Jackson 5 is one of the biggest bands of all time. They sold over 150 million albums worldwide, and released a slew of singles that remain beloved some six decades later. Michael Jackson is, of course, the biggest solo star to come out of the band, but he was not the first to leave.
That distinction goes to his brother, Jermaine Jackson. He was the bassist for Jackson 5 from their inception in 1964 to 1975. He was present on all the band's classic singles from that era, but times were changing. Jackson 5 ended their contract with Motown in 1975, amidst waning album sales.
Jermaine Jackson left Jackson 5 in 1975
Jermaine Jackson, on the other hand, wanted to stay with the label. He was married to Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy, and he felt a loyalty to the label, given all they'd done for Jackson 5 early on.
Jackson later told the New Yorker that he struggled mightily with his decision to go it alone. "The sense of detachment and loneliness was profound," he admitted. "I didn’t feel like I had lost my right arm; I felt like I had lost every limb. I had Hazel, of course, but the brotherhood was intrinsic to who I was and everything I knew. When it was ripped away, I felt something tear."
Jackson had solo albums dating back to 1972, but the break from Jackson 5 meant that it would be his main source of musical expression. He notched minor hits of each of his first three post-Jackson 5 albums, but it was Let's Get Serious in 1980 that turned him into a solo star.
Jermaine has reunited with the band many times
The title track was a top ten Billboard hit and a number one Hot Black Singles hit. It proved that the singer could stand on his own as a musical force, even though his brother Michael proceeded to blow the doors off what could be deemed "popular music." Jermaine Jackson reunited with Jackson 5 for the Motown 25 TV special in 1982. The reunion went over so well, they decided to record an album in 1984, Victory.
A good thing too, because it proved to be the biggest album of their entire catalog. Jermaine Jackson stuck around with the band for one more album, 2300 Jackson Street, in 1989, and was present for their highly publicized reunion tour in 2001. Tracking the various Jackson reunions, in their different permutations, gets tricky in the 2010s, but Jermaine is credited as a member for the years 2012-20.
The only active members of Jackson 5 today are Jackie and Marlon Jackson. Jermaine has also slowed down following the release of his 2012 solo album I Wish You L.O.V.E. Today, he's known as the second biggest star to come out of Jackson 5, and his son, Jaafar, is set to play Michael Jackson in an upcoming biopic. Oh, and he's been a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1997.