Behind The Curtain Of The Jackson 5

In The Beginning

Long before Michael Jackson claimed his throne as the undisputed King of Pop, the young star was a member of the Jackson 5, the family boy band that would skyrocket to fame under the guidance of their father and manager, Joe Jackson.

Joe’s Dreams

Before he fathered children, Jackson had his own dreams of stardom. Young Joe was an aspiring boxer and blues musician. Jackson trained tirelessly in the ring while playing guitar for the Indiana-based blues band, The Falcons. But by the time his boxing career came to a halt, the band had fallen apart and Joe was forced to look elsewhere for fame and fortune.

The Seemingly Happy Couple

With Joe’s hopes of stardom dashed, he turned to his girlfriend, Katherine for support. The pair were married in 1949, with their first child welcomed the following year. Joe worked as a crane operator in a steel company to support his growing family. By 1960, Joe had fathered 10 children.

An Early Start

By the early 1960s, Joe recognized his children’s apparent musical talents. He began to train and teach his three eldest sons, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine. Joe saw an opportunity to capitalize on his children’s talents, to finally acquire the stardom he had always felt he deserved.