FAMILY AFFAIR Who are Joe Jackson’s children and how did the Jackson 5 form?
JOE and Katherine Jackson took over the entertainment industry with their children from the late 1960s onwards.
But how many children did Joe have and how did the Jackson 5 form? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Jackson 5 with their parents Joe and Katherine Credit: Getty – Contributor
Who are Joe Jackson’s children?
Joe and his wife Katherine Jackson had ten children together, seven sons and three daughters.
Joe was alleged to have had a long extramarital affair and Katherine filed for divorce in 1973, but decided to drop the divorce papers.
The following year, Joe fathered a daughter with Cheryle Terrell, which went on to become a 25-year-long affair.
Katherine attempted to divorce her husband again in 1982 but was persuaded to drop the suit once more.
Despite the pair living separately for many years, the two remained legally married until his death in 2018.
Maureen Reillette “Rebbie” Jackson Brown
Rebbie Jackson is the oldest child Credit: Getty – Contributor
Rebbie was born in 1950 and is the oldest of Joe Jackson’s children.
She’s a musician like her siblings and first performed on stage in the 1970s, before appearing in the TV series The Jacksons.
She took a 10-year break from music but returned in 1998 with Yours Faithfully – this was her last album.
Sigmund Esco “Jackie” Jackson
Jackie Jackson was the oldest son of Joe Jackson Credit: Getty
Jackie Jackson is the oldest son of Joe and is the founding member of The Jackson Five.
He released a solo album in 1973 but it didn’t make the charts.
Jackie once ran two record companies: Jesco Records and Futurist Entertainment.
Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson
Tito Jackson was born in 1953 Credit: Getty
Tito Jackson was one of the original members of The Jackson Five and the Jacksons.
In 2003, he began a solo career as a blues musician.
In 2016, he had his first solo hit on the Billboard charts: “Get It Baby.”
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine was born in 1954 Credit: Getty
Jermaine Jackson was the second lead vocalist of The Jackson Five born in 1954.
Between the 1970s and 1980s, he had a solo career with many top hits.
He’s also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK and Celebrity Wife Swap.
LaToya Jackson
LaToya Jackson is Joe’s second-oldest daughter Credit: Getty – Contributor
LaToya Jackson was born in 1956 and is the fifth Jackson child.
She had a successful solo career in the 1980s and 1990s.
She also starred in her own reality series, Life with LaToya, from 2013 to 2014.
Marlon David Jackson
Marlon Jackson decided celebrity life was not for him Credit: Getty
Marlon Jackson was born in 1957.
In 1987, he released an album called Baby Tonight and the single Don’t Go hit number two on the R&B charts.
He decided celebrity life wasn’t for him and started working as a real estate agent in southern California and was part owner of Black Family Channel.
However, he still occasionally performs.
Brandon Jackson
Brandon was Marlon Jackson’s twin brother.
Sadly, he died within 24 hours of his birth.
Both children were born several weeks premature.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was the king of pop Credit: EPA
Michael Jackson was born in August 1958.
He and his sister, Janet Jackson, are the most successful of Joe Jackson’s talented children.
He died of cardiac arrest at the age of 5o in 2009.
Steven Randall “Randy” Jackson
Randy Jackson was a judge on American Idol Credit: Getty
Randy Jackson is the second-youngest Jackson child born in 1961 and was a member of The Jacksons.
After the Jacksons split up in 1990, he formed his own band called Randy & the Gypsys.
In 1989 he started his own record label called Modern Records.
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson is the youngest child born to Joe and Katherine Jackson Credit: Getty
Janet Jackson is the youngest Jackson child and has had a highly successful career of her own.
She’s sold more than 100 million records and is one of the world’s best-selling music artists.
In 2016, Billboard named her the second-most successful dance club artist of all time, after Madonna.
Joh’Vonnie Jackson
Joh’Vonnie Jackson is the daughter of Joe Jackson and Cheryl Terrell Credit: Instagram
Joe fathered daughter Joh’Vonnie Jackson with Cheryl Terrell in August 1974.
She was raised just five miles from where Joe lived with his large family in Encino, California.
She has said that Joe visited almost daily and took them on family vacations.
How did the Jackson 5 form?
Joe and Katherine’s children started to show signs of being musically gifted at an early age.
He formed The Jackson Brothers in 1963 with three of his eldest sons, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine.
Michael’s musical talent was initially discovered by Katherine who used to sing and dance along to the radio when he was just four.
A year later Joe added Michael and Marlon to the group, initially as backing instrumentalists.
Slowly Michael’s talents shone through and he was made the second frontman after Jermaine in 1966.
They changed their name to The Jackson 5.
After winning a few local talent contests the group went professional and their first single Big Boy was released in January 1968.
The group then signed with Motown Records in March 1969.
They were at their peak in 1970-71.
When did Joe Jackson pass away?
On June 27, 2018, Joe Jackson died during the final stages of terminal pancreatic cancer.
His death came two days after the ninth anniversary of his son Michael’s death, and less than a month before his 90th birthday.
He was surrounded by his wife and surviving children.
