Keeping up the Jackson image

By Mahes Perera

Jermaine Jackson

Music lovers who grew up to the scintillating sounds of the Jackson 5 will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relive their music when the Jacksons raise a major storm on-stage at a performance which hopefully will take place in December. Jermaine Jackson, the leader of the Jacksons was in Sri Lanka at the invitation of Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament for Hambantota to work out details for the forthcoming concert.

Jermanaine Jackson needs no introduction to music lovers. His legendary contribution to the global music spectrum is invaluable. 'Daddy's Home' the Billboard Top-Ten hit and a Motown Records release saw the launch of Jermaine Jackson's solo career in 1972. From then on many singles followed and so too the success story of Jermaine Jackson.

The early years of the Jackson 5 with the young, dynamic Michael Jackson and the group's phenomenal rise to fame is now history. But Jermaine is determined that the music is not forgetten. With the Jacksons Unity Tour 2013 Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon have played at many stages in the capitals of the world keeping alive the music and endorsing the thought 'You Are Not Alone, Michael'.

Question: In the repetoire of the current concerts of the Jacksons have you included the songs of the Jackson 5, songs that Michael held the spotlight, like 'I Want You Back', 'ABC', 'I'll be there' to name a few.

Music

Answer: Yes we do all the songs. I sing them. We all sing them. We've been performing for almost a year and a half singing, dancing the routines of the Jackson 5. We do it all. We've been dancing all our lives. Of course we miss Michael very much. He's our brother. And we have to keep going playing his music.

Q:Have you written any new songs for an album release?

A: We are going into the studio to record some new music, We will be producing the album and the music ourselves. I and my brothers have a band.

Q: Recognised for singing in the Motown style and in R+B, have the Jacksons now left all that and gone contemporary perhaps?

Jermaine 's wife Halima, Jermaine and Susantha Katugampola

A: From Motown our songs became No.1 pop songs. We were never R+B the songs we did were No.1 pop songs. Just because we are African American it doesn't mean we have to put on a beat.

Character

Q: The character of music today has changed globally, how were you received when you performed your concerts in America. Did you have a big youth audience?

A: Yes. At our last concert we had an audience of 25,000. We were on stage with the Jacksons look, with the original dance steps but not the original costumes, still we had tremendous success.

Q: The rumour goes that the Jacksons may be performing in Sri Lanka. Can the Sri Lankans look forward to it?

A: Yes, we came to settle some details. We are excited to come here. We understand that the Jacksons have a good following in Sri Lanka to have a great show. We are looking forward to performing in Sri Lanka.

Q: How did you hear about Sri Lanka in the first instance?

A: I have a lot of friends from Sri Lanka in California. We've been to India recently and I met a lot of Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan who gave me a wonderful reception.

Q: What would your comment be about today's pop music?

Jermaine Jackson and Natasha Castelino.

A: Today's music... it's..well, some of the music I like but sounds so mechanical, such as the synthesiser. It's no real musicianship it's pushed out through electronics.

I like the musicians going to the studio and really, really playing hard that's showmanship. I think music is going back to its roots.

Q: And what about rap?

A: I like some of the rap that has a message in its lyrics. But some others are a vocal disrespect.

Q: Your visit to Sri Lanka is it for the sake of music or for any other business transaction?

A: For music. But I'm also looking at hospitality opportunities for. We have seen some very exciting locations. We are trying to put together a show in December before Christmas.

We've been around for 50 years. We've been successful. We hope to keep the Jackson image. We've got the most incredible audience all over the world.