The Jacksons will be bring their Unity Tour to Indiana June 22 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.
The Unity Tour is the group’s first since 1984, and reunites brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito, who are committed to keeping alive the legacy of both the group and their late brother, Michael.
This week the Recorder had a chance to speak with Marlon Jackson about the tour, his brother Michael and the special bond the family still has with Indiana.
Are you excited about returning to Indiana for this tour?
I’m definitely excited about that, as well as getting back on stage after being absent for so many years. The whole state of Indiana is in our heart and is a part of us.
Many people are excited about the tour, while others are concerned about its quality, since it will be the first without Michael and the first you have had in over 25 years. What do you have to say to people who might pass on the concert?
(Laughs) Shame on them, because I think they’re going to miss a good show!
We have to remember that The Jackson 5 was the foundation or tree that grew branches, and from those branches other things happened in the Jackson family. The Jackson 5 was not one, two or three, but five members that started this whole thing. If you try to please all, you please none, so all we plan to do is give 2,000 percent to a great, energetic Jackson show, and it won’t be any different with this show in Indiana.
What can we expect musically?
We will try to do as many numbers as we can fit within an hour and a half, so I think it will be about 30 or songs we’ll cover. We have picked
songs we think the fans will like.
What are some of the songs you enjoy performing the most?
I really enjoy “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” “Heartbreak Hotel” and “I Want You Back,” which really started it all. I like performing all the songs we did, really.
Where is Randy?
Randy has elected not to partake in this tour and we respect his decision. He is busy doing some other things that he wanted to do. Hopefully he will join us later down the road, which I think he will. We look forward to him joining us.
What is the progress on the new album?
Actually, we have been concentrating on putting this show together and we are not working on an album right now. Some brothers have talked about it, and if you ask them you might get a different answer. I’m not saying an album won’t happen, but I think the tour is our priority.
How are your parents and the rest of family?
Mom is great. I had a chance to spend five weeks with her recently while doing research in California, which was nice because I don’t get to spend as much time with her as I’d like. Dad is also doing well, and it is great to see them moving forward at their age.
How are Michael’s children holding up?
They are doing fine. I saw them everyday too recently for five weeks. All my nieces and nephews are doing fine.”
Millions of people around the world loved your brother Michael and appreciated his love for humanity. What would you like us to remember about him?
What I’d like people to remember about not only Michael, but all my brothers, is the humanity, the caring and things of that nature for the children of the world. That started early on during our days with Motown. When we went out on tour we supported and visited children in hospitals and supported organizations like the Ronald McDonald House. Just to see a smile on someone’s face and when they meet you, and then you go back to see them and the Lord has called them to come with him – it hurts your heart, humbles you and reminds you that you’re not in control, but a bigger and greater power is.
So what you do is live each day to its fullest and do your best to try to bring happiness to the lives of other people.
God blessed our family with a gift, and I think what he blessed us with gave us an opportunity to go out and bring happiness to people across the globe through our music and unite people as one in harmony, which has been rewarding for us.
It’s great to see people enjoy what you have created and see them come together as one. That’s really powerful. Music is a universal language, and there aren’t too many things that can bring people together like it.
Can you share a fun story with us about Michael that brings a smile to your face?
Growing up together, Michael and I were pretty close in age and the same size, so we spent a lot of time together during our childhood. There’s a lot of things we did together and got in trouble for. You know, kids being kids.
One of the things that I remember so well took place during our first time in New York City at a hotel during the ‘60s. The hotel had rolls of toilet tissue in the bathroom, and Michael and I would throw them out of the window from like the 30th floor. We thought that was funny, without realizing the damage that we could do down below. Fortunately, no one got hurt, but we did get in trouble for it.
When was the last time you and your brothers visited Indiana?
Last year, actually. Tito and I went back to Gary to record a segment for our reality show (on the A&E network). We visited the home we grew up in, walked around the neighborhood and visited Roosevelt High School, where Jackie attended.
Is it important for the family to still maintain a connection to Indiana?
Yes, because Indiana is where it all started. We were born in Gary and 2300 Jackson Street there will always be home to us. Indiana is the place that first recognized and accepted our talent and helped us grow in this business to where we are today.
What do have to say to all your hometown fans in Indiana?
I thank them, and we appreciate their support. We’re no different than anybody else in that we need support, and we ask that you continue to pray for us and support us as we pray for our fans across the globe. Without them, we would not be where we are today. I want everybody to remember to study peace, because that’s what the world needs right now. A peaceful environment for our young kids and for us to live in.
For more information about The Jacksons, including past accomplishments, current activities and a touring schedule, visit the jacksons
