The Jackson family is as famous as it gets, so it's no surprise that they're also one of the most tumultuous families in history. The saga began when Joe, a crane operator in Gary, Indiana, discovered that his sons had musical talent.
They formed The Jackson Five, a singing group that became one of the biggest in the world. But, as with all big music groups, things can go awry.
Marlon Jackson
Marlon Jackson was born on March 12, 1957, in Gary, Indiana. He was the sixth child of Joseph and Katherine Jackson. He had a twin brother, Brandon, who died within 24 hours of his birth.
Marlon was part of the Jackson 5 with his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Michael. The group was formed in 1964 and soon became a success.
As a member of the Jackson 5, Marlon had the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of fans. He also learned to play the guitar and drums.
He was a talented musician and had a strong voice. He would later leave the group and start a solo career. He released his only solo album, Baby Tonight, in 1987.
After leaving the Jackson 5, he became a real estate agent in Southern California and owned the Black Family Channel, a cable network designed to bring family-friendly programming to Black communities. He later sold it.
His career took a turn for the worse, though. In the early 1990s, he was arrested on suspicion of burglary and assaulting his wife. He was then sentenced to two years in jail.
During the trial, he was accompanied by his wife, Carol Ann Parker. He also has three children, Valencia, Brittny, and Marlon, Jr.
When he was young, Marlon had trouble focusing on his studies. He was a Jehovah's Witness, but his relationship with the church was not good. He would not attend any of his family's religious events, including birthdays or Christmas.
But in the late 1990s, when he began to lose his fortune and his family started to struggle financially, he made an effort to help his siblings. He paid thousands of dollars in child support.
A few of the brothers and sisters, however, took advantage of Katherine’s kind heart, say friends of the family. They would ask their mother for money whenever they were having financial problems or their homes were in foreclosure, according to one source.
But when Michael’s criminal trials were in progress, family members said they did not want to be on the stand. They felt that their brother was being unfairly prosecuted for his alleged crimes. They wanted to help him out, they told a friend of the family.
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson is the older brother of singers Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, a member of the Jackson family, a group that has been active in show business for generations. He is a singer, bass guitarist, composer, and occasional film director.
He is a former member of the pop band The Jackson 5, which he joined in 1964, and remained with through several breakups and reunions. He also had some top-30 hits in a solo career. He also produced and recorded duets with American singer Whitney Houston in her early years as a recording artist, and was a producer for Bobby DeBarge's band Switch.
In 2015, Jackson was in the news for his private life, as his third wife Halima Rashid was arrested on charges of domestic violence. In June 2016, she filed for divorce from him.
Jackson was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and converted to Islam in 1989. He has a devoted Muslim following and he has embraced his faith fully.
After joining The Jackson 5 in 1964, he began a solo career, but stayed loyal to Motown Records despite the breakup of the group in 1975. He re-joined The Jacksons in 1984 and performed with them on their 55-concert Victory tour, which grossed $75 million and was the biggest-grossing tour of its time.
The Jackson family is a close-knit one and the Jackson brothers have always been very supportive of each other. During the 1980s, the two boys began to perform together on stage and on TV.
This has made their fans extremely loyal to the group. The Jacksons were considered one of the most popular and influential groups in music history.
They are regarded as pioneers of the American pop music industry and have sold over 200 million records worldwide. Their musical style is often described as Soul.
In addition to his music, Jackson has become an influential public figure in his home country of Jamaica. He is a prominent advocate for children’s rights and is often called “The Father of the Hip Hop Generation.”
The Jacksons are still very much an important part of the American culture, with many people identifying them as the founders of modern music. Their legacy is a huge influence on music and entertainment across the world, and their work has been praised by musicians from all genres of the arts.
La Toya Jackson
Born on her sister Rebbie's sixth birthday, in Gary, Indiana, La Toya Jackson is the fifth child and middle child of the Jackson family. She is a singer and television personality. She is a two time New York Times best selling author and has been featured in countless films, documentaries, and magazine spreads.
Her parents, Joseph and Katherine Jackson, were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses. As a child, La Toya and her siblings often accompanied their parents on their missionary trips to different countries. They would often spend time preaching door-to-door to spread the word of the religion.
As she grew older, Jackson had trouble finding a career in the music industry, so her father, Joe, began to hire a manager, Jack Gordon, to co-manage her. Under his management, Jackson gained more exposure and began to develop a more sexier image.
When she posed topless for the 1989 issue of Playboy, she was ostracized by her family. She subsequently divorced Gordon and returned to the family's Hayvenhurst estate in Los Angeles, where she lived with her three children, Andrew, Michael, and Kameron.
While living in Los Angeles, La Toya also dated several actors and directors. She became close to her brother Michael, and the two shared a strong bond. They would often dress alike.
In addition to her career, La Toya is a well-known philanthropist and businesswoman. She has been involved in several charitable organizations, including the Psychic Friends Network and the National Youth Agency.
La Toya is also a public speaker, and has spoken at various events to raise awareness for issues related to sexual abuse. She has been featured in numerous media articles, and is frequently interviewed by radio and TV hosts.
She is a frequent guest on the talk show Larry King Live and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Network. She has also starred in a reality show called Life With La Toya, which debuted on Oprah Winfrey's OWN in 2013.
Her family has strongly denounced HBO's Leaving Neverland documentary and has filed a lawsuit against the network for airing it. The estate has described the documentary as a “public lynching,” and it is believed to have violated a non-disparagement agreement with Jackson's estate.
Janet Jackson
The youngest of the Jackson family, Janet, a native of Indiana, U.S., has parlayed her fame into a successful music career. She has sold more than 40 million albums and has earned five Grammy Awards. She was ranked the second-best selling female artist of the 1990s by Billboard magazine.
She was raised by her parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson. Her father, who was a strict disciplinarian, encouraged her to pursue a music career. She was seven years old when she made her first stage appearance in a Jackson 5 revue.
After recording her debut album, Janet, in 1982, she was paired with producer/writer Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Their funk-tinged music helped her make her mark on the scene. Her 1983 album Dream Street didn't sell as well as her first effort but featured the hit singles “Young Love,” which reached number six on the R&B charts, and “Give Your Love to Me.”
Jackson continued to release a series of critically acclaimed albums in the 1980s. Her 1985 release, Control, brought her to the forefront of neo-soul, which was popular at the time. It was a breakthrough for her as a performer and an influence on younger artists.
Her 1990s releases, janet and Design of a Decade, continued to establish her as a force on the scene. Her singles, “Any Time, Any Place” and “That's the Way Love Goes,” tied her with Aretha Franklin for gold-selling records.
In 1995, she teamed up with Michael Jackson for the hit single “Scream.” Their elaborate space-age video won Best Short Form Video Grammy, and the song reached number five on the Hot 100.
She also released the hits “All for You” and “Damita Jo.” Her albums, including Rhythm Nation 1814 and The Velvet Rope, were critical and commercial successes. Her performance at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show was marred by a wardrobe malfunction that exposed her right breast to 140 million viewers.
Her latest album, Unbreakable, was released in 2015 and reflected her move into electronic music. She has since divorced Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana and remarried former musician Jermaine Dupri.
