Is it the Jackson 5 or the Jacksons???
"What's the difference?? Same people right?" Some might ask. But that is most certainly not at all true. The Jackson 5 and the Jacksons are different indeed.
As we all know Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael all came onto the scene as baby faced, high voiced little boys known to the world as the Jackson 5; who later grew up to be tall handsome young men know as the Jacksons. What many don't know is the orgin of the band's names and why they changed them.
Working their way up to fame in the mid and late 60's in Gary Indiana, the boys were known to their home town as the Jacksons . However when the group hit fame with Motown in 1968 their name was changed to the Jackson 5. This would become a household name for 6 years straight. The name quickly caught on. Both adults and children were able to recognize the heart shaped logo that graced the letter J and the number 5. But in 1975 the Jackson 5 would be no more.
Although the Jackson 5 were notorious for singing happy- go- lucky, bubble gum pop songs, things were not so peachy keen in the Motown studios. The boys had grown up and were unhappy about not being able to write and produce their own music. Michael in particular was very livid and often voiced his opinion of not being able to write their own material. This caused a stand off between the 5 brothers and the Motown Corporation. In 1975 the Jackson 5 released their last album, "Moving Violation" under the Motown company name. Little did they know that would be their last album as the Jackson 5.
The boys father, Joseph signed them off to a contract with CBS. The boys were ecstatic to be allowed to write their own material. They were ready give the Jackson 5 a much need musical make over. They had the freedom to write their own material but they couldn't do it under the name of Jackson 5. Their Motown contract had not yet run out and the Jackson family was smacked with a 5 million dollar lawsuit for breach of contract. Motown owned the rights to the band's name and they could not continue to preform under the name of the Jackson 5.
Many thought this would be the end of Jackson mania, but it was only the beginning. The boys were not quickly discouraged, they totally reinvented themselves. Now the Jackson brothers were able to be more creative than they ever been. They debuted their first album under CBS' Epic label titled "The Jacksons" The transition was not easy though, it cost them a band member. Jermaine, the bass player and one of the vocalist decided to stay under the Motown label. His reasons being he was married to Berry Gordy, the president of Motown's daughter. He went solo and released his own music with Motown. Jermaine was soon replaced with the Jackson brother, Randy.
The Jackson brothers had picked themselves up. After disappointing sales from the self titled album "The Jacksons", they tried much harder. They began writing more mature material and even came up with their own production label called "Peacock Productions" This adopted a new symbol for the group, a radiant Peacock.. The Peacock was meant to broaden their appeal to a wider audience. Nothing explains this better than the statement by Michael and Jackie that appears on every since 1978.
"Through the ages, the peacock has been honored and praised for its attractive, illustrious beauty. Of all the bird family, peacock is the only bird that integrates all colors into one, and displays the radiance of fire only when in love."
"We like the peacock, try to integrate all races into one through the love of music."
- Michael and Jackie Jackson For Peacock Productions.
The Jackson 5 were once again the Jacksons.
So what does this blog post teach you?? How about no matter who knocks you down always pick yourself up again and try to do bigger and better things. This is exactly what Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Michael did. If they didn't they wouldn't have such a strong legacy. The next time some one says theirs no difference between the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons, please, kindly correct them.
Many thought this would be the end of Jackson mania, but it was only the beginning. The boys were not quickly discouraged, they totally reinvented themselves. Now the Jackson brothers were able to be more creative than they ever been. They debuted their first album under CBS' Epic label titled "The Jacksons" The transition was not easy though, it cost them a band member. Jermaine, the bass player and one of the vocalist decided to stay under the Motown label. His reasons being he was married to Berry Gordy, the president of Motown's daughter. He went solo and released his own music with Motown. Jermaine was soon replaced with the Jackson brother, Randy.
The Jackson brothers had picked themselves up. After disappointing sales from the self titled album "The Jacksons", they tried much harder. They began writing more mature material and even came up with their own production label called "Peacock Productions" This adopted a new symbol for the group, a radiant Peacock.. The Peacock was meant to broaden their appeal to a wider audience. Nothing explains this better than the statement by Michael and Jackie that appears on every since 1978.
"Through the ages, the peacock has been honored and praised for its attractive, illustrious beauty. Of all the bird family, peacock is the only bird that integrates all colors into one, and displays the radiance of fire only when in love."
"We like the peacock, try to integrate all races into one through the love of music."
- Michael and Jackie Jackson For Peacock Productions.
The Jackson 5 were once again the Jacksons.
So what does this blog post teach you?? How about no matter who knocks you down always pick yourself up again and try to do bigger and better things. This is exactly what Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Michael did. If they didn't they wouldn't have such a strong legacy. The next time some one says theirs no difference between the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons, please, kindly correct them.
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