The primary members of the group were all the sons of Katherine and Joseph Jackson: Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Randy Jackson. Joseph Jackson formed the band in 1964 and served as its manager, with Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and unrelated youths Reynaud Jones and Milton Hite comprising its original lineup. Within a year, Michael and Marlon joined the band, and Michael became lead singer as the group developed a following in the eastern and midwestern United States during the mid-1960s. Signed to the Motown label from 1969 to 1975, and to CBS Records (as "The Jacksons") from 1975 until their disbanding in 1990, the Jackson 5 were one of the most popular groups of the era and became the first recording act to have their first four major label singles (I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There) reach the top of the American charts. Several future singles, among them "Mama's Pearl", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Dancing Machine", were Top 5 pop hits and number-one hits on the R&B singles chart. Most of the early hits were written and produced by a specialized songwriting team known as The Corporation™; later Jackson 5 hits were crafted chiefly by Hal Davis.
While not the first act considered a "boy band", The Jackson 5 is one of the earliest examples of the type as it is defined today: five adolescents specifically packaged and marketed by a record label for crossover pop success. Upon their departure from Motown for CBS in 1975, the Jacksons, were forced to change their name and trade Jermaine (who remained at Motown) for Randy. The group took control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and "State of Shock", and a highly successful 1984 Victory tour. The Jacksons officially disbanded in 1990.
History
Early works
The Jacksons were a working-class family from Gary, Indiana. Katherine, being a Jehovah's Witness, raised the children as such, while their father, Joe, was not of that faith. Their father, a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called "The Falcons" with his brother Luther, was a strict disciplinarian. Many of the Jackson children recall being severely beaten by Joe for misbehaving.
The children found an outlet in music, with elder brothers Jackie (born Sigmund Esco Jackson, 1951), Tito (born Toriano Jackson, 1953), and Jermaine (b. 1954) borrowing their father's guitar without his permission and playing along to the radio. Younger brothers Marlon (b. 1957) and Michael (b. 1958) were allowed to watch as long as they did not tell. Joseph eventually discovered that the older three boys were playing his guitar when one of the strings broke[2]. Although he was furious at first, Joseph realized the boys had talent and began making plans to create a musical act for them.
In 1965, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine began performing around the Gary area with two neighborhood children, Milford Hite (on drums) and Reynaud Jones (on keyboards), in a group called The Jackson Brothers. Joe Jackson served as the manager, at first only part-time, and then eventually quitting his job at the steel mill. Jermaine sang lead and played bass, and Tito played guitar.
In 1966, younger brothers Marlon and Michael, joined the group as its tambourine and bongo players. Already showing talent as a singer and dancer[3], Michael replaced Jermaine as lead vocalist by mid-1967. Shirley Cartman, Tito's junior high orchestra teacher, noticed the group's talents and served as an early mentor to the group, by then calling itself The Jackson Five.
During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago, Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", and the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts in order to earn money.
Shirley Cartman got the Jackson Five a record deal with Gordon Keith's local Steeltown label, and the group began making their first recordings in 1967. Their first single, "Big Boy", became a regional hit. During this period, Johnny Jackson (no relation) on drums and Ronnie Rancifer on keys replaced Milford Hite and Reynaud Jones.
The Jackson Five had a number of admirers in their early days, including Sam & Dave, who helped the group secure a spot in the famous Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group won the August 13, 1967 competition during the Amateur Night showdown at the Apollo, impressing Motown Records artist Gladys Knight of The Pips. Knight recommended the group to Motown chief Berry Gordy, but Gordy, who already had teenager Stevie Wonder on his roster, was hesitant to take on another child act because of the child labor laws and other problems involved.
The Jackson Five's sound was influenced by many of the biggest stars of the 1960s, especially including family funk bands Sly & the Family Stone and The Isley Brothers, soul pioneer Marvin Gaye, doo-wop boy band Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, and soul shouters like Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder and James Brown [4]. At the time of their early success, soul and funk stars, especially coming from Motown Records, were among the most popular musicians; Motown had launched the careers of dozens of the decade's biggest stars, most notably Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Diana Ross & the Supremes.
Influences
From these sources, The Jackson Five developed many of their vocal arrangement styles and dance movements. The group's multi-lead vocal style was inspired by that of The Family Stone, while young Michael adapted Jackie Wilson and James Brown's impassioned singing and dancing styles into his own.
Joining Motown
By 1968, the Jackson 5 were a headlining act for the All Star Floor Show at Chicago's The Guys' and Gals' Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant. From July 12 - 27, 1968, the Jackson 5 opened for Motown group Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers at Chicago's Regal Theater. Taylor was also very impressed with the boys, and he decided to make the commitment to bring them to Detroit and Motown. Joseph and the Jackson Five stayed on the floor of Bobby Taylor's Detroit apartment the night of July 22, while Taylor and Motown executive Suzanne de Passe arranged for the Jackson Five to audition for the label.
On July 23, the Jackson Five had their Motown audition, for which they performed James Brown’s then current hit "I Got the Feelin’". Berry Gordy was not in attendance, but the audition was videotaped and sent to him in Los Angeles. Gordy's initial reluctance to sign the group disappeared when he finally saw the boys perform. Gordy decided to sign the Jackson Five to Motown, and hosted a party at his Detroit mansion on November 25, 1968 to introduce them to the Motown staff and stars.
