The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 were five brothers from Gary, Indiana: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. They signed with Motown Records in 1968, where producer Berry Gordy helped shape their early sound. Their debut single "I Want You Back" went to number one, and they followed it with hits like "ABC" and "I'll Be There."

Michael Jackson's lead vocals became the group's most recognizable feature, even as a child. Songs like "Who's Loving You" and "Never Can Say Goodbye" showed off his precocious ability to convey adult emotion. The brothers' harmonies and coordinated dance moves made them a fixture on television and a reliable hitmaker for Motown through the early 1970s.

As Michael's solo career took off in the late 70s and 80s, the group's identity shifted. They continued to record and perform under different names with varying lineups, but the five-brother unit that made those early Motown hits had run its course. The music from that period, however, stayed in rotation, a compact burst of pop-soul energy led by one of the most distinctive young voices in American music.