The Jacksons

The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 in concert
Background information
Also known as	Jackson 5ive, The Jackson Brothers, The Jacksons
Origin	Gary, Indiana, USA
Genre(s)	R&B, soul, pop, disco, funk, Motown
Years active	1966–1990
Label(s)	Steeltown, Motown, Philadelphia International, Epic
Former members
Jackie Jackson Tito Jackson Jermaine Jackson Marlon Jackson Michael Jackson Randy Jackson

The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, and later known as The Jacksons) was an American popular music quintet (and briefly a sextet and quartet) from Gary, Indiana. The group, fully active from 1966 to 1990, consisted of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, who played from a repertoire of R&B, soul, funk, and later disco. The Jackson 5 were one of the biggest pop-music phenomenons of the 1970s, and the band served as the launching pad for the solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and Michael, as well as their sister Janet.

The Jackson 5 recorded on the Motown label from 1968 to 1975, and then recorded on Epic/CBS Records (under the name of "The Jacksons") until their disbanding in 1990. They were the first 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 later 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, and The Jacksons themselves also wrote many hits.

Significantly, they were the first black teen idols to appeal equally to white audiences. Upon their departure from Motown for CBS in 1976, The Jacksons were forced to change their name and replace Jermaine (who remained at Motown) with younger brother 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 the highly successful Victory Tour. Their 1989 album 2300 Jackson Street was recorded without Michael and Marlon. Michael and Marlon did appear, however, on the title track which also featured their sisters Rebbie and Janet (though not La Toya.) The commercial underperformance and disappointing sales of this album preceded the group's official breakup in 1990.