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
Skywriter
Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweep your silver pen,
Across the sky
So high
Skywriter
Won't you write the biggest
I love you
She don't read the letter
I write anymore
Sorry I upset her
But I wasn't sure
Now I know I love her
I hope that she will see
A message high above her
That you write for me, yeah.
Skywriter
Sweep your silver pen
Across the sky
So high
Skywriter,
Won't you write the biggest
I love you
Cross the sky
Hey
Hey,
Send a box of candy
And flowers ev'ry day
Still she wouldn't listen
Her pride got in the way
Now it's up to you
It won't fade away
Write it on the heavens
Love will make it stay, yeah
Skywriter
Sweep your silver pen,
Across the sky
So high
Skywriter
Won't you write the biggest
I love you
Cross the sky
So high, so high,
So high, so high,
So high, so high.
The lyrics of Jackson 5's song "Skywriter" express the feelings of a person who is trying to reach out to a loved one because he has discovered that he loves her but is finding it hard to communicate it to her through the traditional means. Therefore, he is asking the skywriter to inscribe the message "I love you" across the sky so that his beloved will know how he feels about her. He writes that he has sent several letters, boxes of candy and flowers, but none of his efforts have worked, and he hopes that this grand gesture of writing a message in the sky will show her how much he loves her. He believes that love is powerful enough to make his message last forever, and he hopes that his beloved recognizes his feelings and responds positively to his message.
The lyrics of this song reflect the themes of love, longing, and communication. The writer expresses his desire to communicate his love through an unconventional medium since his usual methods have failed. The song portrays the message that love can transcend physical limitations and can reach new heights if we are willing to think outside the box. The use of the skywriter as a symbol of hope and love shows that even though we face obstacles in life, we can always find creative ways to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Skywriter
A plea to the Skywriter to use their silver pen to write a big message of love in the sky.
Sweep your silver pen,
The Skywriter is asked to use their mysterious silver pen to create a message of love.
Across the sky
The message should be spread far and wide, visible for all to see.
So high
The message should be written high up in the sky, where it can be seen from far away.
Won't you write the biggest
The Skywriter is asked to create the biggest and boldest message he can.
I love you
The message the Skywriter is asked to create is a simple expression of love.
Cross the sky
The message should be written across the entire sky.
She don't read the letter
The artist's lover does not read the letters he has sent her, leading to difficulties in their relationship.
I write anymore
The artist suggests that his letters were once read, but that his lover no longer bothers to check them.
Sorry I upset her
The artist expresses regret for any harm he has caused his lover.
But I wasn't sure
The singer is conflicted and uncertain in his feelings, which leads to confusion in his communication with his lover.
Now I know I love her
The artist has finally realized the depth of his feelings for his lover.
I hope that she will see
The singer wishes for his lover to understand and reciprocate his love.
A message high above her
The singer wants a grand gesture to express his love, something visible and tangible that cannot be ignored.
That you write for me, yeah.
The Skywriter is requested to help the singer by writing a message of love in the sky that will demonstrate the sincerity of his feelings.
Hey
Attention-grabbing exclamation.
Send a box of candy
The artist resorts to sending gifts to his lover in order to win her affection.
And flowers ev'ry day
In addition to candy, the singer also sends flowers on a regular basis.
Still she wouldn't listen
Despite his efforts, the singer's lover continues to ignore him.
Her pride got in the way
The artist suggests that his lover's refusal to listen is due to her own personal issues, specifically her pride.
Now it's up to you
The artist once again makes a request to the Skywriter for assistance in expressing his love.
It won't fade away
The artist believes that his feelings are true and long-lasting, and therefore should be expressed dramatically.
Write it on the heavens
The Skywriter is asked to write the message of love on the heavens, where it cannot be ignored.
Love will make it stay, yeah
The artist believes that the message of love will have a lasting impact on his lover if it is delivered in a grand and visible way.
So high, so high,
Repetition of the earlier sentiment, asking the Skywriter to spread the message of love far and wide.
So high, so high,
Repetition of the earlier sentiment, asking the Skywriter to spread the message of love far and wide.
So high, so high.
Repetition of the earlier sentiment, asking the Skywriter to spread the message of love far and wide.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MEL LARSON, JERRY MARCELLINO, DON FENCETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind