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.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're weary feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I'll dry then all
I'm on you side
Oh, times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
Oh, and darkness come
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Ooh
I will lay me down
Sail on silver
I will lay me down
Sail on silver, girl
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Ooh
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Ohh, ohh, ooh
Like a bridge over troubled water
The Jackson 5's rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a song about being there for someone during their toughest times. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is feeling small and weary, with tears in their eyes. The singer promises to be on their side and to help dry their tears. The metaphorical bridge over troubled water is used to signify the support and comfort that the singer is offering.
The song's message of being there for someone during their darkest moments is particularly poignant when considering the context of the time period when it was released. In 1970, when the song was recorded, racial tensions were high throughout America. The Civil Rights movement had been ongoing for over a decade and was still fighting for equality. The Jackson 5, who were a group of young black men, were part of this movement and faced their own struggles with racism and discrimination. The lyrics can be seen as a call for unity and support for one another during a particularly difficult time in history.
The final verse of the song shifts away from the metaphor of the bridge and focuses on the person the song is being sung to. The singer encourages the listener to "sail on silver," and to let their dreams shine. The promise of being there for them during tough times remains, with the singer implying that they will genuinely strive to make things better for the person they are singing to.
Overall, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a powerful song about support, comfort, and friendship during tough times. It was especially impactful at the time it was released, when the country was in turmoil over the ongoing fight for Civil Rights.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh,
Expressing empathy and understanding.
When you're weary feeling small
When you are tired and feeling insignificant.
When tears are in your eyes
When you are crying and in emotional pain.
I'll dry then all
I will comfort you and dry your tears.
I'm on your side
I support you and stand by you.
Oh, times get rough
When life gets difficult.
And friends just can't be found
When you feel like you have no one to turn to.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will provide you with a safe passage through tough times.
I will lay me down
I am willing to sacrifice myself to help you.
When you're down and out
When you are struggling and feeling hopeless.
When you're on the street
When you are homeless and without a place to go.
When evening falls so hard
When the night is long and difficult.
I will comfort you
I will provide you with emotional support.
I'll take your part
I will defend and support you.
Oh, and darkness comes
When everything seems bleak and hopeless.
And pain is all around
When you feel surrounded by suffering.
I will lay me down
I am willing to be there for you, no matter what.
Sail on silver
Keep moving forward and shining.
Sail on silver, girl
Encouraging someone to keep striving for their dreams.
Your time has come to shine
It is your moment to succeed and be recognized.
All your dreams are on their way
Believing that all of your heartfelt desires will come true.
See how they shine
Observing the brightness and beauty of someone's success.
Oh, if you need a friend
If you ever need someone to talk to or rely on.
I'm sailing right behind
I am here for you, following your lead.
I will ease your mind
I will help reduce your stress and anxiety.
Ooh
Expressing empathy and understanding.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will provide you with a safe passage through tough times.
I will ease your mind
I am here to alleviate your worries and troubles.
Ohh, ohh, ooh
Expressing empathy and understanding.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo