Club as an opening act for a group called Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. • After he saw the Jackson boys in action, Bobby Taylor telephoned Ralph Seltzer, head of Motown’s creative department and also head of the company’s legal division, to suggest that the group be allowed to audition for Motown. • Though the Jacksons were scheduled to leave Chicago for a local television program in New York, Bobby Taylor convinced Joseph that he should instead, take the boys to for an audition.

24 On The Road Again • Taylor arranged to film their performance. If the boys were impressive, he said, Ralph Seltzer would then forward the film to Berry Gordy, who was in , for his approval.

25 The Jacksons Sign With Motown • Hitsville U.S.A. – It was on 23 July 1968 that the Joseph Jackson and his five sons pulled up to 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan and gave the performance that would change their lives forever. – Though Berry Gordy was not in attendance for this audition, the majority of his top executives were in attendance, including Suzanne dePasse, creative assistant to president Berry Gordy, and Ralph Seltzer.

26 The Jacksons Sign With Motown • Hitsville U.S.A. – The Jackson 5 sang… • I’ve Got The Feeling – (1968) • Tobacco Road – The Nashville Teens (1964) • Who’s Lovin’ You – Jackson 5 (1969) – The audition was filmed and sent to Berry Gordy who saw it three days later and, before the film was even over had called Ralph Seltzer back and exclaimed, “Sign these kids up!

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 5 They’re amazing! Don’t waste a second! Sign them!” – It was on that day, 26 July 1968 that Ralph Seltzer summoned Joseph back to Motown’s office and presented him with a contract.

27 Discrepancies of Discovery & Age •Learning To Lie – On 27 September 1968, Motown Records booked The Jackson 5 to appear in a benefit concert at Gilroy Stadium in Gary, Indiana. – On the bill that day were Motown recording artists Gladys Knight and the Pips, Shorty Long, and Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. The Jackson 5 opened the show. – In years to come, the official Motown story would be that this was where saw the boys for the first time, “discovered” them, and brought them to Berry Gordy’s attention.

28 Discrepancies of Discovery & Age •Learning To Lie – In truth, The Jackson 5 were already signed to the label. Moreover, Diana Ross was nowhere near Gary at the time. She was in Los Angeles, rehearsing with .

29 Discrepancies of Discovery & Age •Learning To Lie – Jermaine recalls an interaction with Diana Ross and Berry Gordy where Diana showed them a telegram she had sent to a few hundred people. It read… • “Please join me in welcoming a brilliant musical group, The Jackson 5, on Monday, 11 August from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Daisy, North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. The Jackson 5, featuring sensational eight-year-old Michael Jackson, will perform live at the party [signed] Diana Ross.” – Michael immediately commented, “I think you made a mistake. I’m not eight, I’m ten.” To which Berry Gordy replied with a grin, “Not any more you’re not.”

30 Discrepancies of Discovery & Age •Learning To Lie – Berry explained that the discrepancy was a matter of public relations (PR). What ensued was a brief discussion with Michael about the art of PR; he was reminded that, as far as the media were concerned, Diana Ross was the one who had brought him and his brothers to Motown. He should always remember that because, as Diana explained to him, “It’s all for your image.” – “Got it,” Michael replied, “I’m eight. And we were discovered by the great Miss Diana Ross.”

31 Discrepancies of Discovery & Age •Learning To Lie – Michael would later recall, “I figured out at an early age that if someone said something about me that wasn’t true, it was a lie. But if someone said something about my image that wasn’t true, then it was okay. Because then it wasn’t a lie, it was public relations.”

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 6 32 National Celebrities • The Palace – Later that year, Diana Ross hosted the famous television program, and introduced the world to the five brothers from Gary, Indiana who would of R&B and forever. There very first performance on live television was their first hit single, . • I Want You Back – Jackson 5 (The Hollywood Palace 1969) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47rb4ChfV1I • I Want You Back – Jackson 5 (The Show 1969) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqAKYihlgOc

33 The Big Four •Number One Hits – I Want You Back – Jackson 5 (1969) – ABC – Jackson 5 (1970) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNcex6I7qls – – Jackson 5 (1970) – I’ll Be There – Jackson 5 (1970)

34 Pandemonium • Bigger Than Life – By 1970 the Jackson 5 were a nation-wide success and even the simplest of tasks were nearly impossible for them to get through without hassle. • While performing at concerts, fans would regularly rush the stage forcing The Jackson 5 to quit performing immediately and leave the premises. • Arriving at their hotels while on the road, the brothers frequently found a mob of people waiting outside and in the lobby that would rush them the moment they entered the building.

35 On His Own • Michael’s First Solo Album – In June of 1971, feeling the pressure that , specifically Donny, was putting on The Jackson 5, and specifically Michael, Joseph Jackson and Berry Gordy decided it was in everyone’s best interest to release a solo single of Michael. – This single was in stores in October of 1971 and was so successful that by the first half of 1972, they released an entire album of solo songs by Michael. • – Michael Jackson (1971) • Rockin’ Robin – Michael Jackson (1972) • Ain’t No Sunshine – Michael Jackson (1972) • – Michael Jackson (1972)

36 Tito Gets Married • Standing up to Joseph – In 1972 Tito announced that he was going to marry then seventeen-year-old Delores (Dee Dee) Martes, whom he had met at Fairfax High School a few months before the group became famous. – Joseph and Katherine were extremely upset, concerned that Dee Dee might be a gold-

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 7 digger and Tito too inexperienced to see it. – Joseph went as far as to bribe Tito with camera equipment and his own dark room in exchange for calling off the wedding. – When that ploy failed, Joseph and Katherine said the least he could do was insist that his fiancée sign a pre-nuptial agreement. He did, and she agreed.

37 Tito Gets Married • Standing up to Joseph – Michael felt strongly that Tito was letting their fans down by marrying, and attempted to convince him to change his mind. – Michael argued that the brothers owed it to their fans not to get married. – When Joseph tried to employ the help of Berry Gordy, he was surprised to find Gordy’s response, “As long as Michael isn’t getting married, I’m cool.”

38 Enough Is Enough • Katherine Files For Divorce – had tolerated many years of unfaithfulness from Joseph. She knew he was cheating on her. Everyone knew. Joseph had been on the road with the boys for years and having brief encounters with their groupies. Not only had her friends told her, several of Joseph’s more audacious girlfriends had telephoned the house over the years to brag about their encounters with him. – There was little reason for him to stop, as far as he was concerned. In his view, he worked hard for the Jacksons, he supported his family, he gave them a good life, so what he did on his free time was none of their concern, as long as he was present when they needed him.

39 Enough Is Enough • Katherine Files For Divorce – In January 1973, Katherine learned that one of Joseph’s girlfriends had become pregnant and had a miscarriage. At first, she couldn’t believe it; it was more than she could bear. However, when she confirmed that it was true, she decided that she had no choice but to end the marriage. – Immediately, the children sided with her. Michael once told a Motown staffer, “I hate Joseph. I hate him so much for what he has done to my mother. I hate him more than I can even say.”

40 Enough Is Enough • Katherine Files For Divorce – Motown pressured Katherine relentlessly to reconcile with Joseph, but she kept assuring them that she had enough. Motown believed that if Katherine and Joseph split up, the entire family image would be ruined and the boys’ careers would suffer. Katherine believed that her personal problems with Joseph had nothing to do with her sons’ music careers and they could continue to make records and be successful whether their parents were together or not.

41 Enough Is Enough • Katherine Files For Divorce

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 8 – Due to a lack of knowledge in the financial matters of her family, she was unable to provide her lawyers with the information necessary to keep the proceedings moving along. This made the divorce process very slow going and very difficult to process. – After a couple of months, Katherine withdrew her divorce papers. Joseph promised her that he would try to change, and that she should not break up the family over his past behavior. Much to the dismay of her children, Katherine and Joseph were reconciled.

42 Saturday Morning Success • The Jackson 5ive Show – From September 1971 to September 1973, The Jackson Five were portrayed in a fictional Saturday Morning Cartoon series entitled The Jackson 5ive Show. – This show was show on ABC and featured many tunes from their first five . – The Jackson 5ive Show – Episode 01 (1971) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AzzJXRzz6w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDPnR6fbbBM

43 Slipping from the Top • The Decline of The Jackson 5 – Beginning after 1972, music from the Jackson 5 began selling less and less than albums of the past. – Though certain songs would shine through from each album, overall, The Jackson 5 albums were no longer selling as well as they had. – Looking Through The Windows – The Jackson 5 (1972) – – The Jackson 5 (1974) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8d3abOsHr4

44 Slipping from the Top • The Decline of The Jackson 5 – Joseph and the boys attributed the decline in their popularity to Motown’s carelessness with the group, their music, and their image. – Critics also agreed with Joseph and the boys that Motown’s refusal to update their image or music as the boys got older was what was holding them back. – Though the boys had always played their own instruments on stage, even after six years, Motown still would not allow them to play for the recordings of each album.

45 Slipping from the Top • The Decline of The Jackson 5 – For some time, the boys had been writing their own music and recording it in their Home. However, no matter how hard they tried, Motown would not relinquish control of music writing, publishing, or producing to The Jackson 5. – Because of this and years of butting heads with Berry Gordy, Joseph began shopping around for a new record company and a newer and better deal.

46 The Grass Is Greener • The Jacksons Leave Motown – In 1975 Joseph negotiated a contract with CBS Records that made the contract The Jackson 5 had with Motown seem like a drop in the bucket. – With Motown, the boys only received 2.7 percent on all records no matter where they

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 9 were sold, and before they saw that, they knew the would have to pay back the costs of expenses – including studio time, over which they had little to no control – from royalties. – With CBS Records, they boys were guaranteed 27 percent of the wholesale price for records released in the .

47 The Grass Is Greener • The Jacksons Leave Motown – At this time, 1975, an album retailed for approximately $6.98, $3.50 wholesale. So at , the Jacksons would make approximately 94.5 cents per album sold in the United States and 84 cents abroad. At Motown they made roughly 11 cents per album sold in the United States with no difference in the European rate. • This rate again was before The Jackson 5 repaid Motown costs. – As outlined in the Epic Records deal, after each Jacksons album topped $500,000 in sales, the group’s royalty rate would jump to 30 percent, about $1.05 a disc.

48 The Grass Is Greener • The Jacksons Leave Motown – In terms of income, this new deal was worth about five hundred times more than the one the group had with Motown.

49 Jermaine Is Forced To Choose • Blood versus Marriage – When Joseph presented this contract to the boys, they were all very excited about the move. It was going to allow them much more freedom to express themselves musically. • CBS was willing to allow The Jacksons to write and produce their own albums as well as allow them to play their own instruments.

50 Jermaine Is Forced To Choose • Blood versus Marriage – Only Michael and Jermaine were hesitant about leaving Motown. – Michael did not want to leave Motown because he felt that the group owed Motown everything they’d accomplished and felt like they should try and stay to work it out. • Michael did meet privately with Berry Gordy to express his feelings that if Motown would renegotiate their contract then the brothers would be tempted to stay. Unfortunately, Gordy being the control freak that he was known to be, refused.

51 Jermaine Is Forced To Choose • Blood versus Marriage – Due to his unsuccessful attempt to sway Gordy, Michael reluctantly signed on with CBS Records. – This left only Jermaine to come around. However, Jermaine had a bigger then Michael and the others. In 1973, he had married the boss’ daughter; Hazel Gordy. – Jermaine felt like he owed to Motown and Berry Gordy, his father-in-law and mentor, to stay and help Motown through the difficult time they were having. – In the end, Jermaine stayed with Motown and the rest of the brothers left for CBS replacing Jermaine with fourteen year old Randy.

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 10 52 What’s In A Name? • The Jacksons Lose To Motown – When Motown received confirmation that The Jacksons had signed with CBS Records, they immediately sued them for breach of contract. Although Motown eventually let the group go, Joseph and the boys were forced to change the name of the group as Motown retained the rights to the names “The Jackson 5”, “The Jackson 5ive”, and “The Jackson Five” as part of the original contract Joseph signed almost a decade before.

53 A Variety of New Opportunities • Joseph’s Dream Almost Realized – In June 1976, CBS gave the entire Jackson family their own that aired once a week and lasted an hour. – Joseph’s dream was that the entire family would be in the business one day and this show proved that he could almost make it happen. Every Jackson child (other than Jermaine) appeared each week on this variety hour which promoted many different special guests as well as performances by the Jackson brothers and sisters. – The Jacksons Variety Show – Episode 01 (1976) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMx5xRJB4Uk

54 A Variety of New Opportunities • Joseph’s Dream Almost Realized – Though this was the first time an African-American family hosted a variety television show, it was not terribly successful and was therefore canceled by March 1977.

55 Katherine Is Pushed Too Far • The Youngest Jackson Child – After many months of concern over Joseph’s behavior and random disappearances, Gina Sprague, Joseph’s secretary at the time, asked him what was going on in his life. “I’m not gonna tell you,” he said with some hesitation, “instead, I’ll show you.” – Joseph then drove to a building in a suburban Los Angeles neighborhood where he introduced Gina to Cheryl Terrell. Then, a small African-American child of about six years of age came bounding into the living room. “Daddy! Daddy!” she exclaimed.

56 Katherine Is Pushed Too Far • The Youngest Jackson Child – “There she is,” Joseph said with a big smile. “My little girl.” He scooped the child up in his arms and hugged her tightly. – As he later explained it, Joe and Cheryl Terrell had an affair in 1973. The result of that relationship was a daughter, Joh’Vonnie, born in Los Angeles on 30 August 1974, the day after Michael’s sixteenth birthday. – Joseph Walter Jackson’s name appears on the birth certificate. His occupation is listed as “entertainment manager”. His age was recorded as forty-six at the time of the baby’s birth; the mother’s age, twenty-six.

57 The Epic Releases • Albums & Top Ten Hits

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 11 – The Jacksons • Enjoy Yourself – The Jacksons (1976) –Goin’ Places –Destiny • – The Jacksons (1978) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcWQ82kWAHU • Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) – The Jacksons (1979) –Triumph • Can You Feel It – The Jacksons (1981) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A08_nlku8kc –Victory • State Of Shock – The Jacksons with (1984) – 2300 Jackson Street • 2300 Jackson Street – The Jackson Family (1989)

58 The Shadow Becomes Too Big • Solo versus Group – Though Michael was getting tired of working with his brothers, he continued to do so for the sake of his mother. He did however begin to branch off and during the final years that he was with The Jacksons released two major hit albums in and . – It seemed no matter what The Jacksons did, Michael inadvertently did something near the same time as a solo artist that overshadowed the group and turned the spotlight back on to himself. – Though Michael was elated with the return of Jermaine to the group in 1984, he recorded one last album, Victory, and did the tour of the same name, and retired from the group for good.

59 Yesterday, , and Forever • Motown 25 – Berry Gordy turned to his long time right hand, Suzanne dePasse, to put together a televised celebration of the 25 years of wonderful music produced by Motown Records. – Everything went smoothly in the planning of the event, except for one major glitch. The biggest star in Motown’s history was not up for performing at the event. Though Michael agreed to sit in the audience, he was adamant that he did not want to perform.

60 Yesterday, Today, and Forever • Motown 25 – After many failed attempts to rope him in, Suzanne dePasse turned to Gordy and told him to do whatever it took to get Michael to agree to perform with his brothers. If he said yes, it would mark the first time the brothers performed with Jermaine in over seven years. – Gordy reluctantly agreed and after some arm twisting and begging, he agreed to allow Michael to perform his newest hit Billy Jean as a solo act in exchange for doing a medley with The Jackson 5. – Motown 25 – The Jackson 5 (1983) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaNRlYeBbE8

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 12 61 Yesterday, Today, and Forever • Motown 25 – Though the reunion of The Jackson 5 was an amazing hit, Michael once again stole the spotlight with his unprecedented performance of Billy Jean in which he introduced the dance the “” for the first time. – As if Michael was not a big enough star at this point, this performance alone launched him into super-stardom.

62 The Victory Tour Sponsored By… Pepsi-Cola? • Michael Gets Burned – To much of Michael’s dismay, Joseph and the brothers agreed to terms with Pepsi to sponsor The Victory Tour. Michael’s issues was two-fold… • He did not drink or enjoy Pepsi-Cola • The Quaker Oats Company offered them 40 percent more for the sponsorship spot. – However, the family pressured him and he gave in as always.

