The Jackson 5

Released: August 28, 2012

Songwriter: Arthur “T-Boy” Ross Douglas Gibbs

Producer: Hal Davis

We like to make music (we like, we like)

It’s fun to make music (music)

We like to make music (we like, we like)

It’s fun to make music (music)

Let us introduce ourselves to you

(Hi I’m Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, I’m Marlon and I’m Mike)

Hey … We’re the music makers

Hey, everybody (it’s fun to make music)

Come on! Sing along (it’s fun to make music)

Do, what the feeling tells you

We’re the music makers

Tito swings, I love to sing

And Jackie scores right through

Marlon dances

Jermaine fancies

Playing the bass for you

We’re the music makers

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

more tracks from the album

Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls

From the albums

Unreleased Songs
Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls (2012)

The Jackson 5 popular songs

(We’re The) Music MakersThe Jackson 5

The Jackson 5

Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls