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The Jackson 5

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Jackson 5 were a famous American pop band made of brothers.

Jackson 5 1969
Jackson 5 1969

They were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. The group started in Gary, Indiana, in 1964. Their father, Joe Jackson, helped manage them. They were among the first African American performers to have fans in many different types of music. Fans loved them so much that people called the excitement "Jacksonmania."

Jackson 5 sign on I-80 I-94 west - Gary, IN - October 2025
Jackson 5 sign on I-80 I-94 west - Gary, IN - October 2025

Crowds often piled on top of each other to see them. In 1970, nearly 19,000 fans went to see them at The Forum in California. This concert made a record amount of money at that time.

Making music for the group was a big job.

The Jacksons 1977
The Jacksons 1977

It all began when Joe saw Tito playing guitar. Later, the brothers performed in talent shows and clubs. They even won competitions at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. In 1967, they signed with Steeltown Records to release their first singles. After that, they moved to Motown in 1968. They worked with a songwriting team called The Corporation. This team wrote many of their biggest hits. The brothers even performed for soldiers during the Vietnam War.

History shows how the group grew from local kids to global stars.

The Jacksons 1977
The Jacksons 1977

In 1969, they released the song "I Want You Back." This was the first of four songs to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The other hits were "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." By the 1970s, they were one of the most famous groups in the world. They even had their own Saturday morning cartoon. In 1976, they moved to Epic Records and changed their name to The Jacksons. Randy, the youngest brother, joined the group then.

There are many amazing facts about their success.

MichaelJacksonSnoopyKBFApr1984cropped
MichaelJacksonSnoopyKBFApr1984cropped

The group has sold over 150 million records worldwide. This makes them one of the best-selling artists of all time. In 1980, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were also put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Two of their songs, "ABC" and "I Want You Back," are very special. These songs are part of a list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. They also earned spots in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The brothers' music connects to many other famous singers.

MichaelJacksonSnoopyKBFApr1984cropped
MichaelJacksonSnoopyKBFApr1984cropped

While in the group, Michael Jackson started a solo career. His solo music became very successful. Even after the group changed, the brothers still performed together sometimes. They reunited for a TV special in 1983. They also released the Victory album and went on a big tour. Michael and Marlon eventually left the group, but the brothers kept their musical legacy alive. Their music helped define black American music for a very long time.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Jackson 5 1969.jpg
Jackson 5 1969.jpg
File:MichaelJacksonSnoopyKBFApr1984cropped.jpg
MichaelJacksonSnoopyKBFApr1984cropped.jpg
File:The Jacksons 1977.JPG
The Jacksons 1977.JPG
File:Jackson 5 sign on I-80 I-94 west - Gary, IN - October 2025.jpg
Jackson 5 sign on I-80 I-94 west - Gary,...
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