Jackson family facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jackson family
Most of the Jackson siblings, January 1977. Back row, left to right: Jackie, Michael, Tito, Marlon; middle row: Randy, La Toya, Rebbie; front: Janet; absent: Jermaine.
Place of origin	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Members	Joe (1928–2018) Katherine (b. 1930) Rebbie (b. 1950) Jackie (b. 1951) Tito (1953–2024) Jermaine (b. 1954) La Toya (b. 1956) Marlon (b. 1957) Brandon (1957–1957) Michael (1958–2009) Randy (b. 1961) Janet (b. 1966)

The Jackson family is a very famous American family of entertainers from Gary, Indiana. Many of the children of Joseph Walter "Joe" and Katherine Esther Jackson became successful musicians. The most famous were the brothers who formed the Motown boy band the Jackson 5. This group was later known as The Jacksons.

Several of the siblings also had amazing solo careers. Joe worked as their manager, guiding their early steps. The Jackson family, both as a group and as solo artists, achieved great success in popular music starting in the late 1960s. They are sometimes called the "First Family of Soul" or the "Royal Family of Pop." This is especially true after the huge success of Michael and Janet Jackson. Michael is often called the "King of Pop."

The Jackson 5 first included Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. In 1975, Randy joined the group, replacing Jermaine. Michael and Janet both had incredibly successful solo careers. They are often seen as two of the most important pop and R&B artists ever.

Members of the Jackson family have created a total of 27 number one hits in the US. All of the Jackson siblings have earned gold records. La Toya was the first Jackson sister to get one for a song she co-wrote called "Reggae Night." Janet is the first black woman to receive the Billboard Icon Award.

The Jacksons are one of the most influential families in entertainment history. In 1997, the Jackson 5 was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Michael was also inducted as a solo artist in 2001, making him one of the few artists honored twice. Janet joined her brothers when she was inducted in 2019. Michael, Janet, and the Jacksons all received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, a TV show called The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty showed the Jackson brothers dealing with Michael's passing and planning a Jackson 5 reunion tour.

The First Generation: Joe and Katherine Jackson

Joe Jackson in 2014

Joseph Walter Jackson was born on July 26, 1928, in Fountain Hill, Arkansas. He grew up there and later in Oakland, California. At 18, he moved to East Chicago, Indiana, to live with his mother. He dreamed of becoming a professional boxer.

At 21, Joseph married Katherine Scruse, who was 19. They started their family right away. Boxing was not a stable job for a family man, so he worked as an overhead crane operator. Over sixteen years, he and Katherine had nine children. Joe Jackson always wanted to achieve something big. He saw great talent in his children, especially in Tito's guitar playing.

Michael Jackson in 1988

Joe Jackson formed a band with his sons Tito, Jermaine, and Jackie in 1964. They were called The Jackson Brothers. He became their manager. After performing in local talent shows for several years, Joseph added his younger sons, Marlon and Michael, to the band. By 1966, they were known as The Jackson Five.

As their father and manager, he was very dedicated. He made sure they had long practice sessions for singing and dancing. This helped them prepare for their future success. In August 1967, the group performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. They won the Amateur Night contest.

Gordon Keith, a producer from Steeltown Records, discovered the Jackson Five. He signed them to their first contract in November 1967. Their first record, "Big Boy", was released in January 1968 and became a local hit. In March 1969, they signed with Motown Records and became the Jackson 5.

The group quickly became famous, just as Joseph Jackson had hoped. He continued to manage The Jackson 5 as they rose to stardom. After the band had many number-one hits, Joseph moved his family to a mansion in Encino, California. He earned a good salary as their full-time manager. The group continued to create more hits and wealth. However, Michael decided to pursue a solo career in 1979. Four years later, in 1983, his siblings also chose a different manager.

Katherine Jackson was born on May 4, 1930, in Barbour County, Alabama. She had polio as a child, which left her with a permanent limp. She recovered after moving with her family to East Chicago, Indiana. There, she met Joseph Jackson. The couple bought a small home in Gary, Indiana. She was a stay-at-home mother and raised their nine children there.

Katherine was a devoted Jehovah's Witness throughout her life. She raised her children with the same spiritual teachings. She was also a talented pianist, clarinetist, cellist, and vocalist. She shared her musical gifts with her children. Many believe she was a key reason for her children's success. After her sons became famous as The Jackson 5, she strongly supported them. She even designed costumes for their shows and performances. Katherine lived in Calabasas, California, where she cared for her son Michael's children after he passed away in 2009.

The Second Generation: The Jackson Siblings

Janet Jackson in 1998

Joe and Katherine Jackson had ten children together. Sadly, their son Brandon, Marlon's twin, passed away shortly after birth. The other nine children grew up to become professional musicians and pursue other careers.

• Maureen Reillette "Rebbie" Jackson (born May 29, 1950)
• Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951)
• Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024)
• Jermaine LaJuane Jackson (born December 11, 1954)
• La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956)
• Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957)
• Brandon David Jackson (March 12, 1957 – March 13, 1957)
• Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
• Steven Randall "Randy" Jackson (born October 29, 1961)
• Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966)

The Third Generation: Carrying on the Legacy

There are twenty-seven children in the third generation of the Jackson family. Some of them have followed in their family's footsteps into the entertainment world.

The three children of Michael Jackson are very well-known. Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (born February 13, 1997), known as "Prince," Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (born April 3, 1998), and Prince Michael Jackson II, who goes by "Bigi" (born February 21, 2002), have often been in the news. This was especially true after their father's passing in 2009.

Rebbie, Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine also have children. Some of them have gained media attention. Austin Brown (born November 22, 1985), Rebbie Jackson's only son, is a singer-songwriter. He has released several successful pop/R&B songs. Tito Jackson's three sons, Toriano Adaryll "Taj" Jackson Jr. (born August 4, 1973), Taryll Adren Jackson (born August 8, 1975), and Tito Joe Jackson (born July 16, 1978), form the R&B/pop music group 3T. 3T has released three studio albums and found success, mainly outside the United States.

Sigmund Esco "Siggy" Jackson Jr. (born June 29, 1977), Jackie Jackson's eldest son, is a hip-hop artist known as "Dealz." Siggy has worked as a ghostwriter for other artists and has had some success as a solo artist. Jermaine La Jaune "Jay" Jackson Jr. (born January 27, 1977), Jermaine Jackson's eldest son, played his father in the 1992 miniseries, The Jacksons: An American Dream. This was a film about the Jackson family's life. His other son Jaafar Jackson (born July 25, 1996) portrayed Michael in the 2025 biopic film Michael. On January 3, 2017, Janet gave birth to Eissa Al Mana. He is the youngest male member of the third generation. After Tito Jackson's passing, it was shared that he had been married to Mizuki Matsui since 2020. They had a daughter named Tariana Katherine, born in March 2020. She is the youngest female member of the third generation.

See also

In Spanish: Familia Jackson para niños