Jermaine Jackson

Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (né Jackson; born December 11, 1954) is an American retired singer, songwriter, bass player, and member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of the Jackson 5, and played bass guitar. In 1983, he rejoined the group, which had been renamed the Jacksons; he then consistently played in the group's performances and recordings until he left the group again in 2020.

While Jermaine did not usually sing the lead vocal on the Jackson Five's biggest hits, he is featured on "I'll Be There" and "I Want You Back", among others. When four of the brothers left Motown Records for Epic Records in 1976 (having to rename the family act "the Jacksons" in the process), Jermaine, who had just married Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, stayed at Motown. He was replaced in the Jacksons by his youngest brother, Randy. Jermaine had a solo career concurrent with his brother Michael's, including some top-30 hits, until the 1980s. He produced and recorded duets with Whitney Houston on her debut album in 1985, and was a producer for the band Switch. After seven years outside the group he rejoined the Jacksons, and remained until 2020 through various breakups and reunions.

Early life

Jermaine was born December 11, 1954, at St Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref> He is the fourth child born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk" /> His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (Marlon's twin who died shortly after birth in 1957), Michael, Randy, and Janet.<ref name=family>Template:Cite book</ref> Jackson's father Joe had musical aspirations, playing guitar with his brother Luther in an R&B band, the Falcons, and his mother Katherine, a devout Jehovah's Witness, was a passionate pianist and singer.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Their large family and limited means made them refocus, with Katherine becoming a housewife, and Joe a steel mill worker at nearby Inland Steel Company in East Chicago, Indiana, where they lived before moving to Gary in 1950.<ref name="family"/>

While his father, Joe, worked long hours as a crane operator, Jermaine and his brothers, Tito and Jackie, secretly practiced their own songs using Joe's guitar, and they sang harmonies with their mother Katherine.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Jermaine became the original lead singer, and also played the bass in the Jackson Brothers, an earlier incarnation of the Jackson 5 until 1966, when younger brother Michael began singing lead.<ref name="thejacksons.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Father Joe began rehearsing his sons under a strict regimen when he realized their potential, seeing his sons' talent as a way out of Gary.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jermaine would continue to provide some leads over the years.<ref name="thejacksons.com"/> Jermaine graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, in 1973.<ref name=jet2>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Career

The Jackson 5

Jermaine (top left) and his brothers in 1974

Jermaine and his brothers first signed as the Jackson 5 with Gordon Keith of Steeltown Records in November 1967, and their first single "Big Boy", was released on January 31, 1968.<ref>Independent Record Labels Of Indiana Template:Webarchive. 45 RPM Records</ref> After the group recorded three more songs with the Steeltown label (on two records) they were signed with Berry Gordy of Motown Records in 1969.<ref name="thejacksons.com"/> As the second lead singer of the Jackson 5 with his brothers Jackie and Michael, Jermaine sang notable parts of "I Want You Back", "ABC", "I'll Be There", "The Love You Save", "Dancing Machine" and many other Jackson 5 songs.<ref name="thejacksons.com"/> Jermaine performed as part of the group for six years.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Not feeling that they were being paid fair royalties by Motown Records for their success as well as their desire for creative control, the Jackson 5 decided to leave the label and sign with Epic Records in 1975.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, Jermaine decided to stay with Motown Records, citing loyalty to the company as the reason. Others argue that Jermaine's marriage to Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, whom he married in 1973, was a deciding factor.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/>

Jermaine split from the Jackson Five to start a solo career at Motown, and was replaced by his brother Randy.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Unbeknownst to the group, Gordy had trademarked the name Jackson Five and did not allow the group to continue using the name when they left the label.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Once signed with Epic, the group became known simply as the Jacksons. In 1983, Gordy asked the group to perform at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special.<ref name="thejacksons.com1">Template:Cite web</ref> After the success of the broadcast, Jermaine finally rejoined the band to record the album Victory which featured all six brothers on the Jackson's album cover.<ref name="thejacksons.com1"/> Jermaine also participated in the band's Victory Tour.<ref name="thejacksons.com1"/> He stayed with the group for their final album, 2300 Jackson Street, in 1989.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Jermaine performed the song "If You'd Only Believe" on March 15, 1993, with his brothers Jackie, Tito and Randy, on the stage of the Grand Théâtre de Genève for the evening of the Nations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He also performed this song alone, on January 14, 1990, in Atlanta, in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., during King Week 90 '.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Jackson 5. In 2001, he reunited with his brothers to perform for the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Solo career

Like Michael, Jermaine began a solo career while still a member of the Jackson 5, and had a hit with the 1972 Shep and the Limelites cover "Daddy's Home". It sold over one million copies by March 1973, and was awarded a gold disc.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">Template:Cite book</ref> When the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, Jermaine left the group and stayed at the label until 1983, when he finally rejoined his brothers for the Motown 25 television special, and their album Victory the following year.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Jermaine was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his 1980 album Let's Get Serious.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> He had a number of Billboard top-30 hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "Daddy's Home" (No. 9), "That's How Love Goes", "Let's Be Young Tonight", "Bass Odyssey", "Feel the Fire", "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" (featuring Devo on backing vocals) (No. 18), "Let's Get Serious" (No. 9, also one of his only two UK hits, peaking at No. 8), "Dynamite" (No. 15), "Do What You Do" (No. 13), and "I Think It's Love" (No. 16).<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> A duet with his brother Michael, "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)", hit number one on the dance chart in 1984.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> Michael and he also collaborated with Rockwell, both providing guest vocals on his 1984 hit single, "Somebody's Watching Me".<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/>

In 1985, his duet with Pia Zadora, "When the Rain Begins to Fall", topped several singles charts in Europe, including Germany and France; in the United States, the duet only reached number 54 on the Billboard charts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His final chart success, 1989's "Don't Take It Personal", hit number one on the R&B singles chart.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk" /> Some of Jermaine's finest moments as a singer can be heard in the soulful "Castles of Sand" and the Earth Wind & Fire-inspired "You Need to Be Loved".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jermaine was the executive producer of the Jackson Family Honors concert televised from the MGM Grand on February 22, 1994.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On May 19, 2003, he performed "Let's Start Right Now" live on the talk show The View, hosted by Barbara Walters.<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Jackson is proficient on the electric guitar and is a talented bass guitar player.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk" /> At an early age, he performed the parts of legendary bass player James Jamerson and others when the Five performed live.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk" /> His main instrument was a Gibson EB-3.<ref name="russell">Template:Cite web</ref> Jermaine also composed and produced for other artists, such as Switch and he produced and sang duets on Whitney Houston's debut album for Arista Records.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk" /> Jackson is featured on the Switch track "Tahiti Hut" released in 2019, recorded during the Reaching for Tomorrow sessions.

Reality television

Jackson was the first housemate to enter the Celebrity Big Brother 5 house in 2007, which he placed 2nd.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> After leaving Big Brother, Jackson did several interviews on UK television explaining why and how he took his peaceful and mediating stance in the Big Brother house. He also spoke about the Jackson Five reuniting for a performance.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Jackson was part of the second season of the CMT reality show Gone Country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the premiere episode of season three of the ABC reality show Celebrity Wife Swap<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> on April 15, 2014, Jackson and his wife Halima swapped places with Daniel Baldwin and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Isabella Hofmann.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later work

Jackson in 2007

In April 2007, Jackson returned to the UK to take part in a one-off special of ITV's Challenge Anneka. On the same trip, he appeared in Glasgow with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking in support of Searchlight magazine's anti racism campaign, the Daily Mirror "Hope Not Hate Bus".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On November 23, 2007, Jackson appeared on Katie & Peter: Unleashed and again talked of a reunion with his brothers on a tour the following year. In 2008, Jackson flew to Australia to be a guest judge and mentor for the top-five Michael Jackson night on Australian Idol. In March 2008, Jackson was the guest of honor at the Muslim Writers Awards in Birmingham. In 2009, following his brother Michael's passing, Jermaine appeared on the A&E television series The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, documenting what was supposed to be a 40th-anniversary reunion between Jermaine and his brothers.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> The series lasted one season and Jermaine, along with his three brothers, was listed as an executive producer.<ref name="auto"/> In October 2010, Jermaine played a concert at the Planet Hollywood hotel and casino in Las Vegas, naming it "40 Years of Jackson Music" and dedicating the concert to Michael.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He wrote the memoir You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother's Eyes (2011).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In a 2012 interview with Luka Neskovic, for The Huffington Post, Jackson said that his brother planned a reunion with him: "... the plan was to do some shows with the brothers, as well, after he finished his commitment with the This Is It [concert], and we probably gonna do some songs with him on the This Is It tour".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2012, Jackson released I Wish You Love, his first solo album in 21 years, consisting mostly of jazz covers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was arranged and produced by French opera singer David Serero, who recorded a duet on "Autumn Leaves" with Jermaine, and was released by David Serero Productions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They both performed You Are Not Alone: The Musical, written, directed and produced by Serero, in France in January 2013. The following year, You Are Not Alone: The Musical Live was released on video and audio.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Jackson has been married and divorced three times, and has seven children.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> His first marriage was to Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple were married from 1973 to 1988.<ref name="Bronson">Template:Cite book</ref> They had three children; Jermaine La Jaune "Jay" Jackson Jr. (born 1977), Autumn Joi Jackson (born 1978) and Jaimy Jermaine Jackson (born 1987). Jackson was in a relationship with Margaret Maldonado from 1986 until 1993. They had two sons, Jeremy Maldonado Jackson (born 1986) and Jourdynn Michael Jackson (born 1989).<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> From 1995 to 2004 he was married to Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, former girlfriend of his brother, Randy. They had two sons, Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson (born 1996) and Jermajesty Jermaine Jackson (born 2000).<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/> In 2004, Jackson married Halima Rashid in a mosque in Los Angeles.<ref name="lifetimetv.co.uk"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rashid was arrested in 2015 in Los Angeles for alleged domestic violence.<ref name="tmz.com">Template:Cite web</ref> She filed a petition for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>Jermaine Jackson's Wife Files for Divorce Template:Webarchive. TMZ.com (June 23, 2016). Retrieved on January 5, 2017.</ref>

Jermaine supported his brother, Michael, during his 2005 trial.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He came to Michael's defense on CNN's Larry King Live and appeared with him in court on many occasions.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Jermaine announced his brother's death on June 25, 2009, at a press conference at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jermaine thanked the people that attended Michael Jackson's memorial at the Staples Center, on July 7, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jermaine and his brothers, Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Randy Jackson served as pallbearers wearing a gold necktie, a single white glove and sunglasses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Jackson, like the rest of his family, was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. In 1989, he converted to Islam after a trip to Bahrain, in which he was impressed by the local children's devotion to their religion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On December 27, 2023, a lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by a woman who alleged Jackson sexually assaulted her after forcing himself into her home in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The woman, identified as Rita Barrett, also alleged Motown Records owner Berry Gordy assisted in covering up the abuse.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

• Jermaine (1972)
• Come into My Life (1973)
• My Name Is Jermaine (1976)
• Feel the Fire (1977)
• Frontiers (1978)
• Let's Get Serious (1980)
• Jermaine (1980)
• I Like Your Style (1981)
• Let Me Tickle Your Fancy (1982)
• Dynamite (1984)
• Precious Moments (1986)
• Don't Take It Personal (1989)
• You Said (1991)
• I Wish You L.O.V.E (2012)
• You Are Not Alone: The Musical Live (2014)

Filmography

Film and television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	The Facts of Life	Himself	Episode: "Starstruck"
1984	Voyage of the Rock Aliens	Rain
	As the World Turns	Concert Performer
2007	Celebrity Big Brother	Housemate
2008	Gone Country	Himself/contestant	7 episodes (season 2)
2013	You Are Not Alone, the Musical	Singer	Credited as Jermaine Jacksun
2014	Celebrity Wife Swap	Himself	Episode: "Daniel Baldwin/Jermaine Jackson"

Tours

• Precious Moments Tour (1986)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jermaine Jackson Australian Tour (1987–88)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:URL
• Template:IMDb name