Motown began negotiations to buy out the Jackson Five's Steeltown contract, completing the deal in March 1969. By the summer, Bobby Taylor began producing the group's first recordings at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit. The early Taylor-produced Jackson Five records were all covers of both contemporary hits and Motown-standards, including Sly & the Family Stone's "Stand!" and their famous rendition of The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", written by Smokey Robinson.
In mid-August 1969, Gordy moved the Jackson Five and Joseph to California, and he and Suzanne de Passe began the process of grooming them as the label's next big act, while the rest of the family remained in Gary. While looking for a house in California, Joseph, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie lived with Berry Gordy, while Michael and Marlon lived with Motown star Diana Ross.
And micheal jackson was hot all his life!
lot of girl and boy whas in love the lead singer michael jackson lot of friend of michael will say that he was lucke to have fans like tiffiny willcox and his mum and dad the END
Blue Skies
Jackson 5 Lyrics
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We've got blue skies
It seems like only yesterday
You gave your love to me
And we made a vow that through the years
Our love would always be
Whenever doubts would fill my mind
Look into my eyes and hold me close
And this is what you'd say
We've got blue skies, now can't you see?
There'll never ever be another love for me
The pleasant dreams we shared
Made our love stronger with each day
And the fears that haunted me
Seemed like a million miles away
When friends we knew would come to me
With lies about your love
I'd tell them happiness and sunny skies
Are all we're thinking of (we're thinking of)
We're so in love (we're so in love)
We're thinking of (we're thinking of)
Blue skies
Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
Blue skies
Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
Yeah, I see you there, you're kissing him
How can this really be?
Well, I guess it's time to realize
My dreams are more than me
And as I walk off thinking
What a fool I must have been
Like an echo from my lips today
I hear you telling him (telling him)
We've got blue skies, now can't you see?
There'll never ever be another love for me
We've got blue skies, now can't you see?
There'll never ever be another love for me
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
(Blue skies, now can't you see?)
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
(There'll never ever be another love for me)
Blue skies, we've got blue skies, oh baby
(Blue skies, now can't you see?)
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
(There'll never ever be another love for me)
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
(Blue skies, now can't you see?)
The Jackson 5's "Blue Skies" is a poignant ballad that captures the range of emotions that come with a loving relationship. The lyrics take listeners on a journey through the ups and downs of a love story, from the joy and hope of new love to the pain and heartbreak of seeing it end. The opening lines, “We've got blue skies,” set the tone for the song, suggesting the optimism and possibility that love can bring.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer reflects on the depth of their love for their partner, and the journey they have taken together over time. They reminisce about how their partner's love has sustained them through difficult moments, and how the trust and comfort they share has made their bond stronger. However, as the song progresses, the singer begins to realize that their love is not meant to last forever. They watch their partner leave with someone else, feeling the intensity of their emotions as they come to terms with the end of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
We've got blue skies
We have a bright and optimistic future ahead of us
We've got blue skies
Our outlook on life is positive and hopeful
It seems like only yesterday
It feels like our love story just began
You gave your love to me
You chose me as your partner and committed to our relationship
And we made a vow that through the years
We promised to be together for the long haul
Our love would always be
Our love would endure despite any challenges
Whenever doubts would fill my mind
When I was uncertain about our path ahead
You'd brush my fears away
You would comfort and reassure me
Look into my eyes and hold me close
You would offer me physical and emotional closeness
And this is what you'd say
Your words of comfort and love would give me peace
The pleasant dreams we shared
Our hopes and aspirations for the future
Made our love stronger with each day
Our love deepened through our mutual dreams and goals
And the fears that haunted me
The anxieties that troubled me
Seemed like a million miles away
Fading into the distance and no longer affecting me
When friends we knew would come to me
When people we knew tried to disrupt our relationship
With lies about your love
Claiming that you didn't truly love me
I'd tell them happiness and sunny skies
I would counter their negativity with our positive outlook
Are all we're thinking of (we're thinking of)
Our relationship and future plans are our top priority
We're so in love (we're so in love)
We have a deep and abiding love for each other
We're thinking of (we're thinking of)
Our love and future together are constantly on our minds
Blue skies
A metaphor for a bright and optimistic future
Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
A musical flourish to emphasize the meaning of 'blue skies'
Yeah, I see you there, you're kissing him
A realization that you might be interested in someone else
How can this really be?
A sense of disbelief or shock
Well, I guess it's time to realize
Coming to terms with this new reality
My dreams are more than me
Acknowledging that pursuing my dreams is important
And as I walk off thinking
Reflecting on what has just caused a shift in perspective
What a fool I must have been
Regretful of past decisions or actions
Like an echo from my lips today
Recalling what you used to say to me
I hear you telling him (telling him)
Remembering your words once again
Blue skies
Despite the new situation, our optimism for the future remains
We've got blue skies, now can't you see?
Our positive outlook and love for each other is still strong
There'll never ever be another love for me
No one else can ever replace the love we share
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
Reiterating our belief in a positive future
(Blue skies, now can't you see?)
Repeating the chorus as a reminder of our positive outlook
(There'll never ever be another love for me)
Emphasizing the depth and longevity of our love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tom Bee, Chris Clark, Patrick S. Stephenson, Delores Wilkinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind