In the early sixties, a group of singing siblings from Gary, Indiana exploded on to the music scene. Comprised of Jermaine, Tito, Jackie, Marlon and a precocious eight-year-old named Michael, The Jackson Five brought their unique brand of funk-laced bubblegum pop to any talent competition within traveling distance. They eventually found their way to the famed amateur night at the Apollo Theater, won the 1967 contest, and caught the attention of Berry Gordy Jr., President of Motown Records who promptly signed them.

With the 1969 release of Diana Ross presents The Jackson Five, featuring the #1 single, “I Want You Back,” the Jackson Five were breaking down color barriers and becoming enormously popular with their own brand of “bubblegum soul.” Soon, the marketing machine was in full force – stickers, posters, coloring books – and in 1971, their very own Saturday morning cartoon, The Jackson 5ive. Produced by Rankin/Bass, the show featured Michael and his brothers in various comic misadventures, centered around each other as well as Michael’s pet mice, Ray and Charles (get it?) and Rosie, a snake.

Each show would feature two musical numbers as well – and that was the only time the Jackson’s actual voices were used in the cartoon, due to their numerous touring and studio commitments. Voice over talent would handle the speaking roles, with legendary voice actor Paul Frees portraying Berry Gordy Jr. (Frees had already handled the roles of John and George in a similar cartoon, The Beatles.)

Seventeen episodes were aired in the first season of The Jackson 5ive. The show was renamed The New Jackson 5ive for the second season, which was somewhat ironic considering that it consisted of only 6 new episodes – the rest were reruns. The show would re-emerge in the 80s, thanks to the gloved one’s enormous surge in popularity but, as of yet, the series has not been released on DVD. 

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