The Jackson's

The Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons) are an American pop and R&B family group formed in Gary, Indiana, in 1964. Originally composed of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson, the group became one of the most successful acts of the Motown era and later continued as the Jacksons after moving to a new label and adjusting their line-up.

The group began performing locally in the Midwest and developed a reputation on the touring circuit before recording for Steeltown Records in the late 1960s. Their breakthrough came after signing with Motown, where they achieved immediate mainstream success. Between 1969 and 1970 they became the first group to debut on the US Billboard Hot 100 with four consecutive number-one singles: “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There”. This early run established them as a major American pop act and positioned Michael Jackson as a prominent lead vocalist while the group released a series of albums and singles through the early 1970s.

Their peak Motown-era popularity included extensive touring, television appearances and a sustained run of charting singles. In 1976 they left Motown for Epic Records, with Jermaine remaining at Motown and being replaced by younger brother Randy. Under the name the Jacksons, they gained greater creative control and released albums including Destiny (1978) and Triumph (1980), producing singles such as “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, “This Place Hotel” and “Can You Feel It”.

Later work included Victory (1984) and major tours, after which group activities became less frequent as individual careers expanded, particularly Michael Jackson’s solo success. The Jacksons continued to reunite at various points and the group name has remained in use, with performances and projects occurring intermittently over subsequent decades.

The Jackson 5’s long-term significance includes their role in expanding Black crossover pop success in the late 1960s and shaping later vocal groups and pop choreography. The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. They have also been associated with very large cumulative sales figures; by 1979, the Jacksons were reported as having sold 90 million records, reflecting the scale of their international impact.