Jermaine Jackson

Their large family and limited means made them refocus, with Katherine becoming a housewife, and Joe A. steel mill worker at nearby Inland Steel Company in East Chicago, Indiana, where they lived before moving to Gary in 1950.

When his father, Joe worked long hours as a crane operator, Jermaine and his brothers, Tito and Jackie, secretly practiced their own songs using Joe's guitar, and they sang harmonies with mother Katherine.

Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist.

He is best known for being a member of the Jackson family.

Jermaine was born December 11, 1954, at St Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana, He is the fourth child born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson.

His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (Marlon's twin who died shortly after birth in 1957), Michael, Randy, and Janet.

Jackson's father Joe had musical aspirations, playing guitar with his brother Luther in an R&B band, the Falcons, and his mother Katherine, a devout Jehovah's Witness, was a passionate pianist and singer.

From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of the Jackson 5, and played bass guitar.

Jermaine became the original lead singer, and also played the bass in the Jackson Brothers, an earlier incarnation of the Jackson 5 until 1966, when younger brother Michael began singing lead.

Father Joe began rehearsing his sons under a strict regimen when he realized their potential, seeing his sons' talent as a way out of Gary.

Jermaine would continue to provide some leads over the years.

Jermaine and his brothers first signed as the Jackson 5 with Gordon Keith of Steeltown Records in November 1967, and their first single "Big Boy", was released on January 31, 1968.

After the group recorded three more songs with the Steeltown label (on two records) they were signed with Berry Gordy of Motown Records in 1969.

As the co-lead singer of the Jackson 5 after his brother Michael, Jermaine sang notable parts of "I Want You Back", "ABC", "I'll Be There", "The Love You Save", "Dancing Machine" and many other Jackson 5 songs.

Jermaine performed as part of the group for six years.

He had a number of Billboard top-30 hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "Daddy's Home" (No. 9), "That's How Love Goes", "Let's Be Young Tonight", "Bass Odyssey", "Feel the Fire", "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" (featuring Devo on backing vocals) (No. 18), "Let's Get Serious" (No. 9, also one of his only two UK hits, peaking at No. 8), "Dynamite" (No. 15), "Do What You Do" (No. 13), and "I Think It's Love" (No. 16).

Like Michael, Jermaine began a solo career while still a member of the Jackson 5, and had a hit with the 1972 Shep and the Limelites cover "Daddy's Home".

Jermaine graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, in 1973.

Others argue that Jermaine's marriage to Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, whom he married in 1973, was a deciding factor.

Jermaine split from the Jackson Five to start a solo career at Motown, and was replaced by his brother Randy.

Unbeknownst to the group, Gordy had trademarked the name Jackson Five and did not allow the group to continue using the name when they left the label.

Once signed with Epic, the group became known simply as the Jacksons.

It sold over one million copies by March 1973, and was awarded a gold disc.

Not feeling that they were being paid fair royalties by Motown Records for their success as well as their desire for creative control, the Jackson 5 decided to leave the label and sign with Epic Records in 1975.

However, Jermaine decided to stay with Motown Records, citing loyalty to the company as the reason.

When the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, Jermaine left the group and stayed at the label until 1983, when he finally rejoined his brothers for the Motown 25 television special, and their album Victory the following year.

When four of the brothers left Motown Records for Epic Records in 1976 and had to rename the family act The Jacksons, Jermaine, who had just married Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, stayed at Motown and was replaced in The Jacksons by his youngest brother, Randy.

Jermaine had a solo career concurrent with his brother Michael's and some top-30 hits until the 1980s, produced and recorded duets with Whitney Houston on her debut album in 1985, and was a producer for the band Switch.

After seven years he rejoined the Jacksons and remained throughout their various breakups and reunions.

Jermaine was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his 1980 album Let's Get Serious.

Since 1983 he rejoined the group, now known as the Jacksons.

While Jermaine did not usually sing the lead vocal on the Jackson Five's biggest hits, he is featured on "I'll Be There" and "I Want You Back," among others.

In 1983, Gordy asked the group to perform at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special.

After the success of the broadcast, Jermaine finally rejoined the band to record the album Victory which featured all six brothers on the Jackson's album cover.

Jermaine also participated in the band's Victory Tour.

He stayed with the group for their final album, 2300 Jackson Street, in 1989.

He also performed this song alone, on January 14, 1990, in Atlanta, in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., during King Week 90 '.

Jermaine performed the song "If You'd Only Believe" on March 15, 1993, with his brothers Jackie, Tito and Randy, on the stage of the Grand Théâtre de Genève for the evening of the Nations.

In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Jackson 5.

In 2001, he reunited with his brothers to perform for the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special.