The Jacksons discuss never winning a Grammy with Daily Sta

[Annita]

The Jacksons discuss never winning a Grammy with Daily Star
Published: 18 September 2015
http://www.jackson-source.com/news/1811-the-jacksons-discuss-never-winning-a-grammy-with-daily-star
The Daily Star - By Jack Hardwick - THEY are one of the most successful bands in the world but 70s legends The Jacksons admit they are still angry they never received a Grammy.

The Jackson 5 were nominated twice for the prestigious award – once for best contemporary group vocal performance in 1970 for global smash ABC. And then four years later for best R&B group vocal performance with track Dancing Machine. But both times they failed to win – a move Tito Jackson, 61, claims was simply down to the colour of their skin. Chatting exclusively to Daily Star Online at Bestival 2015, Tito said: "For me, my brothers and I have accomplished a lot of great things throughout the years. "We are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we have a star on Hollywood. We even did eight nights at Dodgers Stadium but we don't have a Grammy." The Jacksons do not own a Grammy. "We have been nominated so many times for a one throughout our career but they have never let us win – not one time." Despite over forty years passing it seems the snub it still very raw for the iconic band. Their late brother Michael won an incredible 13 Grammy Awards before his death in 2009.

And to make matters worse when it came for the ceremony to honour MJ with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award', Jermaine and his brothers did not even receive an invite to the event. Launching into a thinly-veiled attack on the industry, Tito continued: "Let's be real, we came up through the Grammys when music was very prejudice. "They weren't going to have five little black boys winning over The Carpenters or U2 – not no five little black kids even though our records were popular." Prompting Jermaine to add: "ABC knocked The Beatles off the number one spot." But a lack of recognition has not stopped the brothers from taking to stage around the world. In fact they plan to perform for many years to come. "The goal is to keep going," Jermaine said. "It's been fifty years for us and we want to continue to set the bar high, even higher, and strive for the best." Marlon added: "We cherish the support of our fans who have been so loyal and loving throughout the years."

________

Just a reminder to the marked sentence. Michaels childreen accompanied from Titos sons (3T) accepted the Liftetime-Grammy for Michael

 

[DuranDuran]

During that time, R&B acts were mostly in the R&B category. But since that category is 99% black performers, Dancing Machine lost to another R&B act, Rufus. Although Rufus has black & white members, the lead singer Chaka Khan is black and their song (Tell Me Something Good) was written by Stevie Wonder. So it's doubtful they lost that one because of race. Also in the 1970s, the Pointer Sisters, who are black, won a Grammy in the country music category for Fairytale and country is a mainly white genre.

 

[SheilaMJFan4Ever]

During that time, R&B acts were mostly in the R&B category. But since that category is 99% black performers, Dancing Machine lost to another R&B act, Rufus. Although Rufus has black & white members, the lead singer Chaka Khan is black and their song (Tell Me Something Good) was written by Stevie Wonder. So it's doubtful they lost that one because of race. Also in the 1970s, the Pointer Sisters, who are black, won a Grammy in the country music category for Fairytale and country is a mainly white genre.

Bringing up a few token winners that were black does not discredit what Tito said. While racism may not be the sole reason the J5/Jacksons were overlooked, it doesn't mean it wasn't a factor. Michael himself faced it when trying to get videos from Thriller aired on MTV and that was in the early 80s, ffs! Little Richard (one of the TRUE kings of Rock & Roll, not Elvis) spoke boldly about racism in the entertainment industry, as well as many others, black and white. Here it is the late quarter of 2015 and the Emmys just awarded a black actress in a LEADING role for the FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY. It can't be said that there weren't any talented leading actresses of color to nominate or award in all of these years. The struggle isn't as harsh as it was when the Little Richards, Ray Charles', Jacksons, etc. were making their mark, but it is still THERE.

 

[DuranDuran]

Bringing up a few token winners that were black does not discredit what Tito said. While racism may not be the sole reason the J5/Jacksons were overlooked, it doesn't mean it wasn't a factor. Michael himself faced it when trying to get videos from Thriller aired on MTV and that was in the early 80s, ffs! Little Richard (one of the TRUE kings of Rock & Roll, not Elvis) spoke boldly about racism in the entertainment industry, as well as many others, black and white. Here it is the late quarter of 2015 and the Emmys just awarded a black actress in a LEADING role for the FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY. It can't be said that there weren't any talented leading actresses of color to nominate or award in all of these years. The struggle isn't as harsh as it was when the Little Richards, Ray Charles', Jacksons, etc. were making their mark, but it is still THERE.

