The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, abbreviat… Read Full Bio ↴The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, abbreviated as J5, and later known simply as The Jacksons) was an American popular music quintet from Gary, Indiana. The group, active from 1964 to 1990, regularly played from a repertoire of R&B, soul, funk, and later disco. Considered "one of the biggest phenomenons in pop music" during the early 1970s, the Jackson 5 are also notable for launching the career of their lead singer, the late Michael Jackson.

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.

Stormy Monday
The Jackson 5 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Call it stormy Monday
Lord, but Tuesday's just as bad
You know they call it stormy Monday
Lord, but Tuesday's just as bad
And Wednesday's are worse
And Thursday's oh so sad

The eagle flies on Friday

Lord, and Saturday we go out and play
The eagle flies on Friday
Well, Lord, and Saturday we go out an play
Uh-huh-huh

And Sunday we go to church
And I kneel down and pray
And this is what I say:

Look, Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
I do
I cry Lord have mercy
Lord, have mercy on me, on me, um
You know I'm tryin', tryin' to find my baby

Won't somebody please send her on home to me?
Oh Lord

Overall Meaning

The Jackson 5 and Johnny feat. Michael Jackson's song Stormy Monday is about the feeling of sadness and helplessness that comes with each passing day of the week. While Monday is stormy, Tuesday is just as bad, followed by even worse days on Wednesday and Thursday. The only ray of hope in this cycle of sadness is the weekend, when the eagle flies on Friday, Saturday is a day for play, and Sunday is a day for prayer.

The song speaks to the universal experience of feeling trapped in a routine and longing for something better. The repetition of the days of the week emphasizes the monotony of daily life and the despair that can come from feeling stuck in a cycle of disappointment. The chorus, which pleads for mercy from the Lord, provides a glimmer of hope that better days may be on the horizon.

Overall, Stormy Monday is a powerful and emotive song that captures the ups and downs of life. It speaks to the feeling of longing for something more, even when it feels like every day is just another stormy Monday.

Line by Line Meaning

Call it stormy Monday
Referring to a difficult start to the week

Lord, but Tuesday's just as bad
Implying that Tuesday is no better than Monday

You know they call it stormy Monday
Repeating the idea that it's a rough start to the week

Lord, but Tuesday's just as bad
Reiterating that Tuesday is equally as challenging

And Wednesday's are worse
Suggesting that Wednesday is even more difficult than Monday and Tuesday

And Thursday's oh so sad
Utilizing 'sad' to describe Thursday, emphasizing its difficulty

The eagle flies on Friday
Implies the weekend has arrived

Lord, and Saturday we go out and play
Expressing excitement and freedom on Saturday

The eagle flies on Friday
Repeating the idea that the weekend is here

Well, Lord, and Saturday we go out an play
Once again emphasizing the joy of spending Saturday doing what one wants

Uh-huh-huh
A vocalization with no linguistic significance

And Sunday we go to church
Acknowledging that Sunday is typically a day for religious obligations

And I kneel down and pray
Describing the act of worship

And this is what I say:
Introducing a prayer he recites regularly

Look, Lord have mercy
A plea for divine help

Lord have mercy on me
Asking for mercy and guidance

I do
Affirming that he needs help

I cry Lord have mercy
Expressing his need for help through crying

Lord, have mercy on me, on me, um
Repeating his prayer for emphasis

You know I'm tryin', tryin' to find my baby
Admitting his search for companionship and love

Won't somebody please send her on home to me?
Expressing his plea for help in achieving his goal of finding love

Oh Lord
A common exclamation used in prayer

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aaron T-Bone Walker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS