Happy birthday to the great Jermaine La Jaune Jacksun (né Jackson) (born December 11, 1954) an American singer, bass guitarist, composer, member of The Jackson 5, and occasional film director. He also produced and recorded duets with American singer Whitney Houston in her early years as a recording artist and was a producer for Bobby DeBarges band Switch. Jackson is the fourth child of Joseph and Katherine Jackson. He was born December 11, 1954 in Gary, Indiana, after his brother Tito Jackson. His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, La Toya, Marlon, Michael, Randy, and Janet.He was raised as a Jehovahs Witness by his devout mother, but he converted to Islam in 1989 after a trip to Bahrain.[citation needed] Jermaine was the original lead singer of the Jackson Brothers—an earlier incarnation of The Jackson Five—until 1966, when younger brother Michael began singing lead. Jermaine would continue to provide some leads over the years. Jermaine graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California in 1973. Like Michael, Jermaine began a solo career while still a member of The Jackson 5, and had a hit with the 1972 Shep and the Limelites cover Daddys Home. It sold over one million copies by March 1973, and was awarded a gold disc. When The Jackson 5 left Motown, Jermaine left the group and stayed at Motown, as he had married Hazel Gordy, and Motown head Berry Gordy was his father-in-law. Jermaine was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his 1980 album Lets Get Serious. He had a number of Billboard Top 30 hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Daddys Home (#9), Thats How Love Goes, Lets Be Young Tonight, Bass Odyssey, Feel the Fire, Let Me Tickle Your Fancy (featuring Devo on backing vocals) (#18), Lets Get Serious (#9, also one of his only two UK hits, peaking at #8), Dynamite (#15), Do What You Do (#13), and I Think Its Love (#16). A duet with his brother Michael, Tell Me Im Not Dreamin (Too Good to Be True), hit No. 1 on the dance chart in 1984. He and Michael also collaborated with Rockwell, both providing guest vocals on his 1984 hit single, Somebodys Watching Me. In 1985, his duet with Pia Zadora, When the Rain Begins to Fall, topped several singles charts in Europe. His final chart success, 1989s Dont Take It Personal, hit (#1) on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Jackson is proficient on the electric guitar and is a talented bass guitar player. Jermaine also composed and produced for other artists, such as Switch, and he produced and sang a couple of duets on Whitney Houstons debut album on Arista Records. In 1992, he produced The Jacksons: An American Dream, an award-winning and highly rated miniseries about the history of The Jackson 5. Jermaine Jr. portrayed his father as a young teenager in the miniseries. Jackson converted to Islam in 1989 after a trip to Bahrain and publicly expressed his religious beliefs during his appearance on Big Brother. While filming the program, Jackson prayed and fasted. He also expressed his hopes to convert his brother Michael to Islam, saying it would provide him with peace and help to heal his problems. He supported his brother, Michael, during the 2005 child-abuse trial. He came to Michaels defense on CNNs Larry King Live and appeared with him in court on many occasions. On June 25, 2009, Jermaine held a press conference at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and broke the news of Michael Jacksons death to the media. On November 6, 2012, Jackson filed a name change petition in Los Angeles, from Jermaine Jackson to Jermaine Jacksun, stating the switch was for artistic reasons. His last name officially became Jacksun on February 22, 2013.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:02:23 +0000
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