Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson was born on May 4, 1951, at St Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine and Joseph "Joe" Jackson. He was the second child of the Jackson family and the oldest Jackson brother. Jackie's grandfather, Samuel Jackson, gave him the nickname Jackie.
Growing up in a two-bedroom house in Gary, Indiana, Jackie and his siblings, including Michael, Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, Randy, Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, were brought up in a musical household. His father, Joseph "Joe" Jackson, worked at a steel mill and played in an R&B band called the Falcons with his brother, Luther, at night. Their mother, Katherine, a Jehovah's Witness, played the clarinet and piano.
As a child, Jackie and his brothers were part of the Jackson Brothers singing group, which included Jackie and his brothers Tito and Jermaine. Younger brothers Marlon and Michael played assorted percussive instruments. The family's musical talents were nurtured by their parents, and Katherine used to sing harmonies with the brothers.
By 1964, Joe made Michael the lead singer, forming the Jackson 5, after Katherine discovered that Michael could sing. The brothers rehearsed every day after school under Joe's lead, keeping themselves busy and out of trouble. Jackie gives his mother credit, saying "there wouldn't have been The Jackson 5 without her."
The Jackson 5 signed with Motown in 1968 and became one of the most successful music groups of all time. Jackie performed with a high tenor singing voice and had the highest and lightest natural speaking and singing voice of all the brothers. He added brief lead parts in some of the Jackson 5's hit singles, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC."
When the Jackson 5 became the Jacksons after leaving Motown for CBS Records in 1976, Jackson's role as a vocalist and songwriter increased. He added a lead vocal alongside Michael on their Top 10 Epic single "Enjoy Yourself" and also added composition on six of the group's albums with Epic.
Jackson's voice changed to a lower tenor vocal style during the Epic years. One of his most successful compositions, "Can You Feel It," co-written with Michael, became an international hit in 1981. Jackson began performing more lead vocals as Michael pursued a solo career. On their 1984 album Victory, Jackie performed lead on the song "Wait" and wrote the single "Torture."
Before the start of the Victory Tour in 1984, he suffered a knee injury during rehearsals. Jackie recovered well enough to perform on the last leg of shows in December 1984 in Los Angeles, where Michael announced he was leaving the group. In early 1985, Marlon left the group as well. Jackie, Tito, and Randy became session musicians, vocalists, and producers during this time.
Throughout his career, Jackie has been a vital part of the Jackson family's musical legacy, and his contributions as a singer, songwriter, and performer have been significant.
