The Jackson 5, a band made up of five of the Jackson brothers, with Michael Jackson at the helm, left Motown Records in 1975.  Due to contract issues, they were forced to leave their band name behind as well, and became The Jacksons.  At that time, Jermaine Jackson chose to stay behind with Motown,

The Jackson

Like all of Motown's acts, the Jackson 5's popularity transcended race. Everyone loved the Jackson Five, especially the cherubic, charismatic Michael. The reasons for their out-of-the-box success boiled down to one simple truth: "The singing and the songs make us happy," wrote soul-music biographer David Ritz. "They are moments of incandescent beauty-young, wildly optimistic."

A New Identity

The Jackson 5, a band made up of five of the Jackson brothers, with Michael Jackson at the helm, left Motown Records in 1975.  Due to contract issues, they were forced to leave their band name behind as well, and became The Jacksons.  At that time, Jermaine Jackson chose to stay behind with Motown, and was replaced by their fourteen-year-old brother, Randy.  

In the summer of 1976, the Jackson family signed a contract with CBS to host their own variety show, The Jacksons.  This included Michael, Tito, Randy, Rebbie, Marlon, Jackie, Latoya, and Janet. It was the first variety show to feature a black family.

A New Career with CBS

The Jacksons released two albums produced with Gamble & Huff, both of which enjoyed moderate success.  Wanting more artistic freedom, the band released Destiny independently in 1978, which spawned The Jacksons' biggest hit outside of Motown Records, Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).  The single attained double platinum status, selling over 2 million copies.  In 1979, The Jacksons were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1980, they released Triumph, which attained platinum status.  Their Triumph Tour later was cited by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the best 25 tours from 1967 to 1987.  The tour was recorded and released as a live album in 1981, entitled The Jacksons Live!  Their 1984 album, Victory, sold 7 million copies, certifying double platinum, and was followed by the Victory Tour.

The Beginning of the End

In 1982, Michael Jackson released his album, Thriller.  Despite the enormous successes of The Jacksons during this time, their stardom was eclipsed by Michael's.  As his solo career grew, Michael left the group, and the rest of the group dissolved shortly after.  They reunited in 1989 to release one last album, 2300 Jackson Street.  The title and cover represented their boyhood home in Gary, Indiana.

Following Michael Jackson's death in 2009, the surviving members of The Jacksons came together to record This Is It, a former demo that had never been released.  They released it to radio only, as a tribute to Michael and his music career.  They are planning a tribute tour in 2010.   According to Nielsen Soundscan, digital sales have skyrocketed since Michael Jackson's death.  Fans seeking downloads of both Jackson's solo work and music by The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons is in high demand.

Did you know . . .

1. The Jacksons did not perform any music from the Victory album during the Victory Tour.

2. Michael Jackson donated his $5 million form the Victory Tour to various charities.

3. The only original member of The Jacksons not to perform on the reunion album, 2300 Jackson Street was Latoya.

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