The Grammy Awards & MTV are 2 different things. Since the J5 were only nominated twice and one of them was in a category with all black performers, being racist because the Carpenters won in the other seems unlikely, especially when Stevie Wonder was winning the big awards for several years in the 1970s. What was the reason for losing to Rufus/Chaka Khan? If a black group in the 1970s can win an Grammy award for country, when pretty much the only one in that field who had gotten any major popularity was Charley Pride (and maybe Darius Rucker in recent years), says something about the Grammys, but not about the industry as a whole. The Pointer Sisters aren't even a country act, so that makes it more unusual that they were nominated at all, let alone won. The entertainment industry in the US is only giving the mainstream public what it wants and the mainstream audience is majority white. It's like during the studio days in Hollywood, that they would edit out black actors when movies were shown in the south. How many Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Arab, etc. singers/bands have gotten hit records in the US? Very few, if any, like Sukiyaki in the 1960s. White people in general don't go to see a movie that has a majority non-white cast. There's been a few exceptions like the blaxploitation era and Tyler Perry movies. As far as "King Of Rock n Roll", Elvis didn't even like being called that. He's told fans that Jesus is the king and has also said Fats Domino to interviewers.

 

[Tygger]

Tito is correct so I hope there will not be too many posts attempting to prove him wrong.

The Jacksons did not receive a Grammy for their FULL career as The Jackson5 AND The Jacksons. It is interesting that the Jacksons did not earn a Grammy for their performance for ABC which was one of four number one U.S. singles. NO act achieved four number one singles as the Jacksons did regardless of race, genre, and/or age (the Jackson 5 included minors). ABC was nominated for best contemporary group vocal which is NOT an R/B category. The Carpenters won over the Jacksons’ ABC with Close To You. Dancing Machine was nominated for R/B performance and Rufus won. That is two nominations for a group that generated hits over two decades.

As for the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Jacksons – including Michael’s children - were NOT invited and they complained at that time. After the complaint, it was decided Frank Dileo accepted the award. Michael’s children honored their father during a tribute to him during the Grammy telecast (they did not accept the award) as per Katherine and Joe’s request.

 

[Psychoniff]

During that time, R&B acts were mostly in the R&B category. But since that category is 99% black performers, Dancing Machine lost to another R&B act, Rufus. Although Rufus has black & white members, the lead singer Chaka Khan is black and their song (Tell Me Something Good) was written by Stevie Wonder. So it's doubtful they lost that one because of race. Also in the 1970s, the Pointer Sisters, who are black, won a Grammy in the country music category for Fairytale and country is a mainly white genre.

Exactly! I think it had more to do with the type of music they were playing, bubblegum pop compared to other R'n'B acts at the time.

 

[elusive moonwalker]

Daily star! deary me. cant get much lower than that other than the daily sport lol

 

[SheilaMJFan4Ever]

The Grammy Awards & MTV are 2 different things. Since the J5 were only nominated twice and one of them was in a category with all black performers, being racist because the Carpenters won in the other seems unlikely, especially when Stevie Wonder was winning the big awards for several years in the 1970s. What was the reason for losing to Rufus/Chaka Khan? If a black group in the 1970s can win an Grammy award for country, when pretty much the only one in that field who had gotten any major popularity was Charley Pride (and maybe Darius Rucker in recent years), says something about the Grammys, but not about the industry as a whole. The Pointer Sisters aren't even a country act, so that makes it more unusual that they were nominated at all, let alone won. The entertainment industry in the US is only giving the mainstream public what it wants and the mainstream audience is majority white. It's like during the studio days in Hollywood, that they would edit out black actors when movies were shown in the south. How many Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Arab, etc. singers/bands have gotten hit records in the US? Very few, if any, like Sukiyaki in the 1960s. White people in general don't go to see a movie that has a majority non-white cast. There's been a few exceptions like the blaxploitation era and Tyler Perry movies. As far as "King Of Rock n Roll", Elvis didn't even like being called that. He's told fans that Jesus is the king and has also said Fats Domino to interviewers.

Wow, I didn't know that The point made was about the entertainment industry's bigotry across the board and bringing up other slights towards non-white artists doesn't negate what Tito spoke on. It's merely an attempt at deflecting and denying the racism black artists/people deal with exists. The same tactic is used when people say (stupidly) "Why are black people still talking about racism? You have Barack Obama in the White House." Newsflash: racism and bigotry didn't magically disappear just because we have a biracial President! People across the spectrum won't be silenced about it either, regardless if it makes some uncomfortable or not.

As to what Elvis said, it doesn't matter because he is being celebrated as the Rock & Roll king when he (and Pat Boone) was merely the Vanilla Ice of his time; whitewashing a genre, a sound that wasn't allowed to be listened to in some white homes (mainly in the deep American South) by the originators of it.

 

[DuranDuran]

Wow, I didn't know that The point made was about the entertainment industry's bigotry across the board and bringing up other slights towards non-white artists doesn't negate what Tito spoke on. It's merely an attempt at deflecting and denying the racism black artists/people deal with exists. The same tactic is used when people say (stupidly) "Why are black people still talking about racism? You have Barack Obama in the White House." Newsflash: racism and bigotry didn't magically disappear just because we have a biracial President! People across the spectrum won't be silenced about it either, regardless if it makes some uncomfortable or not.

