i know this is a old ass question but i keep hearing that Diana Ross did. My dad says she didn't it was a some guy from motown(can't remember who he said) and they used Diana Ross as a publicity stunt. so whats the real story?

christ whats her name...

GLADYS KNIGHT!

was it? hmmm he says its a guy either one of the musicians or someone from a group.

heybaby said:

Actually it was Prince, he was 13 at the time! but had an excellent nose for talent already

Lennon said:

yall suck! i'm trying to have a serious conversation about music and you're makin' me laugh

Managed and coached by their father Joe, a crane driver who once played guitar with Detroit R&B band The Falcons (who featured Wilson Pickett as lead singer), the quintet made a living in the clubs and bars around their hometown of Gary, Indiana.

It wasn't until 1964 that Marlon and Michael (at the ages of 7 and 5 respectively) were judged ready to enter show business and joined the vocal line-up, relegating their cousins to pianist and drummer. The name was changed to the Jackson 5, and by winning talent contests they started to establish themselves beyond Gary's city limits.



Although legend has it that Diana Ross 'discovered' the Jackson 5, credit for such scouting actually goes to Gladys Knight. In 1967, after they had supported her and the Pips at a concert in Indiana, Gladys wrote to Motown label owner Berry Gordy suggesting he check them out. A year later - after the Jackson 5 had performed as far afield as New York City, where they won Amateur Night at Harlem's Apollo Theater and released an unsuccessful single, Big Boy, on a local label - the group were noticed by another Motown act, Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers, who also recommended them.

In June 1968, Berry Gordy and Diana Ross attended a fund-raising concert for Gary's mayor - the brothers were on the bill and Gordy was sufficiently impressed to sign them on the spot.

Within weeks the family had moved to California for 'grooming' and rehearsals. In October, their first live performance as a Motown act was at the Hollywood Palace as special guests of Diana Ross and The Supremes (hence the "discovery" confusion - A mix-up that was compounded by their first album being called Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.) The corporate thinking was that the boys would need this glamour-by-association factor to give them a leg-up.

http://www.nostalgiacentr...ckson5.htm

You know, now that I think of it, I do remember Marlon Jackson saying that a man named Bobby Taylor discovered them. I remember watching a Showtime documentary and he said that he was the man who was responsible for securing their Motown audition in Detroit back in 1967/68. He said that while in Detroit auditioning for Motown, they actually slept in his apartment at night.

Everyone knows it was the soulful Glady's Knight. As rumor has it...

I always thought it was Susan Plashett...

or whatever her name was....Plashett is the Newhart lady...but the name sounds like that...

sosgemini said:

I think Susan (i think Vanessa Williams played her in the movie?) is the lady who introduced them to Berry Gordy.

sosgemini said:

Wasn't it Suzanne or Susan DePass?

Susan Plachett is an actress if I remember correctly.

dreamfactory313 said:

This is the correct version

Suzanne Pleshette

It's Suzanne de Passe. She was instrumental in the success of the Jackson 5, but I'm not sure if she actually discovered them. I know she does a lot of production for TV nowadays.

kremlinshadow said:

that sounds about right.

Gladys Knight was the first to try and get them signed. Bobby Taylor made it happen.

Oh, and the two kids that joined them on keyboards and drums were not actually cousins. Motown just thought that would be a good marketing ploy.

How about their parents.

Chico1 said:

hey, she could have...

Suzanna De passe

truth was "Bobby Taylor" of the Vancouvers who discovered them. and the case that Diana saw them after Bobby brought them to Motown. Diana insisted that she be the one who discovered them.

Lennon said: