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 (see Randy & The Gypsys). 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 Corporationβ’; 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. 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, 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. 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 Brownβs then current hit "I Got the Feelinβ". 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.
Find Me A Girl
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got to find me a girl
Somebody who
Can make all my dreams come true
Somebody soft and warm
I know just what I want
I've been searching everywhere
Could it be you
Could it be you
Could it be you
I got to find me a girl
I got to find me a girl
Somebody true
To make all my lonely nights
A thing of the past
Someone to make everything all right
Got to find me a girl
Find me a girl
Got to find me a girl
Oh, baby
(Somebody who)
Somebody who
Can make all my dreams come true
Somebody soft and warm
I know exactly what I want
I've been searching everywhere
I can't find her anywhere
Could it be you
Could it be you
Could it be you
Find me a girl
You know I got to
(Find me a girl)
Come on, baby
Got to do it
And when I find her
(What you gonna do?)
I'm gonna be good to her
And when I find her
(What you gonna do?)
She'll be my loving baby
And when I find her
(What you gonna do?)
I'm gonna make good, good loving
Say yeah
(Find me a girl)
I'm gonna find her
(Find me a girl)
I'm gonna find her
(Find me a girl)
Find her, oh, baby
(Somebody who)
Somebody who
Make all my dreams come true
Somebody soft and warm
Know just what I want
I'm gonna find her
Gonna find her, find her
Won't do it til I find her
Gonna find her, yeah
Gonna do it, do it
The song "Find Me a Girl" by The Jacksons is a classic tale of searching for that perfect someone to make all of one's dreams come true. The singer is clear about what he wants - someone soft and warm, true, and able to make his lonely nights a thing of the past. He has been searching everywhere but has yet to find her. The chorus repeats the simple and straightforward message that he needs to find this girl.
The search for a partner is a universal theme that everyone can relate to. The Jacksons tap into the longing and desire that we all feel at some point for a special someone. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the urgency and importance of finding the right person. The lyrics also suggest a level of commitment and responsibility that comes with finding the right partner - the singer vows to be good to her, make good loving, and treat her as his loving baby when he finds her.
Overall, "Find Me a Girl" is a catchy, upbeat song with a simple message that resonates with anyone who has ever searched for love.
Line by Line Meaning
I got to find me a girl
The singer needs to find a romantic partner.
I got to find me a girl
The singer reiterates his need for a girlfriend.
Somebody who
Can make all my dreams come true
The singer wants someone who can fulfill his desires and ambitions.
Somebody soft and warm
I know just what I want
The singer desires a kind and affectionate partner, and is clear about it.
I've been searching everywhere
Can't seem to find her anywhere
Could it be you
Could it be you
Could it be you
The singer has been actively searching for someone who fits his criteria, and wonders if the listener might be that person.
I got to find me a girl
I got to find me a girl
The singer emphasizes his need for a girlfriend.
Somebody true
To make all my lonely nights
A thing of the past
Someone to make everything all right
The singer is looking for a faithful partner who can help him overcome his loneliness and make his life fulfilling.
Find me a girl
You know I got to
(Find me a girl)
Come on, baby
Got to do it
The singer reiterates his intent to find a girlfriend and encourages the listener to help him.
And when I find her
(What you gonna do?)
I'm gonna be good to her
And when I find her
(What you gonna do?)
She'll be my loving baby
And when I find her
(What you gonna do?)
I'm gonna make good, good loving
Say yeah
The singer envisions a future with his new girlfriend, where he treats her well, she reciprocates with love, and they have a fulfilling romantic life.
(Find me a girl)
I'm gonna find her
(Find me a girl)
I'm gonna find her
(Find me a girl)
Find her, oh, baby
The singer repeats his desire to find a girlfriend, and expresses enthusiasm about it.
(Somebody who)
Somebody who
Make all my dreams come true
Somebody soft and warm
Know just what I want
I'm gonna find her
Gonna find her, find her
Won't do it til I find her
Gonna find her, yeah
Gonna do it, do it
The singer summarizes what he wants in a girlfriend once again, assures he'll find her, and affirms his determination to do so.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jaylene.turner6524
Written by
Kenny Gamble
and
Leon Huff
ββββββββ
Lead Vocals:
Michael Jackson
βββββββββββ
Background Vocals:
Jackie Jackson
Tito Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Michael Jackson
Randy Jackson
ββββββββββ
Instrumentation:
Tito Jackson,
Randy Jackson,
Leon Huff,
Dexter Wansel,
MFSB,
and
Don Renaldo &
His Horns and
Strings
ββββββββββ
Arranger and
Conductor:
Jack Faith
βββββββββ
Produced by
Kenny Gamble
and
Leon Huff
ββββββββ
Year:
1977
ββββββββ
Album:
Goinβ Places
@pamelaswatson2495
There will never be another group like the Jackson 5 or The. Jacksons. Love this song
@002lisamarie
Michael is the key element. There will never be another x
@gregbattles4742
Nope the osmonds hella tried but got dropped off by the wayside
@iamshadyoshay6756
Absolutely
@alonzojordan6396
K8π lp
@paulettechatman4604
π―β€οΈ
@crystalxchi8576
This song is so relaxing β€οΈ I wish I was the girl
@ladyjaybird1501
Love this song π₯°
@apollosolo1582
The Jacksons, MFSB, and Philly, what a winning combination. Great unsung song. Thanks for posting!
@user-or5be9cp1b
The best β€ still looking β€