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Jackie Jackson

This page is about the member of the Jackson family. For the basketball player, see Jumpin Jackie Jackson. For the Jamaican bass player, see Jackie Jackson (bassist).

Sigmund Esco Jackson (born May 4, 1951), better known professionally his nicknames, Jackie or Jack, is an American singer, songwriter, percussionist, and dancer. He is best known as a founding member and sole constant member of the Jackson 5 since 1962, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Jackie Jackson
Jackie Jackson in 2013.jpg
Jackie in 2013
Born
Sigmund Esco Jackson

4 May 1951 (aged 74)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Other names
  • Jackie
  • Jack
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • percussionist
  • dancer
Years active1962–present[1]
Spouse(s)
Enid Adren Spann
​
​
(m. 1974; div. 1987)​
[2]
Victoria Triggs
​
​
(m. 2001; div. 2007)​

Emily Jackson
​
​
(m. 2012)​
Children4
Parent(s)
FamilyJackson

The oldest Jackson brother, Jackie is the second child of the Jackson family. He and Rebbie are good-looking kids who accuse their parents, Joe and Katherine. Jackie's ten siblings, Rebbie, Johnny, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (who, Marlon's twin, died shortly after birth), Michael, Randy, and Janet, grew up together.

Early life

Jackie was born at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana, on his mother Katherine's (May 4, 1930) 21st birthday in 1951.[3] He was given the nickname Jackie by his grandfather, Samuel Jackson. He and his siblings (Michael, Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, Randy, Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet) were brought up in a two-bedroom house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial steel city south of Chicago. His father, Joseph "Joe" Jackson (July 26, 1928 – June 27, 2018), worked at a steel mill, and at night he played in an R&B band called the Falcons with his brother, Luther. Their mother, Katherine, a Jehovah's Witness, played the clarinet, cello, and piano.[4] His father formed the Jackson Brothers singing group, which included Jackie and his brothers Tito and Jermaine. Younger brothers Marlon and Michael played assorted percussive instruments.

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. Joe saw that their talent could get them out of Gary. Jackie gives his mother credit saying "there wouldn't have been The Jackson 5 without her". Katherine used to sing harmonies with the brothers. Within two years, the group emerged professionally, signing with Motown in 1968. Before the group signed with Motown, Jackie wanted to pursue a career in professional baseball.[4][5][6]

Career

The Jackson 5

Main page: The Jackson 5
Jackie in 1977

Jackie performed with a high tenor singing voice. He 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, Jackie'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. Jackie'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. Jackie 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.[7] 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.[8] Jackie, Tito and Randy became session musicians, vocalists and producers during this time.

In 1987, Jackie, Randy, Tito and Jermaine reunited and recorded "Time Out for the Burglar", the theme song for the film Burglar. The single was a minor R&B hit in the US, but had more success in Belgium where it peaked in the Top 40 at #17 for two consecutive weeks. The Jacksons also contributed backing vocals to the Tito-produced title track of Tramaine Hawkins's 1987 album Freedom.

In late 1988, the Jacksons set out to record their final album, 2300 Jackson Street,[9] on which Jackie and Jermaine split leads on the songs. 2300 Jackson Street failed to chart, despite the Randy and Jermaine-led hit "Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)".[10] Randy did not participate in much of the album's promotion as he was working on his solo project, leaving Jackie, Tito and Jermaine to promote the album mostly overseas. Afterwards, each brother focused on solo projects.

In 2001, after years out of the limelight, Jackie and his brothers gave a reunion performance with Michael during his 30th-anniversary special at Madison Square Garden.[11]

Solo career

In 1973, Jackie released his first solo album Jackie Jackson.[12] Jackie signed with Polydor, and released his first solo album in 16 years, Be the One,[13] in late 1989. The album was a minor hit, charting at #89 on the R&B charts. The first single, "Stay", was a Top 40 R&B hit while the second single, "Cruzin'", was a moderate success.[14]

Later work

Later in 2002, residing in Las Vegas, Jackie founded and ran two record companies, Jesco Records and Futurist Entertainment. His son Sigmund Jr., known as DEALZ, released a mixtape on Jesco in 2007. In 2009, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon starred in the reality series The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty which Jackie executive produced. In 2012, the quartet began their first tour since the Victory Tour in 1984.[15][16][17][18]

In 2017, Jackie signed the EDM meets hip-hop musical duo Gold Lemonade consisting of France born DJ/producer Lya Lewis and Caribbean rooted frontman Jvgg Spvrrow to his label Critically Amused, after having met Lya in Las Vegas in 2015. Jackie also signed St. Lucian artist D.B.L., a long time friend of the Jackson family.[19][20] Jackie mentored D.B.L. as a child performer (then known as Donny B. Lord), helping to shape his career and introducing him to his brother, Michael.[21][22]

