Jermaine Jackson

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For the NBA player also named Jermaine Jackson, see Jermaine Jackson (basketball)
Jermaine Jackson
Birth name Jermaine LaJaune Jackson
Born December 11, 1954 (1954-12-11) (age 53)
Origin Gary, Indiana
Genre(s) R&B/soul/funk/dance
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, dancer, producer
Instrument(s) Singing, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar
Years active 1967 - 1992
Label(s) Motown
Epic
Arista
Associated acts The Jackson 5

Jermaine LaJaune Jackson or Muhammad Abdul Aziz[1] (born December 11, 1954), is an American Grammy Award-nominated singer, bass guitarist, former member of The Jackson 5 and older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Born to parents Joseph and Katherine Jackson in Gary, Indiana, Jermaine became the original lead singer of an earlier incarnation of The Jackson Five until 1967 when younger brother Michael assisted lead vocals, but would co-lead with Michael for many years. Jermaine graduated from Birmingham High School in 1973, where the yearbook shows he was elected "most talented" and "best dressed".

[edit] The Jackson 5

Jermaine and his brothers signed with 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", "I'll Be There", "I Am Love", "Dancing Machine" and many other Jackson 5 songs. In 1976, after fourteen years performing with his brothers, Jermaine split from the Jackson 5 to continue his solo career at Motown Records while the other Jackson brothers left to sign with Epic Records.

[edit] Solo career

Like Michael, Jermaine also began a successful solo career concurrent to his tenure in The Jackson 5, and had a hit with the 1972 Shep and the Limelites cover "Daddy's Home". When The Jackson 5 left Motown, Jermaine left the group and stayed at Motown, as he was married to Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Jackson was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his 1980 album Let's Get Serious. He had several Hot 100 Top 20 hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "Daddy's Home" (#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) (#18), "Let's Get Serious" (#9, also only one of two of his UK hits, peaking at #8), "Dynamite" (#15), "Do What You Do" (#13), and "I Think It's Love" (#16). A duet with his brother Michael, "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)", hit #1 on the dance chart in 1984. In 1985, his duet with Pia Zadora, "When the Rain Begins to Fall", topped several singles charts in Europe. His final chart success, 1989's "Don't Take It Personal", hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart.

In 1991 a pre-commercial release version of his song "Word to the Badd!!" (from the L.A. & Babyface-produced album "You Said,") was released to radio stations. In that version he criticized his brother Michael, but the lyrics were reworked for final release, making the song instead about a former lover. Several other singles were released from this album, which was the second album released on the newly-formed LaFace Records label, including "You Said, You Said," and "I Dream, I Dream."

Jackson is proficient on the electric guitar, various types of bass guitars, and is known for his dancing abilities onstage.

[edit] Later life

In 1992, he, his partner Margaret, and Suzanne de Passe produced The Jacksons: An American Dream, an award-winning and highly-rated miniseries about the history of The Jackson 5. Jermaine Jr. portrayed his father as a young teenager in the miniseries.

Jermaine Jackson, who currently lives in Dubai and sometimes resides in Bahrain, announced plans in 2006 to build an entertainment complex in Yerevan, Armenia, wherein artists will perform for local audiences. Jackson has told how he also plans to build a hotel, restaurant and television production facility as part of the venture. He has also expressed hopes of brother Michael Jackson attending the opening. During Michael's 2005 child-abuse trial, Jermaine was a staunch supporter of his brother. He often came to Michael's defense on CNN's Larry King Live and appeared with Michael in court on numerous occasions.

Between 2000 and 2004 Jermaine Jackson also co-authored a controversial book proposal with former family confidante, Stacy Brown, called Legacy. The book was said to center around Jackson's innermost thoughts on his brother Michael's guilt or innocence regarding the child molestation charges brought against him. Brown and Jackson had a falling out after Brown joined with former Jackson publicist and Motown guru Bob Jones to pen Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask, which was published at the end of Michael Jackson's criminal trial by Select Books, Inc. Though Jermaine admitted to writing with Brown, the two differ on the accounts of the book, which was not published after Brown and younger Jackson sibling Randy reached an undisclosed settlement to give tape recordings and other materials to a mutually agreed third party.

[edit] Celebrity Big Brother 2007

Jackson was the first housemate to enter the Celebrity Big Brother UK house in 2007. He steered clear of the controversy caused by the series, avoiding confrontation and offering moral support to fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty against alleged racist bullying from fellow housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O'Meara.

During a task in the Big Brother house, the housemates had to create a tribute band for The Jackson 5. The performance of "I Want You Back" helped put the The Jackson 5 back in the UK charts at #53.

On January 28, 2007, Jermaine came in second place to Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother finale. Jermaine became a huge favorite in the UK and won many new fans. The final three consisted of Dirk Benedict, Jermaine Jackson, and Shilpa Shetty, the winner.

After leaving "Big Brother," Jermaine did several interviews on UK television stating why and how he took his peaceful and mediating stance in the Big Brother house. He also spoke about the Jackson 5 reuniting for a performance.

[edit] Personal life

Jermaine converted to Islam after a visit to Bahrain in the 1980s. He has given TV interviews about his conversion to Islam. Jermaine has been married three times and has seven children.

[edit] Marriages and Relationships

  • Hazel Gordy

Jermaine married Hazel Gordy (daughter of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy) in 1973. Their first child, Jermaine Jr. (often called Jay), was born in 1977. Their daughter Autumn was born the following year. As Jermaine and Hazel were in the midst of a divorce, they had a third child, a son named Jaimy, born in 1987.

  • Margaret Maldonado

While still married to Hazel, Jermaine began an affair with Margaret Maldonado. After Jermaine's divorce to Hazel was finalized in 1987, Margaret and Jermaine spent eight years together. The couple had two children: Jeremy Maldonado Jackson (born in 1986) and Jourdynn Michael Jackson (born in 1989).

  • Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza

Shortly after separating from Maldonado, Jermaine abruptly married Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, who had been very recently involved in a long-term relationship with his brother Randy (with whom she had two children). The couple had a son Jaffar in 1996, and another named Jermajesty in 2000. They filed for divorce on 2007 and it was finalized in May of 2008


NOTE: In Margaret Maldonado's memoir Jackson Family Values: Memories of Madness, she spoke of Jermaine having a supposed daughter named Dawn, whose actual Jackson paternity was heavily ambiguous.

[edit] Latest work

He is planning a stage show based on his family to be released in the UK. He has said that The Jacksons are recording an album and planning a family tour.

Jermaine returned to the UK in March 2007 to take part in the Channel 4 show Musicool as a mentor.

He is also currently involved in several charity projects and has been working on projects to help orphaned children around the world. Among other countries, he has visited Bangladesh as part of his work to raise funds and help children.

He has also figured heavily on the Islam Channel in the UK where he talked about his Islamic faith as well as announcing several charity projects that he plans to undertake.

In April 2007, Jermaine returned to the UK to take part in a one-off special of ITV's Challenge Anneka. On the same trip he appeared in Glasgow with Gordon Brown to promote the Daily Mirror Hope Not Hate campaign.

On November 22, 2007, Jermaine appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, a UK pop quiz show hosted by Simon Amstell.

On November 23, 2007, Jermaine Jackson appeared on Katie & Peter: Unleashed and again talked of a reunion with his brothers on a tour next year.

In March 2008, Jermaine was the guest of honour at the Muslim Writers Awards in Birmingham, where he was interviewed live on stage by chat show host Sajid Varda which received rave reviews.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Main albums

Year Album title US pop US R&B
1972 Jermaine 27 6
1973 Come Into My Life 152 30
1976 My Name Is Jermaine 164 29
1977 Feel the Fire 174 36
1979 Let's Get Serious 6 1
1980 Jermaine 44 17
1981 I Like Your Style 86 31
1982 Let Me Tickle Your Fancy 46 9
1984 Jermaine Jackson 19 13
1986 Precious Moments 46 25
1989 Don't Take It Personal 115 18
1991 You Said - 39

[edit] Compilations

Year Album title US pop US R&B
1991 Greatest Hits & Rare Classics - -
2000 The Heritage Collection - -
2001 Ultimate Collection - -
2007 Big Brother: Jermaine Jackson - -

[edit] Singles

[edit] Motown releases

Year Song title US pop chart US R&B chart UK pop chart Belgian pop chart
1972 "That's How Love Goes" 46 23 - -
1973 "Daddy's Home" 9 3 - -
1973 "You're in Good Hands" 79 35 - -
1976 "Let's Be Young Tonight" 55 19 - -
1977 "You Need to Be Loved" - 78 - -
1978 "Castles of Sand" - 38 - -
1980 "Let's Get Serious" 9 1 8 19
1980 "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" 34 32 - -
1981 "I'm Just Too Shy" 60 29 - -
1981 "Little Girl Don't You Worry" - 17 - -
1981 "You Like Me Don't You" 50 13 - -
1982 "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" 18 5 - -
1982 "Paradise in Your Eyes" - 60 - -
1982 "Very Special Part" - 54 - -

[edit] Arista releases

Year Song title US pop chart US R&B chart UK pop chart Belgian pop chart
1984 "Dynamite" 15 8 - -
1984 "Do What You Do" 13 14 6 1
1985 "When the Rain Begins to Fall"
(w/Pia Zadora)
54 61 - 1
1985 "(Closest Thing) To Perfect" 67 63 - 27
1986 "I Think It's Love" 16 14 - -
1986 "Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone" - - - 12
1986 "Do You Remember Me" 71 40 - -
1987 "Words Into Action" - 90 - 29
1989 "Don't Take It Personal" 64 1 - -
1990 "I'd Like to Get to Know You" - 27 - -
1990 "Two Ships (In the Night)" - 21 - -
1991 "Word to the Badd!" 78 88 - -
1991 "You Said, You Said" - 25 - -
1992 "I Dream, I Dream" - 30 - -

[edit] References

[edit] External links