#Growns we wanted to take a moment to mark the passing of Joe Jackson patriarch of The Jackson Family Musical Dynasty. Born in 1928 in Fountain Hill, Arkansas Jackson was the eldest of five children. During his younger years, Jackson had ambitions of being a boxer and then later played guitar with a blues band, The Falcons. In 1949 he married Katherine Scruse, a former classmate from Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana, who raised their children while Jackson worked at a local steel mill.
In the 1960’s when his children began showing musical talent and forming singing groups together, he became their manager. His three oldest sons, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine, were the first to perform, going under the name the Jackson Brothers. Later, Marlon and Michael joined the band, and they became known as the Jackson 5. During the 1970’s Jackson began managing the careers of their other siblings, including Randy, Rebbie, La Toya and Janet. Each eventually pursued a solo career, with Janet achieving particularly great fame.
Jackson was preceded in death by two of his sons, Michael and Brandon, who was stillborn. He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and his children, Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Steven(Randy), Janet and Joh’Vonnie.
Ivan Orr is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, and writer. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia Ivan was involved with the forming and nascent days of The Music Resource Center as its first Program Director. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Music, Ivan currently resides in Richmond, VA where he maintains an active performance and production schedule while serving as the Music Editor for Grown Folks Music, a position he has held since 2010.
