Jackie Jackson

Jackie Jackson

Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951) is an American singer and musician, a member of The Jackson 5, and the second child in the Jackson family.

Life and career

Jackson was born Sigmund Esco Jackson, the second child of Joseph and Katherine and the oldest male child. He was given the name "Jackie" by relatives. Although he wanted to become a professional baseball player, Jackson abandoned that path when his 4 younger brothers and he formed The Jackson 5 in 1964. Jackson and his two younger brothers Tito and Jermaine were part of an early incarnation of the group as The Jackson Brothers from 1964 to 1966.

The Jackson Five

Jackson's role in the Jackson 5 was as the high tenor singer opposite the lead vocals of Michael and Jermaine. His voice can be heard in the finale of I Want You Back singing the lines "Forget what happened then" and "Spare me of this cost". During live performances, he stood beside Michael and Marlon, providing backing vocals and occasionally playing the tambourine. During the group's successful years, Jackson recorded his first solo album: the self-titled "Jackie Jackson". Consisting of ballads in typical Motown fashion, the album showcased Jackson's now familiar high tenor singing style. However, due to lack of marketing interest from Motown, the album did not chart or reach a large audience. As a member of the Jackson 5, Jackson continued to see success throughout the early to mid 1970's.

The Jacksons

In 1975, The Jackson 5 became "The Jacksons" when they moved from Motown to CBS. CBS offered the brothers the creative control Motown did not. Along with the move came the addition of younger brother Randy and the departure of Jermaine (who stayed with Motown as a solo artist). With the change in lineup and creative freedom Jackson took a more active role in the group: filling Jermaine's shoes as a lead singer alongside Michael and writing original material for the first time. During these years Jackson also dropped the high tenor voice he was known for and sang in a more natural and soulful style. The first two albums as The Jacksons were not as successful as their past Jackson 5 releases, even with a syndicated TV show to promote them.

The Jacksons 1978 album Destiny put them back into the charts with the hit single Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground). Two years later The Jacksons followed up Destiny with another successful album Triumph, featuring Jackson's first solo song in the group Wondering Who as well as co-writing the single Can You Feel It.

In 1984 the brothers released Victory, which saw the return of Jermaine and a more limited contribution from now-superstar Michael. Again, Jackie Jackson took the lead with the song Wait as well as writing the single, "Torture". This album was not as big a hit as its predecessors, but the subsequent tour by the same name proved to be the group's best attended tour. Jackie missed most of the tour because of a leg injury suffered just before the opening. This was officially described at the time as a knee injury incurred during strenuous rehearsals. However, the author Margaret Maldonado, who is also the mother of two of Jermaines' children, claims that Jackie was in fact injured in an automobile accident. Supposedly, Enid Jackson ran over her husband in the parking lot of a movie theatre, after she caught him with another woman (namely, Paula Abdul, who was the Victory Tour's choreographer.) Happily he made a speedy recovery and was able to participate in the last portion of the tour.

In the years that followed the brothers would go their separate ways after recording a final album in 1989, 2300 Jackson Street. Michael and Marlon were very distant from the album leaving Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Randy to record and promote 2300 Jackson Street as a four-piece. In the same year Jackson released his second solo album Be the One. Although a bigger success than his previous Motown release, Be the One it still failed to reach a large audience. Jackie Jackson did not reunite with his brothers again until 2001, when he took part in the Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary show.

Current years

Jackson currently lives in Las Vegas where he runs two record companies, Jesco Records and Futurist Entertainment (founded in 2001). Artists signed to the label Jesco include rapper Mike Street and Jackson's own son Sigmund Esco Jackson, Jr. (aka DEALZ), who released his first mixtape in August 2007.

Jackson is now an executive producer along with three of his brothers for the show The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty. Additionally, Jackson serves as a mentor for new and unknown artists.

Personal life

Jackson married Enid Adren Spann (born June 27, 1954 – died December 20, 1997) in November 1974 at the age of 23. Jackson and Spann divorced in 1987. In 2001 Jackson married his second wife Victoria Triggs. On Larry King Live Jackie announced his marital status as divorced.

Children

He has two children with Enid Spann

• Sigmund Esco Jackson, Jr. (born Wednesday, June 29, 1977 in Encino, California)
• Brandi Jackson (born Saturday, February 6, 1982)

Discography

The Jackson 5

Main article: Jackson 5 discography

Solo albums

• Jackie Jackson (1973)

Be the One (Released October 30, 1989)
1. "Stay" - 3:55
2. "Be the One" - 4:15
3. "Fun" - 5:07
4. Who's Loving You Now" - 4:06
5. "Cruzin" - 4:20
6. "Fine Fine Lady" - 4:14
7. "Stuck On You" - 5:29
8. "Don't Rush It" - 4:00
9. "Broken Heart" - 3:56
10. "Stay (12 Remix)" - 8:43

Singles

• "Stay" (September 22, 1989, #39 R&B)
• "Cruzin'" (October 7, 1989, #58 R&B)