Marlon Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marlon Jackson
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Jackson in 2013
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| Born |
Marlon David Jackson
March 12, 1957 Gary, Indiana, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1964–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Carol Parker
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | |
| Family | Jackson |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
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Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is best known as a member of the Jackson 5, a very famous music group. Marlon is the sixth child in the well-known Jackson family. Today, he leads the Study Peace Foundation, which works to bring peace and togetherness around the world.
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Early life
Marlon David Jackson was born on March 12, 1957, in Gary, Indiana. His father, Joseph, worked in a steel mill and played in an R&B band. His mother, Katherine Jackson, was a Jehovah's Witness. Marlon was born about a year and a half before his younger brother, Michael. He felt very close to Michael. Marlon once said, "We were the jokers of the family."
In 1964, Marlon and Michael joined their brothers Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine. They formed a music group called the Jackson 5. Their mother, Katherine, helped them by playing piano and singing harmonies. Their father, Joe, guided their rehearsals. This helped keep them busy and out of trouble. The group won many singing contests, even in New York. This was the start of their amazing career.
Marlon sang background vocals on many of the Jackson 5's hit songs. He also played the conga and tambourine. Later, his brother Randy joined the band. This happened when Jermaine decided to stay with Motown Records. The group then left Motown and changed their name to The Jacksons. Marlon also has three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet.
Career
The Jackson 5
Marlon and his brothers first signed with Steeltown Records in November 1967. Their first song, "Big Boy", came out in January 1968. After recording a few more songs, they signed with Berry Gordy of Motown Records in 1969.
The Jackson 5 felt they were not getting paid fairly. They also wanted more control over their music. So, in 1975, they decided to leave Motown. They then signed with Epic Records. Jermaine chose to stay at Motown and start a solo career. His brother Randy Jackson took his place in the group.
Motown had trademarked the name "The Jackson Five." This meant the group could not use that name anymore. So, when they joined Epic, they became known simply as The Jacksons. In 1983, the group performed for the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever TV special. In 1997, Marlon and his brothers were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2001, he joined his brothers again to perform for the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special.
Solo career
Like his brothers Michael and Jermaine, Marlon also started a solo career. He released his album Baby Tonight in 1987. This album reached No. 22 on the Top R&B Albums chart in the United States. However, Marlon has not released another album since then.
Later work
Marlon has also been successful in other areas, like real estate in Southern California. In 1999, he helped run the Major Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). This was a religious TV network based in Atlanta. In 2004, it changed its name to Black Family Channel. In 2007, the Black Family Channel was sold.
In 2008, Marlon and some partners started the Motherland Group LLC. This group aims to bring attention to ancient Badagry, Nigeria. They want to help with education and tourism there, while also protecting its history.
Marlon now runs the Study Peace Foundation, which he started in 2015. Its goal is to promote peace and unity in communities everywhere. The foundation offers programs for children, adults, and older people. These programs help them live in peaceful places. Marlon said, "It all starts with what we make accessible to the children." The foundation has worked with KaBOOM! (non-profit organization) to build playgrounds. They have built playgrounds in New Orleans, Gary, and Los Angeles.
Personal life
Family
In August 1975, Marlon Jackson, who was 18, married his girlfriend, Carol Ann Parker. He met her in New Orleans during one of the Jacksons' tours. Marlon and Carol have three children:
- Valencia Caroline Jackson (born December 18, 1976)
- Brittany Shauntee Jackson (born September 4, 1978)
- Marlon David Jackson Jr. (born September 23, 1981)
Marlon and Carol also have six grandchildren. Two are from Valencia, and four are from Brittany.
Michael's memorial
On July 7, 2009, Marlon and his family spoke at Michael's memorial service. This was held at the Staples Center. Marlon said Michael was the "soul" of their family. He told the crowd, "Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone." He also asked Michael to "give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, a hug for me." Marlon ended by saying, "I love you, Michael, and I'll miss you."
To honor Michael, Marlon and his brothers Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Randy Jackson were pallbearers. They wore a gold necktie, a single white glove, and sunglasses. In a 2019 interview, Marlon spoke about his brother Michael. He said that he would always support Michael's character. He felt that the stories were not true to who Michael was.
Music
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
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| US |
US R&B |
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| Baby Tonight | 175 | 22 | |
Songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
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| US R&B |
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| "(Let Your Love Find) The Chosen One" | 1986 | — | The Golden Child | ||||||||||
| "Baby Tonight" | 1987 | 57 | Baby Tonight | ||||||||||
| "Don't Go" | 2 | ||||||||||||
| "—" means the song was not released in that country or did not appear on the charts. | |||||||||||||
Other music projects
- 1980: La Toya Jackson – for La Toya Jackson
- 1981: My Special Love – for La Toya Jackson
- 1983: Wright Back at You – for Betty Wright
- 1983: Respect – for Billy Griffin
- 1984: Heart Don't Lie – for La Toya Jackson
- 1984: Dream Street – for Janet Jackson
- 1985: "We Are the World" – for USA for Africa
- 1986: The Golden Child Soundtrack.
- 1989: 2300 Jackson Street – by The Jacksons featuring Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Rebbie Jackson and Marlon Jackson.
- 2011: AI Feat. The Jacksons (Jackie Jackson/Tito Jackson/Marlon Jackson) - Letter in the Sky
- 2021: Tito Jackson Feat. Marlon Jackson/Stevie Wonder/Kenny Neal and Bobby Rush - Love One Another
See also
In Spanish: Marlon Jackson para niños
