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.
Ben
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone, and you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me (you've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there (here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere (anywhere)
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go (you've got a place to go)
I used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's we
I used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's we
Ben, most people would turn you away (turn you away)
I don't listen to a word they say (a word they say)
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like Ben
A friend like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
The lyrics to The Jackson 5's song "Ben" seem to be about a close friendship between two people, one of whom is named Ben. The first verse implies that the two have found what they were looking for in each other - a friend to "call my own." The second verse seems to suggest that Ben has had a difficult time fitting in or finding acceptance from others, but the singer of the song affirms that he himself sees Ben differently: "most people would turn you away / I don't listen to a word they say." The chorus repeats the idea that Ben now has a friend who will be there for him and never turn him away.
As for the title, "Ben" was also the name of a 1972 film about a boy and his pet rat - the titular character. The song is the theme for the film and was originally going to be titled "Best Friend," but the name was changed to match the name of the character.
The song was actually written by Don Black and Walter Scharf for the film, but when it was recorded by The Jackson 5, it became a standalone hit. Interestingly, the song was actually written with an adult singer in mind - Black was friends with singer Glen Campbell and thought he would be a good fit for the song. Once it became attached to the film and recorded by The Jackson 5, "Ben" became a massive hit and remains a popular and nostalgic song to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Ben, the two of us need look no more
Ben, we have found what we were both searching for and we don't need to look any further.
We both found what we were looking for
We have found true friendship in each other and we're content.
With a friend to call my own
I am grateful to have found a friend in you.
I'll never be alone, and you, my friend, will see
You have been a great support to me and I appreciate that I can always count on you.
You've got a friend in me (you've got a friend in me)
I will always be here for you, no matter what.
Ben, you're always running here and there (here and there)
You seem restless and constantly in motion.
You feel you're not wanted anywhere (anywhere)
You have doubts about your ability to find your place in the world.
If you ever look behind and don't like what you find
If you ever reflect on your past and feel regret or unhappiness,
There's something you should know
I want to remind you of something important.
You've got a place to go (you've got a place to go)
You will always have a safe haven with me and in our friendship.
I used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's we
Before I met you, I was focused on myself, but now we are a team and support each other.
Ben, most people would turn you away (turn you away)
Other people might reject or misunderstand you.
I don't listen to a word they say (a word they say)
Their opinions don't matter to me, because you are important to me.
They don't see you as I do
They don't appreciate you in the way that I do.
I wish they would try to
I hope that other people will eventually understand and appreciate you.
I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like Ben
If they knew you like I do, they would change their minds about you.
A friend like Ben
You are a valuable and precious friend to me, Ben.
(Like Ben)
Just like you, Ben.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Black, Walter Scharf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo