JACKSON FIVE, THE. Rhythm n
blues group (fl. 1960s-70s; orig. in Gary, Indiana). The Joseph Jackson family consisted of a father who wrote songs and played guitar with a local group in his leisure time, a mother whose hobby was singing, and nine musical children. Family songfests became such enthusiastic affairs that a family group began singing for local social events and, in 1965, in nightclubs. They attracted the attention of the then mayor of Gary,
Richard Hatcher
; in 1969 he...
