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 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. 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 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.
Man Of War
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the best way of all
You don't know everything
So you don't know it all
You don't respect a man
For the way that he feels
You can't make people do things
Against their will
Man of war
Don't go to war no more
Why don't you
Why don't you study peace
Man of war
Don't go to war no more
Study peace
Cause peace is what we need
Just because your army
Gives you strength
Gives you might
Truth is gonna win
Wrong will never conquer right
Every man has a right
To think and be free
You're like a spoiled brat
You want everything you see
Man of war
Don't go to war no more
Why don't you
Why don't you study peace
Man of war
Don't go to war no more
Study peace
?Cause peace is what we need
You think that your bombs, guns and planes
Make you a big man
When you attack and invade
On another man?s land
Trying to make him be
What you want him to be
Make him do
What you want him to do
Make him say
What you want him to say
It wasn't meant to be that way
You think your way
Is the best way of all
(Saying)
You don't know everything
So you don't know it all
(Everybody)
You got to respect a man
For the way that he feels
You can't make people do things
Against their will
Man of war
(Saying, saying)
Don't go to war no more
Why don't you
Why don't you study peace
Man of war
(Tell everybody)
Don't go to war no more
Study peace
Cause peace is what we need
The Jacksons' song "Man Of War" is a call for peace and a critique of the aggressive and violent approach to conflict resolution. The lyrics suggest that those who believe in war as the ultimate solution to problems are misguided and lack perspective. The song argues that people should instead focus on studying peace and finding non-violent ways to settle conflicts.
Throughout the song, there is a clear message that everyone has a right to think and live freely. The aggressive behavior of those who believe in war is portrayed as childish and selfish, seeking to control and dominate others. The lyrics emphasize that peace can only be achieved by respecting others' rights and finding common ground.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Man of war, don't go to war no more, study peace cause peace is what we need," is a plea for those who advocate war to reconsider their stance and choose a more peaceful approach. The song serves as a reminder that while war may seem like a quick fix, it is often destructive and causes more harm than good.
Line by Line Meaning
You think that your way
You believe that your way is the only right way
Is the best way of all
And that your way is superior to all others
You don't know everything
However, you acknowledge that you don't possess all the knowledge
So you don't know it all
And therefore, you cannot claim to have all the answers
You don't respect a man
You disregard a man's opinion
For the way that he feels
Simply because it conflicts with your own
You can't make people do things
It's not within your power to make others comply to your wishes
Against their will
Especially if it goes against their own beliefs and wants
Man of war
This is a plea to someone who is constantly waging war
Don't go to war no more
To stop fighting altogether
Why don't you
A question to ponder about
Why don't you study peace
To try and understand the importance of peace
Man of war
Once more, a plea to the person or persons who enjoys warfare
Don't go to war no more
As it is time to end all the fighting and bloodshed
Study peace
To learn more about what it would take to create a peaceful world
Cause peace is what we need
Because peace is the only thing that can bring real harmony and happiness
Just because your army
Just because you have military might
Gives you strength
And that gives you a sense of strength and invincibility
Gives you might
It doesn't mean you're unbeatable
Truth is gonna win
The truth always has a way of prevailing
Wrong will never conquer right
Unjust actions will never be able to defeat what is right and fair
Every man has a right
All people are entitled to their own beliefs
To think and be free
Without the fear of being oppressed or coerced into submission
You're like a spoiled brat
The person addressed in the song is behaving like an immature, entitled child
You want everything you see
And expects to always get what they want
You think that your bombs, guns and planes
Using military force is seen as the ultimate solution
Make you a big man
Because it generates an illusion of greatness and strength
When you attack and invade
Going to war and invading another country
On another man's land
And trying to impose your ways on them
Trying to make him be
Forcing them to act a certain way
What you want him to be
To make them conform to your wishes
Make him do
Compelling their actions
What you want him to do
And do the things you want
Make him say
Demanding their words
What you want him to say
And forcing them to speak what pleases you
It wasn't meant to be that way
This kind of behavior is not helpful or constructive
(Everybody) You got to respect a man
It is important that you honor and respect someone's individuality
For the way that he feels
Even if their beliefs differ from yours
Man of war (Saying, saying)
Addressing once again the person who enjoys making war
(Tell everybody) Don't go to war no more
Admonishing everyone to cease fighting for good
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
noah noel
Thank you all The Jackson Family. From the depths of my soul.
🧿 Indigo Earth Angel 888 🧿
💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
Ethan Ang
Underrated humanity song from Jacksons.
Most underrated songs are sung by the Jackson family as a whole while putting all the humanity songs that MJ ever sung.
Aks Aks
Exactly!
mjj.777
Yes, and I think in the situation of these days we all have to listen to it for living in peace!☮️🙏
Ethan Ang
@mjj.777 Most underrated humanitarian song by Jackson ever. UN and USA should listen man.
Kwame Aboagye
A self-conscious song from the Jacksons.
War causes pain and injustice but peace brings harmony.
Ileana Vicktoria
Michael is without a doubt the owner of the most beautiful voice!😢
Ileana Vicktoria
Michael is without a doubt the owner of the most beautiful voice!👌
Michael es sin duda el dueño de la voz más Hermosa!😚
Kwame Aboagye
The Jacksons are phenomenal and their classics is so beautiful.
Jack, Tito, Marlon, Mike and Randy.
RIP Mike 58-09