Rebbie Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rebbie Jackson
Jackson in 2016
Born	Maureen Reillette Jackson (1950-05-29) May 29, 1950 (age 75) Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Other names	Rebbie
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1974–present
Spouse(s)	Nathaniel Brown ​ ​ (m. 1968; died 2013)​
Children	3, including Austin Brown
Parent(s)	Joe Jackson Katherine Jackson
Family	Jackson
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B soul dance
Labels	Columbia MJJ Music SuperBird
Associated acts	The Jackson 5 Michael Jackson Janet Jackson La Toya Jackson

Maureen Reillette "Rebbie" Jackson-Brown (born May 29, 1950) is an American singer. She is the oldest child of the famous Jackson family of musicians. Rebbie first performed on stage with her siblings in Las Vegas in 1974. She later appeared in the TV show The Jacksons.

When she was 34, Rebbie released her first album, Centipede (1984). The main song from the album, "Centipede", was written by her younger brother Michael. It became her most successful song. Rebbie then released two more albums: Reaction (1986) and R U Tuff Enuff (1988).

After a break, Rebbie returned with a song called "Forever Young" for the Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home movie soundtrack in 1995. Three years later, she released her album Yours Faithfully in 1998. This album was made with help from artists like Spanky Williams and Keith Thomas. Her own children also helped with the album. In 2011, Rebbie started the "Pick Up the Phone Tour". This tour was created to help teenagers across the U.S.

Life and Career

Early Life and Family

From left, back row: Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, middle row: Randy Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, front row: Janet Jackson (1977)

Maureen Reillette Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on May 29, 1950. She grew up in a working-class family. Her parents were Joseph Walter "Joe" and Katherine Esther. Rebbie is the oldest of their 10 children.

Her siblings include Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon, Michael, Randy, and Janet. Her father, Joseph, worked in a steel mill and played in an R&B band. Her mother, Katherine, raised the children as Jehovah's Witnesses. Rebbie, La Toya, and Michael became very dedicated to their faith.

Rebbie often helped take care of her younger siblings. She said she was like a "second mother" to them. She finished high school in Gary in 1968.

Starting Her Music Career

Rebbie Jackson began her singing career in 1974. She performed with her brothers and sisters in Las Vegas. Her five brothers, known as The Jackson 5, were the main stars. Rebbie, Randy, Janet, and La Toya also performed in the shows.

In 1976, The Jackson 5 left their record label, Motown. They signed with Epic Records and changed their name to The Jacksons. The brothers also got a TV show called The Jacksons on CBS-TV. The show started in June 1976 and featured all the siblings except Jermaine. This show was important because it was the first time an African-American family starred in their own TV series.

Before the TV show, Rebbie thought of singing as just a hobby. But her experience on television made her want to become a professional singer. She also sang backup for other musicians. She sang for artists like The Emotions and Sonny Bono. Her music career paused for a short time when she had her second child.

Her First Album: Centipede

After many years of getting ready, Rebbie's first album, Centipede, was released in October 1984. Columbia Records had signed her as a solo artist two years before. Rebbie made sure her family life was stable before releasing the album.

Centipede did well on the music charts. It reached number 13 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Many family members helped with the album. Her husband, Nathaniel Brown, co-wrote a song. Her brother Tito also wrote a song.

The most popular song from the album was the title track, "Centipede". Her brother Michael wrote, arranged, and produced this song. He also sang backup vocals with The Weather Girls. "Centipede" reached number 4 on the Black Singles Chart and sold over a million copies. This song was Michael's first time writing and producing since his huge album Thriller (1982).

Centipede also included cover songs by Prince and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Music critics had different opinions about the album. Jet magazine said Centipede showed Rebbie was a "legitimate recording artist." Rebbie was the last of her siblings to start a recording career and have hit songs.

Rebbie thought about whether to use the Jackson last name professionally. She decided to use it because it was her heritage. She made sure her name "Rebbie" was larger than "Jackson" on the album cover. She felt that her siblings' success, like Michael and Janet, helped her career. She knew people would recognize her name.

Reaction and R U Tuff Enuff

Reaction was Rebbie's second album, released in October 1986. It was recorded at her brother Tito's studio. Tito helped produce Reaction. The album featured duets with other singers, including Cheap Trick's lead singer Robin Zander and Isaac Hayes.

The song "You Send the Rain Away" with Robin Zander was released as a single. The album's title track, "Reaction", was the most popular song from the album. It reached number 16 on the R&B singles chart.

Rebbie's third album, R U Tuff Enuff, came out in July 1988. Rebbie was more involved in making this album. She said the album had a different sound from her previous ones. She felt it was "more versatile" and had a lot of dance music. Two songs from the album, "Plaything" and "R U Tuff Enuff", were released as singles. "Plaything" reached the top 10 on the R&B singles chart.

After this album, Rebbie sang on her brothers' song "2300 Jackson Street". Then she took a break from releasing new music. During this time, she performed around the world.

Returning to Music with Yours Faithfully

After a 7-year break, Rebbie returned to music in 1995. She sang a cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" for the movie Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home. She then signed with her brother Michael's record label, MJJ Music.

Her album Yours Faithfully was released on March 31, 1998. This was her first album in 10 years. It included a new version of her hit song "Centipede". Rebbie didn't want to include it at first, but she thought it would be a good way to return to music. Her son Austin added a rap to the song. Her other two children, Stacee and Yashi, sang backup vocals on the album.

Her brother Michael wrote and produced another song on the album called "Fly Away". He also helped produce the whole album. Other producers included Keith Thomas and Eliot Kennedy. The album also had a duet with Spanky Williams on the song "I Don't Want to Lose You". The title track, "Yours Faithfully", was released as a single.

After Michael Jackson's Passing

Rebbie's brother Michael passed away on June 25, 2009. His memorial service was held on July 7. At the end of the service, Michael's siblings, including Rebbie, and his children sang "We Are the World" and "Heal the World". After the service, Rebbie, Janet, and La Toya thanked fans for their support.

For a while, people thought Rebbie might become the main caregiver for Michael's children. However, Michael and Rebbie's mother, Katherine, became their legal guardian in August 2009. In early 2011, Rebbie announced she was recording new songs for an album. She also performed concerts across the U.S., singing her own hits, some of her brothers' songs, and classic Motown songs.

Personal Life

In November 1968, 18-year-old Rebbie wanted to marry her childhood sweetheart, Nathaniel Brown. This caused some disagreement in the Jackson family. Rebbie wanted to move to Kentucky with him. Her mother, Katherine, supported her, believing that being a wife and mother was important.

However, her father, Joseph, did not want her to marry. He wanted Rebbie to become a singer like her brothers. He felt that marriage would stop her music career. Rebbie had taken music and dance lessons as a child, but she was not interested in a music career. She felt that a happy home was more comforting than the unpredictable world of show business. She also wanted to leave her family's busy home. After several weeks of arguments, her father agreed to the marriage. But he refused to walk her down the aisle. Nathaniel Brown passed away on January 6, 2013.

Rebbie and Nathaniel Brown had three children:

• Stacee Brown (born May 5, 1971)
• Yashi Brown (born October 5, 1977)
• Austin Brown (born November 22, 1985)

Discography

Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Rebbie Jackson para niños