Jermaine Jackson
The steady bass and vocal anchor of the Jackson 5, whose own solo path wove through the fabric of pop and R&B history.
Born 1954 (age 72)·American singer and songwriter·Birthday: December 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Jermaine Jackson's voice and bass lines provided the foundational groove for one of pop music's most explosive family acts. As a key member of the Jackson 5, he stood beside his brother Michael, offering rich harmonies and a stage presence that was both polished and passionate. His career took a defining turn when he chose to stay with Motown as the rest of the group moved to Epic Records, launching a solo journey that yielded hits like 'Daddy's Home' and 'Let's Get Serious.' Jermaine later rejoined his brothers for the Jacksons era, contributing to albums and tours for decades. His life story is inextricably linked to the Jackson family saga, marked by musical triumphs, public scrutiny, and a lasting, complex legacy within American music.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Jermaine was born in 1954, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jermaine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1954
#1 Movie
White Christmas
Best Picture
On the Waterfront
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Jermaine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1954Born
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1959Started school
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1967Became a teenager
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1970Could drive
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1972Could vote
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Turned 21
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1984Turned 30
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 40
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 50
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 60
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 70
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 72 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded the hit solo single 'Daddy's Home,' which reached No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1973.
- Co-wrote and performed on the Jacksons' hit 'Lovely One' from the album 'Triumph.'
- Released the successful solo album 'Let's Get Serious,' produced by Stevie Wonder, which spawned a top-ten R&B hit.
- Served as the primary bass guitarist for the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons across multiple decades of performances.
Did You Know?
He is married to the daughter of legendary musician Berry Gordy, who founded Motown Records.
He was originally intended to be the lead singer of the Jackson 5 before Michael emerged in that role.
He performed a duet with Michael Jackson called 'Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)' for his 1984 album.
He was a contestant on the UK reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother' in 2007.
“We were just kids having fun. We didn't know we were making history.”
