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.

A Family Affair

Two of the younger Jackson boys, Michael and Marlon would later join the band, which Joe ultimately titled The Jackson 5. The younger boys would add the backing vocals for their older brothers. Jackson soon implemented a strict rehearsal schedule for his children.

Brutal Beginnings

Joe was raised with a stern hand and it seems the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Jackson’s sons trained for hours on end. Jackson told Time magazine in a 1984 interview, “When I found out that my kids were interested in becoming entertainers, I really went to work with them. I rehearsed them about three years before I turned them loose.”

Success Comes Knocking.

After years of performing at High School functions and talent contests, the Jackson 5 would sign their first record deal in 1967, with the release of their smash single ‘Big Boy.’ The boys became instant local celebrities, leaving their father hungry for more recognition.

Hollywood Calls

By 1969, the Jackson boys had arrived, landing a contract with Detroit’s iconic Motown Records. Joe continued to tirelessly mold the young musicians, soon discovering that little Michael had an especially apparent gift for singing, dancing and showmanship. With Michael in the lead, ‘I Want You Back’ was released in October 1969. The song skyrocketed to #1 on the charts and the boys were sudden superstars.

All About the Dollars

The hits just kept on coming. The boys were moved to a lavish mansion in California, where they continued to rehearse and record day and night. The group followed up with three more top-selling singles “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.”

Ambitious Joe

Joe became increasingly obsessed with the constant cash flow. The boys performed at every available chance. He was a fiercely ambitious man, who would let little get in the way of a paycheck.

Good News

Jackson soon devised a new plan to generate more money: little Michael would pursue a solo career. Michael, at just 14, released his solo album to worldwide acclaim. The transition came at a heavy cost for the young star. Years later, Michael would come to call his childhood lonely, and isolated.

Jacksonmania Dies Down

By 1973, Jacksonmania was beginning to decline. Michael’s solo career continued to soar, but the elder Jackson boys were losing interest in the tireless race toward their father’s desired goals. Joe’s personal life took another hit. After a lengthy affair with another woman, his wife, Katherine, attempted to file for divorce. Rumors soon began to swirl that Michael would soon leave the group.

The Group Tranforms

In 1975, The Jackson 5 signed a new record deal and became known simply as The Jacksons. The group released 6 more albums between 1976 and 1984, though producing numerous chart-topping singles, Michael’s solo career increasingly overshadowed the group.

The King of Pop

With the release of Thriller in 1982, Michael was now a supernova, a child prodigy that had cemented his name as a singing and songwriting icon that the world could not get enough of. Tensions within the group were at an all-time high, by 1984, Michael had had enough. He announced he would be leaving the group.

Michael Thrills

As the other Jacksons’ stardom seemed to fade, Michael continued to rise. Thriller now stands as the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of over 66 million copies worldwide. The music video that was released with the album’s title single is considered one of Michael’s greatest artistic contributions to music. The 14 minute zombie-themed video was credited with breaking racial boundaries and elevating the very medium of the music video.

Michael’s Childhood Scars

Though Michael was now a superstar, the emotional scars of his childhood continued to plague him. Michael had often been name-called by Joe and had developed a deep insecurity surrounding his appearance. Over the period between 1986 and 1990, Michael’s image was drastically transformed.

Michael’s Troubles

In a 2003 documentary, Michael recalled that his father would often oversee rehearsals with a leather belt in his hand, threatening the boys with a whipping if their performance was not up to standard.

Fatherly Abuse

Both Michael and Janet Jackson were particularly outspoken about being mistreated by their father. In later years, Michael would open up in some devastating interviews. When asked by an interviewer how often Michael was hit by Joe, Michael said, “Too much.”

A Different Look

The media tabloids became obsessed with Jackson’s rapidly changing appearance. He was accused of bleaching his skin as his complexion became lighter and lighter. He confessed to having two rhinoplasties but denied the bleaching allegations. It was later confirmed that Jackson suffered from vitiligo, a skin condition which results in light patches on the sufferer’s skin.

Where Was Joe?

The late 80s was also a difficult period for Joe Jackson. His public image was brutally tarnished once his children began to reveal the extent of his treatment during their childhood. The allegations from Michael were especially devastating…

A Manager, Not a Dad

Another rule of the Jackson house that was later revealed was that the use of the word ‘Dad,’ or ‘Daddy’, was strictly off limits. Jackson demanded that his children only refer to him as ‘Joseph.’ “He didn’t want us to call him ‘Daddy,’ and I wanted to call him ‘Daddy’ so bad,” Michael said in a 2003 documentary, “He said, ‘I’m not Daddy, I’m Joseph to you.’ ”

Forgive and Forget

Despite the many troubling allegations, Michael often publicly stated that he owed his successes largely to his strict upbringing and his father’s rigid discipline. He said that his father’s own harsh childhood had hardened him emotionally and made him push his own children to succeed at any expense.

No Apologies

Both Joe and Katherine Jackson did little to deny the allegations, Katherine stated that hitting a child was a common form of discipline in those days, while Joe repeatedly defended his actions, often owing his children’s incredible successes to his fathering methods.

Shock then Joy

In a rare interview, Joe discussed his unconventional parenting techniques, saying, “Parents, they are too soft on their kids. There’s no such thing about beating a kid. You whip them and push them over something they did and they remember that in a way that they will never do it again.”

Continued Success

While Joe and Michael’s professional relationship was almost non-existent in Michael’s later years, his son always desperately yearned for his father’s attention and approval. Michael continued to make musical history with his subsequent albums. Jackson released another four chart-topping genre-defying albums from 1987 to 2001.

Personal Demons

Though his later years were professionally prosperous, Michael’s personal life appeared to spiral out of control. Media reports pointed to strange, erratic and troubling behavior. The media soon maliciously dubbed him ‘Wacko Jacko.’

A Devastating Loss

On June 25, 2009 Michael Jackson stopped breathing while attempting to sleep under the care of his physician. The world was shocked by the devastating and premature loss of the musical icon. With an estimated US audience of 31 million people, Michael was laid to rest in a publicly broadcast memorial service.

Joe’s Legacy

Joe Jackson is credited as the patriarch of one of the world’s most beloved musical families. Despite controversies, Jackson led the late great Michael Jackson down the gilded path of stardom. In Joe’s later years he was recognized by numerous musical institutions and has been inducted into multiple Musical Halls of Fame.

The Ultimate End

On June 27, 2018, Joe Jackson would pass after a long battle with terminal pancreatic cancer. The estate of Michael Jackson confirmed Jackson’s death. “We are deeply saddened by Mr. Jackson’s passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Katherine Jackson and the family.” The musical patriarch was 89.