Background of Thriller Live

At the beginning of Jackson

 

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on 29^th of August 1958 in Gary Indiana, (a suburb of Chicago) to a working-class family. He was the 7^th of nine children.

 

He started his career in 1964 as a founder member and the lead singer of Jackson 5, made up with Jackie (born Sigmund ), Tito (born Toriano), Jeremy and Marlon.  As a child in the 1960s and 70s he was the dominant voice and youngest member of the Jackson Five, a pop group that included five brothers.

 

The start of Michael career

 

The Jackson’s brother trained hard under the watchful eye of Joseph, going on to win talent shows and do gigs around their hometown. They were eventually brought to the attention of Motown, and successfully auditioned in 1964.

 

Significantly, they signed a contract for Motow and moved from the little village to California.

 

During the years with Motown tenure, the Jackson 5 was one of the biggest pop-music phenomenon of the 1970s.

 

The musical group was the first act in recorded history to have their first four major label singles (“I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll be there”) reached the top America charts. The Jackson 5 shot to fame across America and around the world.

 

Several later singles, among “Mama’s Pearl”, “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Dancing Machine” were top 5 hits and number one hits on R&B single charts.

 

They finished their contract with Motown in early 1976 and switched to Epic records that same year (without Jermaine but adding Randy as a permanent member.) Their last album with Motown was released in 1975, “Moving Violation”.

The Jackson move to Epic

The Jackson stayed with Motow till 1975, wanting more freedom they move on and signed up a contract with Epic. The group was also forced to discard the name “Jackson 5” which Motown fought over, and became known as “The Jackson” under the new label.

According to the Book of Hit Singles they had their last hit in the UK as the Jackson 5 in 1973 (Skywriter) on Tamla Motown and their first hit as The Jacksons in 1977 (Enjoy yourself) on Epic.

Jermaine, who was by that time married to Motown founder Berry Gordy’s daughter, Hazel, chose to remain with Motown, saying that he stayed out of loyalty, because Motown had believed in the group.

Michael solo career

Michael began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred as the “King of Pop” in subsequent years, five of his solo have become some of the word’s best selling record: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1991) and History (1995).

The Jackson 5 has reunited on stage on various occasions. First was at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever show in 1983, where Michael did the famous Billie Jean moonwalk. Then was the Victory tour in 1984. Most recently was the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration – The Solo Years on September 7 and 10, 2001.

What does the future hold? We’ll all stay tuned!

Click here to read the article