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.
My Christmas Tree
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
against my window pane
and wonder if you
are watching snow flakes too
i take a walk downtown
to where you used to meet me
theres joy everywhere
but all thats waiting there
lookin sorta sad n lonely just like me
noone seems to care
they just went away
and left it standing there
all alone on christmas eve
i hear the christmas bells
the happy people singing
the songs of good cheer
that only brings me tears
i sadly close my eyes
and say a little prayer
you'll be waiting there for me
i look but all i see
is just a little christmas tree
lookin sorta sad n lonely just like me
noone seems to care
they just went away and left it standing there
all alone on christmas eve
this is the season of love
but im as sad as i can be
why did you have to leave me
oh little christmas tree
lookin sorta sad n lonely just like me
noone seems to care
they just went away
and left it standing there
all alone on christmas eve
The Jackson 5's "Little Christmas Tree" is a heart-wrenching ballad about a lonely Christmas. The song starts with the singer watching snowflakes fall against a window pane and wondering if their loved one is watching snowflakes too. The singer takes a walk downtown to where they used to meet their loved one, but all they find is a little Christmas tree, looking sad and lonely, just like the singer. The singer hears the Christmas bells and the happy people singing the songs of good cheer, which only brings them tears. The singer closes their eyes and says a little prayer that their loved one will be waiting for them. However, all they see is the little Christmas tree, looking sad and lonely just like them.
The song expresses how Christmas is supposed to be a time of love and joy but can also be a time of loneliness and heartbreak without loved ones. The little Christmas tree symbolizes the singer's own sadness and loneliness during the holiday season. The song encourages us to remember those who may be feeling lonely during Christmas and to lend them comfort and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch the snow flakes fall
I'm observing the snowflakes that are falling gently.
against my window pane
I'm looking at the snowflakes fall on my window.
and wonder if you
I'm thinking about the person who is no longer with me.
are watching snow flakes too
I'm wondering if that person is watching snowflakes too.
i take a walk downtown
I go for a walk to the place where we used to meet.
to where you used to meet me
I'm revisiting the place where we used to spend time together.
theres joy everywhere
I see happiness and celebration all around me.
but all thats waiting there
However, there's something that's waiting for me.
is just a little christmas tree
It's just a small, lonely Christmas tree.
lookin sorta sad n lonely just like me
The tree seems as lonely and sad as I do.
noone seems to care
No one seems to notice the sad little tree.
they just went away
Everyone left the tree alone and walked away.
and left it standing there
They abandoned the tree, leaving it standing all alone.
all alone on christmas eve
The tree is alone on the night of Christmas Eve.
i hear the christmas bells
I can hear the sound of the Christmas bells ringing.
the happy people singing
People around me are singing songs of joy.
the songs of good cheer
They are singing songs to express their happiness and joy.
that only brings me tears
However, their songs are making me sad, and I feel like crying.
i sadly close my eyes
I close my eyes, feeling sadness in my heart.
and say a little prayer
I quietly pray and hope that the person who left me will come back to me.
you'll be waiting there for me
I hope that the person will be waiting for me when I return.
i look but all i see
However, when I look around, all I see is the small and lonely Christmas tree.
is just a little christmas tree
There's nothing else for me to see except for the tiny Christmas tree.
this is the season of love
It's the season of love and joy, but I feel sad instead.
but im as sad as i can be
I'm feeling extremely sad and lonely.
why did you have to leave me
I'm questioning why the person had to leave me and go away.
oh little christmas tree
I'm addressing the small Christmas tree.
lookin sorta sad n lonely just like me
The tree looks as sad and lonely as I feel.
noone seems to care
No one is paying attention to the tree or my feelings.
they just went away
Everyone left the tree and me alone.
and left it standing there
They abandoned the tree, just like they abandoned me.
all alone on christmas eve
The tree and I are alone on Christmas Eve.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ron Edwards
This JACKSON 5 Classic should be much more renowned. Those FIVE fellows really hit the mark on this one.
Afaf Nith Ma’at Hatap
The vocals on this are awesome.💜💜💜🙏🏿
Winged Dragon Ra
I tear up every time I hear this song. Makes me think of the people who are no longer with us
Lathan Wheeler
Your never alone same here 😢❤🙏🎄🌲🎅🔥👍🏿😭😭✊🏾🙌🏾✋🏿👍🏿.
DES7YNI
Same
Val Vega Story
Me too
Chris Thompson
For me this is Michael Jackson at his vocal best....vocals are so emotional and heartbreaking conveying the song perfectly
Char
You're really cutting him short there...he's only 14 here and he would have 36 more years of vocals. Were those 36 years for nothing then if, in your opinion, he never got any better than this? I'm just saying, kinda sounds ridiculous. But I don't disagree about his vocals being amazingly heartbreaking here.
Mads4it
Ben is one of my favourite for Michael's voice. So clear, pure and perfect.
DENNIS LATIMER
YOU NAILED IT!!! HE CONNECTS WITH THE TRACK ON A LEVEL THAT HAS HARDLY EVER BEEN DUPLICATED BY ANYONE!!! IT'S LIKE HE'S SINGING #ON #BEHALF OF THE TREE!!! #ADVOCATING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE IT HOME!!! 💯💯💯🎤🎶🎤👑👑👑