Family History
The Jacksons will play their hits and honor Michael when they come to The State Theatre
DATE POSTED: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 5:05 PM EDT
By Keith Loria
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THE Jackson 5 became a worldwide sensation in 1969 when the album
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 spawned tunes such as “I Want You Back” and “Who’s Loving You” and a year later their second release generated hits “ABC,” “I’ll Be There,” and “The Love You Save.”
While the group generated much of its energy from its then-9-year-old lead singer, the legendary Michael Jackson, the Jackson 5 became as big as it did thanks to the harmonious talents of all five siblings. While Michael may have been the one garnering the press, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon helped create an electrifying group that danced and sang its way to Motown royalty.
Of course, Michael would go on to a solo career and produce some of the most popular songs of all time and plenty of tabloid fodder has appeared about him and the rest of the family, but through it all, the family has continued to put out music.
”I’ve been doing this all my life with my brothers and we understand each other, so it makes it easier. We’re a team. We started together and done everything together,” Tito Jackson says. “The brothers are all in great shape. We had a father who was pretty hard on us in this business as far as going out there and partying so we have stayed smart and survived.”
Today, brothers Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon continue the legacy of the Jacksons and will be heading to the State Theatre in New Brunswick as part of its current Unity Tour on July 25.
”We do a pretty good show. We’ve been doing this for a long time and we’ve taken this show all over the world,” Mr. Jackson says. “We’ve been getting a really big response and we love performing to crowds who are as much into it as we are.”
The Jacksons have traveled the globe since they were kids and are one of the biggest worldwide acts in total ticket sales ever. Their music has topped the charts on different continents and in more than 50 countries.
”We get respect all over the world, and that’s a beautiful thing,” Mr. Jackson says. “Traveling and seeing different cultures is amazing. It’s something I have always enjoyed doing. We don’t always have the chance to get out because you may only have 24 hours in a city and you have to do interviews, but when you can, it’s one of my favorite things.”
The concert will consist of many of the Jackson 5’s greatest hits, as well as some solo hits from Jermaine’s career and other Motown favorites.
”There’s a lot of energy, a lot of dancing, a lot of singing; everything you would expect from a Jacksons show,” Mr. Jackson says. “It’s one of the most fun shows I have ever performed with the brothers and we all have a great time.”
The brothers also will be doing a tribute to Michael, who died in 2009.
”Our brother was a big part of our life, our family and was our brother before and after the music,” Mr. Jackson says. “We lost him and we just want to remember him and pay him homage on stage. He’s still there on stage with us in spirit and that’s a beautiful thing.”
For Tito, there’s nothing like being on stage and listening to a packed crowd singing the Jacksons’ songs back to them, and he often just smiles and listens, proud that the songs still resonate with so many.
”The connection with the audience has always been the same. I’m having more fun now that I am older because I can appreciate it in a different way,” he says. “I enjoyed it when I was a kid, but I was young. We did a lot of practical jokes and things that kids do, but now we can appreciate the world and people more.”
Although the Jacksons haven’t released any new music since 1989’s
2300 Jackson Street, which featured Michael, Marlon and Janet as guest singers, the four brothers are planning on putting out something new for the first time this century.
”We are in the process of doing something. We have recorded a few little things and want to get into the studio and put some new tunes in our repertoire and we hope to show what we can do,” he says. “Not sure when that will happen but we will focus on making the best record we can.”
When it comes to the press, Mr. Jackson says things haven’t always been as easy as ABC. Ever since they were young, the Jackson brothers have been in the spotlight and they endured the tabloid fodder about their brother, sister and family members alike. There was the time that Michael’s hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial that was to coincide with the Jacksons Victory Tour in 1989, and the controversy when the VH-1 movie
The Jacksons: The American Dream, which first aired in 1992.
”To me, I believe in keeping your private life private and separating it all from the business part of the music,” Mr. Jackson says. “I would never want to write a memoir because I have no interest in sharing that part of my life.”
One thing he and the rest of the Jacksons would consider writing is music to a theatrical production. While some of the band’s music is currently being showcased in Broadway’s
Motown the Musical, Mr. Jackson hints that this is an avenue that the brothers have long talked about doing together.
”It’s possible. We’ve talked about doing something like that,” he says. “There’s a lot of musical history with us and it’s something that has been brought up from time to time and I think would be nice to do.”
The Jacksons
will perform at the State Theatre, 15 Livingston St., New Brunswick, July 25, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35-$95; www.statetheatrenj.org; 732-246-7469.
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