Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5

About Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5

Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 is the debut studio album from Gary, Indiana-based soul family band the Jackson 5, released on the Motown label on December 12, 1969. The Jackson 5's lead singer, a preteenage boy named Michael (who later became a universally-recognized pop star on his own and "The King of Pop"), and his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon, became pop successes within months of this album's release. Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5's only single, "I Want You Back", became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 within weeks of the album's release and eventually sold five million copies worldwide. The album reached number 5 on the Pop Albums chart, and spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the R&B/Black Albums chart. The album title suggested that Motown star Diana Ross had discovered the group, as do the Ross-penned liner notes on the back cover. Ross' supposed discovery of the Jackson 5 was in fact part of Motown's marketing and promotions plan for the Jackson 5; it may actually have been Motown producer Bobby Taylor who discovered the Jacksons. Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the Jackson 5, thanked the "lovely Gladys Knight, (who) extended a helping hand to our family, by calling Motown Executives and talking their ear off to take time out of their schedule and meet with us. She believed in us before others. Always grateful to her."(Gladys Knight also said she brought the Jackson 5 to Motown's attention.) But Ross embraced her assigned role and helped promote the group, especially grooming young Michael Jackson as a star. more »