63 The Victory Tour Sponsored By… Pepsi-Cola? • Michael Gets Burned – Part of the Five Million Dollar sponsorship deal included two commercials of The Jackson 5 for Pepsi. – After six practice runs of the commercial and hours and hours of preparation and rehearsal, the brothers were finally ready to run the real take. – The song was entitled You’re A Whole New Generation and it was new lyrics to the tune of Billy Jean. – Finally at 6:30 p.m., the tape began to roll. As he had done during each rehearsal, Michael began to descend from a podium by going down a staircase amid brilliant illumination.

64 The Victory Tour Sponsored By… Pepsi-Cola? • Michael Gets Burned – His brothers were lined up on the stage, playing. A smoke bomb and pyrotechnics exploded, as planned, momentarily blocking Michael from view. – First, a pose; that unmistakable silhouette. – Then, a magnesium flash bomb, which went off with a loud bang two feet from Michael’s head. – As Michael headed down the stairs, the smoke became thick. Something wasn’t right. He began to dance. He did a turn. And another, and another. After spinning three times, he popped up on his toes.

65 The Victory Tour Sponsored By… Pepsi-Cola? • Michael Gets Burned – He was hot – literally. When he turned, their was an audible gasp from the audience. The explosion had set his hair ablaze. He would later remember feeling the heat, but

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 13 said he thought it was generated by hot stage lights. He continued to perform, but not for long. – When he felt the burning pain, Michael pulled his jacket over his head and fell to the floor. “Tito! Tito!” he yelled. – Bob Giraldi, Michael’s manager at the time, would later recall, “the film would later show that while his hair was burning, he was trying to get his jacket off. Maybe he thought it too was on fire. He did two quick spins, though, and put out the fire by his own force.”

66 The Victory Tour Sponsored By… Pepsi-Cola? • Michael Gets Burned – The first to respond was Miko Brando, Marlon’s twenty-two-year-old son and one of Michael’s security staff. “I ran out hugged him, tackled him, and ran my hands through his hair,” reported Brando, who burned his fingers in the process. – For a few disturbing moments, no one seemed to know what had occurred, or how to respond to it. There was chaos and pandemonium. Jermaine would later say he thought Michael had been shot. The crew rushed on to the stage, threw him down, and covered his head with a blanket to put out the fire. After, a handful of ice was applied and a t- shirt borrowed to make a cold compress, Michael was taken off the stage.

67 The Victory Tour Sponsored By… Pepsi-Cola? • Michael Gets Burned – When Michael was taken away, and did not return to the stage, it was difficult for the authorities to keep the crowd calm and orderly. Screams filled the auditorium. Since no one in charge could give an accurate report, audience members began to develop their own theories. Most believed that it had been an assassination attempt on Michael. – This event is what is said to have led to Michael’s addiction to pain killers which eventually caused his death. – Pepsi Commercial Shoot – The Jackson 5 (1984) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EELk1e4PAIo

68 The End Of It All • The Victory Tour Ends a Legacy – In the final stages of The Victory Tour Michael made an announcement at the end of the concert explaining that the reason for the Victory tour was because of their mother and father and their dream. – He went on to say that The Victory Tour was a celebration of the Jackson family’s victory. – He concluded with saying that it would be the final tour. This, of course, was a complete surprise to everyone but Michael. But his statement reigned true as the Jacksons never went on tour again. Though they performed on occasion, another tour was never put together.

69 A Legend is Lost • 25 June 2009 – Since the death of their brother Michael, the remaining performing Jackson brothers have re-united in the studio to record the background vocals for a previously unreleased song, This Is It, which had originally been a demo.

The Jackson 5 & Michael Jackson 14 – This Is It – Michael Jackson (2009) – The surviving members are also planning a reunion tour for 2010 as a way of celebrating 40 years in the business as well as a tribute to Michael. – The Jacksons have also announced plans to release a new studio album and appeared in an A&E Network show entitled The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty (2009) which documented their return to music.

70 Conclusion • The Jackson Family Dynasty – The Jackson Family is arguably the most talented family in the history of music. It would be hard to find another family group that included nine different siblings all of whom have had some amount of success in the music, television, or movie industries. – The legacy of the Jackson family will live on forever as one that not only pioneered a new style of music and entertainment but a new level of music and entertainment as well. – The world will be hard-pressed to find another group or family that could ever live up to musical legend that is and forever will be The Jacksons.

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