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.
The Eternal Light
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That the cold nights can be warm
Just get along with your brother
(it's the shelter from the storm)
If you're standing in the sunshine
But still out in the rain
Let your heart strike a match
[Chorus]
Let it shine so bright
The eternal light
Let it burn forever and ever
Let love bring us together
Let it shine so bright
The eternal light
Let us join our hands together
Make a chain that bonds forever
Motionless people gather dust
Stand in the rain and you'll rust
Let's try to show compassion
It's the time for us to learn
There will be a better tomorrow
Our reward is love in return
[Chorus]
In The Jackson 5's song The Eternal Light, the lyrics suggest that negativity and hardship can be combatted through compassion and love. The song begins by referencing Mother Earth and her ability to provide warmth to those who seek it. The lyrics then encourage listeners to find solace in their relationships with each other in order to keep themselves out of “the rain” and to “let love light the flame”. This message of working together and spreading positivity is reiterated in the chorus which calls for a united effort in creating an eternal flame of love that will bring people together forever.
The song also highlights the potential downfalls of standing idle and motionless, suggesting that those who do so “gather dust” and will “rust” when exposed to the rain. This can be interpreted as a call to action, urging people to take control of their circumstances and work towards a brighter future. Through the message of the lyrics, The Jackson 5 encourages listeners to show compassion towards one another, suggesting that doing so will bring about a brighter and better tomorrow, ultimately leading to love as a reward.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother earth told the people
The environment is trying to communicate with us and offer some guidance
That the cold nights can be warm
Difficult times can be made easier with some support and unity
Just get along with your brother
We need to work towards harmony and unity with those around us to find shelter and support
(it's the shelter from the storm)
This unity is what will protect us during the difficult times
If you're standing in the sunshine
Even if we seem to be doing well and not struggling like some others, we still might face our own unique challenges
But still out in the rain
We might also be dealing with our own difficulties even if we appear to be doing well
Let your heart strike a match
We need to ignite a flame within ourselves to find love and support, and use it to help light the way for others
(cause love lights the flame)
Love is the fuel that will help us find the strength to brave our own difficulties and help others do the same
[Chorus] Let it shine so bright The eternal light Let it burn forever and ever Let love bring us together Let it shine so bright The eternal light Let us join our hands together Make a chain that bonds forever
We need to come together in unity with love and compassion, creating lasting bonds that will help us navigate any challenges that come our way
Motionless people gather dust
If we become stagnant and don't embrace growth and change, we'll become stagnant like the dust that gathers on inanimate objects
Stand in the rain and you'll rust
Resisting the challenges and difficulties of life will only make us worse off
Let's try to show compassion
We need to lead with empathy and kindness towards those around us
It's the time for us to learn
We need to take this opportunity to grow and become better versions of ourselves
There will be a better tomorrow
We need to hold onto hope for the future and keep striving for unity and love
Our reward is love in return
When we show compassion and unity, we'll receive the same in return, creating a cycle of love and support
[Chorus]
We need to come together with love and unity, creating chains of support that help us navigate any challenges we face
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY MARCELLINO, MEL LARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo