We all know the members of the Jackson 5ive/Jacksons, but are the considered a band or a group?

They played their own instruments like Earth, Wind and Fire but had dance moves like the Temptations.

I don't think they could be considered a genuine band as only two of them played and the rest was covered by session musicians. After Jermaine left it was just Tito on guitar and Randy on bongos(and dancing). Also I'm pretty sure Tito and Jermaine didn't play on the Motown recordings anyway. That was standard practise at Motown in those days. Two of The Supremes didn't sing on any of their recordings from the late 60s. It was more convenient to bring in session singers for the BVs.
By the way, Michael's 70s recordings, solo and with his brothers, are the best things he ever did imo. Nothing on Bad, Dangerous, etc can touch Destiny, Show You The Way To Go, Looking Through The Windows, and the rest.Though of course you have to make honourable mentions to the 3 classics he wrote for Thriller( I think we can ignore TGIM).

Live, they sounded like a band, esp when they covered Sly.

Live, they had a real band of about six musicians standing right behind them.

...mmmm just wondering, isn't there a decent MJ community site?????

Don't get me wrong, MJ made some great records, but it's 2006 now and..... where's MJ???

whoknows said:

From 69 to 74 it was only tito, jermaine, johnny jackson and the keyboardist
(I forget his name) that played at the concerts, and believe me they were a
very good band especially for a group of teenagers. Jermaine was a great bass
player and Tito could play a nice funky rhythm guitar.

jasco82 said:

Also in 72, Randy joined in on the congas/bongos until they left for CBS/Epic and he did a little of everything from keyboard to bass guitar. Jackie always had the tambourine and Marlon played the cowbell every now and then. The keyboardist/organist was named Ronnie Rancifer. Even Mike played on the bongos at some of the early shows.


P.S. - Did yo know Johnny Jackson was stabbed to death last month. (R.I.P.)

That settles it. You can't buy talent like that.



True. Except so many times I remember Randy coming out from behind his instrument to dance with the brothers. Funny but I don't remember the music coming to a grinding halt.

whoknows said:

A, good tambourine players don't just fall from trees

LittleBLUECorvette said:

At least you've got a sense of humour.

I was thinking about the early "boy bands" just he other day... and I thought about the Jackson 5. As musicians... not sure if they were all that talented, tambourines withstanding , but as far as having stage presence and soul... I give them lots of props

They were just electric performers.
So much fun to watch and their hits were gold! The Jackson 5

Not only is Jackie the greatest tambourine player ever, he gets down on the keys as well and Marlon plays the Sax!


[Edited 4/19/06 21:16pm]

I just saw their Sly performance on Oyvind's web site and I can't take anything away from Jermaine as a bassist. Tito's guitar was competent and Michael's voice, Damn! More impressive though was the Sugar Daddy performance. What a dynamite group they were! Oyvind changes the videos on there every 10 days so if you want to see these you'd better move fast.

whoknows said:

Of course the J5 were dynamite, there has never been a group like them, they were unique. If it weren't for the J5 and MJ earlier solo stuff MJ wouldn't have a legacy left by now.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

The Jacksons are THE best boy band ever!!!! Enough said....


EDIT: BTW, they're BOTH!
[Edited 4/21/06 10:29am]

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I would call them a group. They did more singing and dancing than they played instruments.