Marlon David Jackson is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entertainer singer, dancer, former member of
The Jackson 5The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
, and elder brother of American
pop starsPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
Michael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and
Janet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
.
Personal life
Marlon was born in
Gary, IndianaGary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
, to Joseph and
Katherine JacksonKatherine Esther Jackson is the matriarch of the Jackson musical family.-Early life:...
as the sixth child of the Jackson family. Marlon's twin brother Brandon died within 24 hours of birth. They were several weeks premature.
Marlon has three children with wife Carol Ann Parker.
- Valencia Sophia (born December 20, 1976)
- Brittany (born September 4, 1979)
- Marlon David, Jr. (born September 23, 1981)
Marlon also has four grandchildren:
- Noah Laniak (born August 15, 2006) for Valencia Jackson
- Sophia Laniak (born November 13, 2007) for Valencia Jackson
- Phoenix Sanchez (born July 27, 2010) for Brittany Jackson
- Savanna Sanchez (born September 3, 2011) for Brittany Jackson
He and sister
Rebbie JacksonMaureen Reillette "Rebbie" Brown is an American singer professionally known as Rebbie Jackson . Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, she is the eldest child of the Jackson family of musicians...
are the only Jackson siblings to have not divorced.
Michael's memorial
On July 7, 2009, he and his family offered their final eulogies for Michael, saying he was the "soul" of the family, and breaking down as he tearfully addressed the crowd: "Maybe now Michael, they will leave you alone" and "I would like for you to give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, a hug for me". Marlon fought back tears as he said "I love you Michael & I miss you".
The Jackson 5
While Marlon was still a child, his older brothers
JackieSigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson is an American singer and musician, a member of The Jackson 5, and the second child in the Jackson family.-Life and career:...
,
TitoToriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson is an American singer and lead guitarist and original member of The Jackson 5. He is the older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Early life and rise to stardom:...
and
JermaineJermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
formed an early incarnation of what would become
The Jackson 5The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
. Marlon and younger brother
MichaelMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
would soon join the group, initially as percussionists. In the early years of the group it was said that Marlon had trouble singing and keeping up with his brothers dance steps. However through his perseverance he would become a proficient singer, songwriter, producer and dancer. In brother Michael's 1988 book
MoonwalkMoonwalk is an autobiography written by American musician Michael Jackson. The book was first published in February 1988, a year after the release of Jackson's Bad album, and named after Jackson's signature dance move, the moonwalk...
, he would say of Marlon...
While brothers Michael and Jermaine were the main attractions of the group, all five Jackson brothers sang lead spots on various songs. Marlon's voice can noticeably be heard on "Feelin' Alright", "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Corner of The Sky". He took a more prominent singing role on the 1973
G.I.T.: Get It TogetherG.I.T.: Get It Together was the seventh official studio album by The Jackson 5, released in September 1973 for the Motown label....
album, particularly in the last minutes of the song "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)". Eventually a dispute with Motown led to the group's split from the label in 1976, whereupon they signed with Epic Records. After the departure of Jermaine and inclusion of youngest brother Randy in the move, the group would be forced to change their name to "The Jacksons". All of the brothers took a more active role in their music and it was Marlon who filled in for Jermaine's vocal parts when they performed the old Jackson 5 songs on stage.
On the debut Jacksons albums Marlon sang lead spots on "Strength of a Man" and "Man of War". However it was the
Destiny and
TriumphTriumph was the thirteenth album by The Jacksons, released in 1980 on Epic Records.-Reception:It was certified platinum in the U.S. and peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200. The Triumph album sold three million copies in its original run...
albums that returned the brothers to the top of the pop charts. In the finale of Triumph Marlon shared a duet with brother Michael entitled "Give it Up". The return of Jermaine to the group in 1983 after their reunited performance at Motown 25 led to the Victory album and
tourThe Victory Tour was the biggest and final concert tour of the United States and Canada by The Jacksons. Beginning July 6, 1984, and ending on December 9 of that year, the tour included 55 concerts to an audience of approximately 2 million...
in 1984. For the Victory album Marlon wrote, produced and sang his first solo lead on the single "Body". In the music video for the single Marlon can be seen riding a motorcycle and leading a troupe of dancers. Despite the success of both the album and tour, monetary problems and rumored accounts of the brothers' egos led to the collapse of the Jacksons as a group. Michael announced his exit from the group at the end of the tour while Marlon stunned family members by announcing his split a year later. This left The Jacksons as a quartet of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Randy for their final album,
2300 Jackson Street- Release history :...
, although Michael and Marlon would join their brothers on the album's title single.
Solo career
In 1987, Marlon released his debut solo album Baby Tonight, an album he wrote and produced himself. It featured the No. 2 R&B hit "Don't Go" which he performed to an enthusiastic audience on The Late Show with
Arsenio HallArsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
. During the show he was interviewed by Arsenio and said:
Later years
Unlike his brothers, after his brief brush with solo stardom, Marlon embarked on a career outside of show business, becoming a successful real estate agent in Southern California. He was also part owner of the
Black Family ChannelBlack Family Channel was a network for African American families and the only black-owned and operated cable television network...
, a cable network designed to bring family-friendly programming to the Black community. Marlon joined his brothers on stage when The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2001, he reunited with his brothers to perform as the Jacksons during Michael's 30th anniversary concert at
Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
He is now an executive producer for the show
The Jacksons: A Family DynastyThe Jacksons: A Family Dynasty is an American reality television program which stars members of the musical Jackson family and airs on A&E Network...
along with the rest of his brothers.
Solo
Baby Tonight
Track Listing:
01 Don't Go (4:09)
02 To Get Away (4:20)
03 When Will You Surrender (3:40)
04 Lovely Eyes (4:22)
05 Baby Tonight (4:32)
06 Something Coming Down (4:11)
07 Life (4:04)
08 She Never Cried (3:58)
09 Talk 2-U (4:23)
10 Where Do I Stand (4:43)
- His only solo album "Baby Tonight" was released in 1987. It reached #22 on the R&B charts on Dec. 19, 1987 and stayed for 22 weeks. It reached #175 on the Billboard Top 200 Dec. 5th, 1987 and stayed for 7 weeks. The singles from the album "Don't Go" reached #2 on the R&B charts on Nov. 21, 1987 and "Baby Tonight" reached #57 on Jan. 30th, 1988
Other Contributions
- La Toya Jackson
La Toya Yvonne Jackson is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, television personality, actress, businesswoman, philanthropist, activist and former model. She is the fifth child of the Jackson family...
- La Toya JacksonLa Toya Jackson is the self-titled debut album from American singer La Toya Jackson. It was released in 1980 in America and mainland Europe. The album is most known for "Night Time Lover", a track produced by La Toya's brother Michael Jackson, who provides background vocals on the refrain. The...
(1980)
- Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
- Beware! (1981)
- La Toya Jackson - My Special Love
My Special Love is the second studio album by American singer La Toya Jackson. The album is one of Jackson's more successful, peaking at #175 on the Billboard Hot 200 charts. After the album's limited success, it fell into obscurity, receiving a limited re-release on CD in Japan in the early...
(1981)
- Betty Wright
Bessie Regina Norris, better known by her stage name, Betty Wright , is a Grammy winning Miami-based soul and R&B singer-songwriter, who won fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight Is the Night"...
- Wright Back At You (1983)
- Billy Griffin
Billy Griffin is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles in 1972.-Biography:...
- Respect (1983)
- Rebbie Jackson
Maureen Reillette "Rebbie" Brown is an American singer professionally known as Rebbie Jackson . Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, she is the eldest child of the Jackson family of musicians...
- CentipedeCentipede is the debut album by American singer Rebbie Jackson. Released on the CBS label in 1984, the record spawned two top-forty Billboard charting hits, the most famous being the title track. Centipede became Jackson's only gold-certified album throughout her 14-year musical career...
(1984)
- La Toya Jackson - Heart Don't Lie
Heart Don't Lie is the third album released by singer La Toya Jackson. It is her most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date, peaking at #149 on the Billboard 200.- Album information :...
(1984)
- Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
- Dream Street (1984)
- "We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
" (1985)
- The Golden Child Soundtrack
The Golden Child is a 1986 American comedy film starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy plays Chandler Jarrell, a social worker who is confronted by a young Asian woman , who tells him that he is The Chosen One destined to save The Golden Child, the savior of all mankind, from the clutches of the demon Sardo...
(1986)
- The Jacksons featuring Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Janet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, Rebbie JacksonMaureen Reillette "Rebbie" Brown is an American singer professionally known as Rebbie Jackson . Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, she is the eldest child of the Jackson family of musicians...
and Marlon Jackson: 2300 Jackson Street"2300 Jackson Street" is a 1989 single released by The Jacksons from their album of the same name. The song features Michael Jackson, who previously left the group, although this is the only track that he is featured on the album. It also features two of the Jackson sisters Rebbie and Janet. "2300...
(1987)