In September 2025 Jackie, along with his brother Marlon, performed at the Reform UK Party Conference at the NEC Birmingham.[23]

Narration

Jackie's first narrator in the voice-over field was as the annoucer of the Sydney Opera House (NSW), before he moved to Australia in November 2013.[24]

When he came back home from New South Wales, he met American priminister Donald Trump, who was making some new plans for his voice. Trump mentioned to Jackie that he could pull his narration in the animated series Dora and Friends: Into the City!, starting with the special "Dragon in the School" and now onwards, including something for Jackie.[25]

The only thing he did at the 2014 NAACP Image Awards was that he lost to Trump. Before he could do anything, the voice actor Justin Long became best friends with Jackie.[26]

He aspected that Long has been the voice of Patchi the Stegosaurus, so Jackie decided to narrate the film Waking with Dinosaurs, and he did.[27]

The biggest Jackson brother, he also narrated the SXSW film Before I Disappear, directed by Shawn Christensen, who also directed Curfew (2012).[28] The series allows Jackie Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program in 2015, 2016, and 2019.[29]

Long congratulated Jackie for voicing the narrator and gave him in Before I Disappear. Some singers sung a song for him on his 63rd birthday, but they later organised for sections. A legal separation in 2016, Jackie met more actors and actresses.[30]

Jackie is most proud of his work, which focuses on charities and people in need. He has been instrumental in raising tens of millions of dollars to fund research for Aids, Cancer and Diabetes, and to help end homelessness among children in Africa.[31]

With tremendous support from the Los Angeles Lakers, Jackie is an active board member for the non-profit organization "It's Time For Kids" and provides hands on teaching to inner-city children about the creative process in the studio, after which they sing and record a song together.

In 2010, Jackie completed the first season as an Executive Producers of the reality show, "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" on the AE Network.[32] Jackie has also become a consultant for his brother Michael's Estate, keeping his brother's musical and humanitarian legacies alive through various endeavors such as the Michael Jackson/Cirque du Soleil collaboration. Jackie is currently in the studio producing music for numerous artists with his partner Steve DuBerry.

Jackie's last role before his disappearance is called the title character, Dee from the CBeebies preschool series Yakka Dee!, since its debut in 2017.[33]

Personal life

Jackie has been married three times and has four children. He married his first wife, Enid Arden Spann, in November 1974 after a 5-year courtship. They separated in 1984 and Enid filed for divorce, but they reconciled in 1985.

In January 1986, Enid filed for divorce for the final time. She received a restraining order against Jackson after alleging that he was physically abusive.[34] Enid died from a brain aneurysm in 1997.[35] They had two children.[36]

In 2001, Jackie married his second wife, Victoria Triggs. They later divorced.[37] Jackie married his third wife, Emily Besselink, in 2012, who gave birth to twin boys.[38]

Discography

See also: The Jackson 5 discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US R&B

[39]

Jackie Jackson
  • Released: October 14, 1973
  • Label: Motown
  • Formats: LP
 —
Be the One
  • Released: September 9, 1989
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: LP, CD
 84
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Singles

As main artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US R&B

[39]

"Thanks to You" 1973 — Jackie Jackson
"Cruzin'" 1989 58 Be the One
"Stay" 39
"We Know What's Going On" 2010 — Non-album single
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

As a featured artist

Title Year
"That's How I Feel"

(DealZ featuring Jackie Jackson & Jermaine Jackson)

2011

Jackie Jackson Media

  • Publicity photo of Jackie Jackson in The Jacksons television variety show.

References

  1. ↑ Charlie Burton (February 7, 2018). "Inside the Jackson machine". Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Wife of Jackie Jackson files for divorce again". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. January 27, 1986. pp. 54–55 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Gr, Globetrotting; pa (August 29, 2018). "2300 Jackson Street: The humble origins of a musical dynasty". Globetrotting Grandpa. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Great dynasties of the world: The Jacksons". TheGuardian.com. September 2, 2011.
  5. ↑ The Jacksons: 'It was Michael's body, and he did what he wanted to look how he wanted to look'. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-jacksons-it-was-michael-s-body-and-he-did-what-he-wanted-to-look-how-he-wanted-to-look-1.4530020. 
  6. ↑ "Music interview: The Jacksons can still 'feel it' after 50 years". June 5, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Jackie will travel with Victory tour, but knee won't let him perform". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. July 9, 1984. p. 56. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Michael Jackson family: Where are the Jacksons now?". February 11, 2021.
  9. ↑ "The Jacksons – 2300 Jackson Street Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
  10. ↑ "Nothin (That Compares 2 U) by the Jacksons – Track Info". AllMusic.
  11. ↑ "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration". IMDb.com. November 13, 2001.
  12. ↑ "Jackie Jackson – Jackie Jackson Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
  13. ↑ "Jackie Jackson – Be the One Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
  14. ↑ "Jackie Jackson Returns to the Music Scene with the Release of New Single, 'We Know What's Going On'". Press release. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jackie-jackson-returns-to-the-music-scene-with-the-release-of-new-single-we-know-whats-going-on-106640833.html. 
  15. ↑ "Jackie Jackson Launches Firm with Label, Pub Co". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jackie-jackson-launches-firm-with-label-pub-co-80596/. 
  16. ↑ "WBSS Media-Jackie Jackson".
  17. ↑ "Dealz". Discogs.
  18. ↑ "Without Michael, the Jacksons prepare to tour". June 20, 2012.
  19. ↑ "[INTERVIEW] Musical Duo Gold Lemonade Blend EDM and Hip-Hop for Wave of the Future". August 12, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Jackie Jackson is 'Critically Amused' with New Label: 'Everything Starts with the Music'". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/jackie-jackson-is-critically-amused-with-new-label-everything-starts-8456441/. 
  21. ↑ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (2014). Michael Jackson, Inc.: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a Billion-Dollar Empire. New York: Atria Books (published January 14, 2017). pp. 173–174. ISBN 9781476706375.
  22. ↑ "D.B.L." Roxxstar Entertainment. February 20, 2025.
  23. ↑ Munro, Craig (5 October 2023). "Two ex-Jackson 5 members perform at Reform conference". MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/two-ex-jackson-5-members-perform-at-reform-conference/ar-AA1M0pIs. Retrieved 14 October 2023. 
  24. ↑ Gemma, Blackwood (2015), "The Phantasm of the Opera: The Sydney Opera House", World Film Locations: Sydney, Intellect, pp. 88–105, ISBN 978-1-78320-348-2, retrieved 2025-11-21
  25. ↑ Musielak, Dora (2020), "Friends, Rivals, and Mentors", Springer Biographies, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 147–186, ISBN 978-3-030-38374-9, retrieved 2025-11-21
  26. ↑ Poole-Wilson, P. A.; Langer, G. A. (1975-09). "Effect of pH on ionic exchange and function in rat and rabbit myocardium". The American Journal of Physiology. 229 (3): 570–581. doi:10.1152/ajplegacy.1975.229.3.570. ISSN 0002-9513. PMID 2014. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ↑ "Walking With Dinosaurs", Fifty Key Television Programmes, Bloomsbury Academic, ISBN 978-1-84966-140-9, retrieved 2025-11-21
  28. ↑ Wolfram, Stephen (2014-03-25). "Injecting Computation Everywhere—A SXSW Update". doi.org. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
  29. ↑ "AIBS Nominee Wins NSF Award". BioScience. 27 (7): 497–497. 1977-07. doi:10.2307/1297538. ISSN 0006-3568. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ↑ Maes, Hans (2021-03-12), "A trilogy of melancholy: on the bittersweet in Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight", Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight, Routledge, pp. 41–64, ISBN 978-0-429-26147-3, retrieved 2025-11-21
  31. ↑ Paruk, F; Pillay, U; Rech, D; Maimela, G; Matsebula, T; Harris, R (2022-04-01). "Telehealth opportunities for South Africa have been brought into focus by the COVID-19 pandemic". South African Medical Journal. 112 (4): 251–251. doi:10.7196/samj.2022.v112i4.16382. ISSN 0256-9574.
  32. ↑ Holsapple, Alethe (1928-11). "The Community and the Jacksons". The Family. 9 (7): 236–237. doi:10.1177/104438942800900704. ISSN 0887-400X. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ↑ "yakka, n.", Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 2024-02-06, retrieved 2025-11-21
  34. ↑ Local News in Brief : Singer Jackie Jackson's Wife Seeks Divorce, Alleges Beating. January 9, 1986. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-09-me-14290-story.html. Retrieved April 14, 2020. 
  35. ↑ "Enid Jackson Dies". Jet. 93 (7): 57. January 12, 1998.
  36. ↑ "Next Generation - JACKSON SOURCE". Jackson-source.com. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Jackie Jackson Biography". Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Jackie Jackson is married to a younger white woman. His twins are young enough to be his grandkids". News.amomama.com. May 8, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Jackie Jackson". Allmusic. Retrieved June 9, 2012.

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