As to what Elvis said, it doesn't matter because he is being celebrated as the Rock & Roll king when he (and Pat Boone) was merely the Vanilla Ice of his time; whitewashing a genre, a sound that wasn't allowed to be listened to in some white homes (mainly in the deep American South) by the originators of it.

I didn't say there was no racism, but that it wasn't the reason the J5 didn't win a Grammy. If they were nominated against white acts once and Stevie Wonder was in categories with white acts several times and won, to the point Paul Simon made a joke that he was glad Stevie didn't have a record out the year he won.

Elvis was called a N-lover, and many older whites did not like the music he was performing and that he hung out with black people, so he was not just accepted because he was white. They wanted to ban his music and rock n roll in general, said it caused juvenile delinquency. Several of Elvis' singles made the Top 10 R&B. Elvis was even interviewed or mentioned in Jet Magazine a few times. Pat Boone was more like the old crooners like Bing Crosby and had a clean cut image, unlike Elvis. Pat wasn't really rock & roll. That is why he was more accepted. Elvis & Pat had nothing in common image or music wise.

With Vanilla Ice, by the time he came along, rap was already mainstream with acts like Run DMC, Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, Tone Loc, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Young MC, LL Cool J, and others. There wasn't a difference between Vanilla Ice & MC Hammer, dancing rappers who made party music. Vanilla Ice didn't make rap popular, and the Beastie Boys were several years before him as far as white rappers go. Before he got a record deal, Vanilla Ice was a battle rapper. Willie D from the Geto Boys mentioned this and that he'd whip Ice during their battles in clubs. Vanilla Ice is considered by many today to be a joke, so he's not the same thing as Elvis.

 

[Tygger]

I didn't say there was no racism, but that it wasn't the reason the J5 didn't win a Grammy. If they were nominated against white acts once and Stevie Wonder was in categories with white acts several times and won, to the point Paul Simon made a joke that he was glad Stevie didn't have a record out the year he won.

Stevie Wonder was an adult and an extremely successful one at that. The Jackson Five included minors and that is what Tito is referring to. He does not believe a group of five successful African-American males, some of whom were minors, were taken seriously by the Grammys and he has a point.

 

[DuranDuran]

Stevie Wonder was an adult and an extremely successful one at that. The Jackson Five included minors and that is what Tito is referring to. He does not believe a group of five successful African-American males, some of whom were minors, were taken seriously by the Grammys and he has a point.

Teen acts in general were not likely to win Grammys at the time. Marie Osmond & Tanya Tucker were also nominated in the 1970s and they didn't win either. I don't think any teen acts won until the 1990s.

 

[Tygger]

DuranDuran, were Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker as successful as The Jackson Five at their time of nomination?

 

[DuranDuran]

DuranDuran, were Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker as successful as The Jackson Five at their time of nomination?

Were the J5 (or The Carpenters) as popular as the Beatles? The Fab 4 were also in the same category that the Carpenters won. The Grammys are not always about popularity, like Steely Dan in 2001. Steely Dan was really popular in the 1970s, not in 2001 against acts like Eminem.

 

[Tygger]

Were the J5 (or The Carpenters) as popular as the Beatles?

As per the article, The Jackson Five's ABC, which was nominated, was: "Prompting Jermaine to add: 'ABC knocked The Beatles off the number one spot.'"

 

[DuranDuran]

As per the article, The Jackson Five's ABC, which was nominated, was: "Prompting Jermaine to add: 'ABC knocked The Beatles off the number one spot.'"

That doesn't mean the J5 were more popular than the Beatles overall. The J5 albums that had been released at the time did not sell more than Let It Be. Motown in 1970 was more known as a singles label, than for their albums being big. Somebody replaced all of the Beatles singles that hit #1. Going by this logic, then Nirvana was bigger than Mike because their album replaced Dangerous, which the media has often reported. They never made a big deal about any other record replacing another. Also The Beatles have only won 5 Grammys while an active group and 3 more for the later Anthology. Although they had already broken up by the time of the 5th win in 1971. Elvis has won 3, all for gospel recordings. Marvin Gaye has 2 and that was for Sexual Healing. But Beyoncé has won around 20, which is more than a lot of the older acts, including Mike. She might eventually get ahead of conductor Georg Solti, who has won the most with 31.

 

[Tygger]

That doesn't mean the J5 were more popular than the Beatles overall.

That was never said.

The discussion is about the Grammy nominations for a group whose career survived two decades. One nomination was for ABC, a single that succeeded the Beatles for the number one spot. Tito believes he and his brothers (including Michael) did not win that particular nomination because of their age and race/culture and he has a point.