Joseph Walter “Joe” Jackson, who was the manager of his children, in particular of the group The Jackson Five, and is at the origin of their solo careers, including those of Michael Jackson (1958-2009) and Janet, died Wednesday, June 27, in a hospital in Las Vegas (Nevada), from pancreatic cancer, at the age of 89 years. The information was announced by his family. Since June 21 news circulated on people sites concerning the deterioration of his state of health.
The eldest of five children born to his mother and father, a teacher, Joe Jackson was born on July 26, 1928, in Fountain Hill, a village in Arkansas. When his parents divorced, he was 12 years old and moved with his father to California. He will settle several years later in the Chicago area (Illinois), where his mother lives. It was there that he began to work, as a crane operator and welder, while practicing boxing.
In November 1949, he married, in second marriage, Katherine Scruse. In January 1950, the couple moved to Gary, Indiana, where their ten children would be born – Brandon, Marlon’s twin, died a day after his birth in March 1957.
After boxing, which he gave up, he cherished for a time the idea of becoming a professional musician, guitarist within a rhythm’n’blues group, The Falcons, which stopped in 1952. His dream would come true. decade later through his children.
In the early 1960s, the three boys – Jackie, born in 1951, Tito, born in 1953, and Jermaine, born in 1954 – formed the vocal group The Jackson Brothers. Their father makes them rehearse dance steps and vocal parts for several hours a day, before and after school. The troop begins to be known locally. Marlon, born in 1957, and Michael, in 1958, soon joined the group, which became The Jackson Five.
A violent father
In 1967, the group, which won a few competitions for young talents, toured regularly. During this period of learning, Joe Jackson literally led his world by the wand. An error, an uncertain implementation are punished with a strong slap, a blow of the belt. What brothers and sisters will reveal in interviews years later. As time passed, the official family discourse was that this was how children were educated at the time.
In the summer of 1968, singer Gladys Knight, who discovered the group, recommended it to the great soul music phonographic company Motown Records. However, it was not until August 1969 and the sponsorship of another singer of the house, Diana Ross, that the “Jacksonmania” began in the United States.
The tubes follow one another: I Want You Back, ABC, I’ll Be There, The Love You Save… Concerts too. An animated television series in 1971 and 1972 is devoted to the group. At the same time, Motown officials are banking on a solo career for Michael Jackson, who recorded his first album under his name in 1972.
In 1975, Joe Jackson negotiated a new contract with the phonographic company Epic Records. The group becomes The Jacksons. Randy, born in 1961, soon replaces Jermaine, the sisters Rebbie, born in 1950, LaToya, in 1956, and Janet, in 1966, join the group on stage occasionally.
In addition to his managerial activities, Joe Jackson founded a record company, Ivory Tower International Records, which will hardly leave any traces.
Victory Tour
His children becoming adults, the paternal influence weakens. He allowed, by signing to Epic, that they obtain artistic control of their recordings (they produce Destiny, in 1978), but gradually it became less decision-making.
Within The Jacksons, the international success of Michael’s solo albums, Off The Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982), will gradually remove the young singer from the group. He participated in the 1981 Triumph Tour and recorded his last album with them, Victory, in 1984. The album and the Victory Tour from July to December 1984 brought together the six brothers.
In 1982, Joe Jackson again took charge of the career of his last daughter, Janet. He obtains for her a contract with A & M Records, supervises the realization of her first album, Janet Jackson, followed by Dream Street, in 1984. In 1986, Janet Jackson takes, after her brothers and sisters, her artistic independence, changes manager and begins a successful collaboration with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Joe Jackson in a few dates
July 26, 1928 Born in Fountain Hill (Arkansas).
1950-1952 Guitarist in the group The Falcons.
Early 1960s Becomes the manager of the group formed by three of his boys, The Jackson Brothers.
1967 The Jackson Five’s professional career took off with Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson.
1982 Supervised the production of Janet Jackson’s debut album.
June 27, 2018 Died in a hospital in Las Vegas (Nevada).
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