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Michael Jackson was not just one of the greatest musicians in history, but also one of the most popular figures of the 90s. The legendary singer, songwriter and dancer first rose to fame as a member of the Jackson 5. He later embarked on a glorious solo career which saw him release several bestselling albums including Thriller, the bestselling album of all time. Jackson also sold over 350 million records and popularised iconic dance styles such as the moonwalk. So, who are Michael Jackson’s relatives? Are contemporary artists such as Bruno Mars and Randy Jackson related to the king of pop? All these and more questions will be answered below.
Bruno Mars is one of the most popular musicians in contemporary times. Renowned for his retro style, the singer and songwriter has dropped several albums and monster hits such as Just The Way You Are, and Grenade. Mars has also scored numerous awards including at least 11 Grammys. Bruno Mars shares several similarities with the late Michael Jackson. Both hail from musically-gifted families, and started performing at a young age. They also have a similar vocal range (high tenor) as well as similar sense of style. Finally, both men are renowned for their dance skills. Despite these similarities, as well as a fake news report which claimed that DNA has confirmed that Jackson is Mars’ biological father, there is no blood relationship between the two. Mars has however revealed that Jackson is one of his biggest musical influences.
Randy Jackson is an accomplished bass guitarist, record producer and TV personality. He commenced his professional career in the 80s and has played for musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Tracy Chapman, Bruce Springsteen, Richard Marx and Bob Dylan. He has also produced records for artists such as Mariah Carey, N’Sync, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Fergie and Madonna. Randy Jackson is however most popular for his long-term stint as a judge on the reality TV series, American Idol. The Louisiana native spent 12 seasons as a judge on the popular singing competition. So, is Randy related to the king of pop? The answer is no. Even though the late Michael Jackson has a brother named Randy, it is not this Randy Jackson.
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Parents
The late Michael Jackson hailed from a family of 11, comprising of him, his parents as well as eight other siblings. The patriarch of the Jackson family is Joe Jackson. He identified his children’s talents at a young age and set out on a mission to turn them into a group of dazzling child stars. Joe founded The Jackson 5 which comprised of his five eldest sons. The Jackson 5 got their head start by performing at various local venues. They eventually landed a recoding deal with Motown in 1969 and proceeded to drop several successful albums. The Jackson 5 were amongst the first black artists to make a successful crossover and sold more than 100 million records. The matriarch of the Jackson family is Katherine Jackson, nee Scruse. Katherine was a clarinet and piano player who once aspired to be a country and western singer. She later dropped the ambition and became a homemaker while working various jobs. In recent times, Katherine has received awards on behalf of her late son. She was also appointed the legal guardian of his children.
Brothers
Michael Jackson had five brothers namely Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy. All five boys were at some point part of The Jackson 5. Jackie Jackson is the oldest of the Jackson 5. Since the disbandment of the group, he has founded a record company and featured in a reality TV series. He and his brothers have also performed at the Las Vegas casino circuit. The 2nd eldest Jackson brother is Tito. He was a part pf the defunct Jackson 5. He has since built a solo career as a blues musician whilst appearing as a judge on a BBC celebrity singing competition. The 3rd eldest Jackson boy is Jermaine. Jermaine served as a lead vocalist as well as the bass guitarist for The Jackson 5. He has since built a successful solo career and has appeared in several British TV shows. Another founding member of The Jackson 5 is Marlon. Marlon is now a successful real estate agent in South California.
The youngest Jackson brother is Randy Jackson. Real name – Steven Randall Jackson, he was not originally a member of the Jackson 5. He was only drafted into the group after one of his elder brothers, Jermaine, left. Randy is a multi-instrumentalist and played, as well as sang, on several tracks released by the Jackson 5. After the group disbanded, he founded his own band known as Randy & the Gypsys. The group only managed to release one album before packing up. Randy now has his own record label but has most notably been involved in several legal disputes relating to bankruptcy, child custody and battery charges. He has also gone to court to dispute his late brother’s will as well as guardianship of his late brother’s kids.
Sisters
Michael Jackson had three sisters namely Rebbie, La Toya and Janet. Rebbie Jackson is the eldest child in the Jackson family. She is an actress and singer, and has dropped albums such as Centipede, Reaction, R U Tuff Enuff, and Yours Faithfully. She has also embarked on a national tour aimed at suicide prevention amongst teens. La Toya, on the other hand, is an accomplished musician as well as actress and TV personality. She has dropped not less than nine albums and once composed a song for an anti-drug campaign launched by then first lady, Nancy Reagan. Janet Jackson is the youngest member of the Jackson family. She is also unarguably the most successful Jackson asides Michael. Janet is an accomplished dancer and musician, and is renowned for her elaborate stage shows. She has dropped more than nine albums and has sold over 100 million records worldwide. She is one of the bestselling artists of all time and has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
