Actually, my bet is that A&E's Freaky Family Dynasty will prove that Michael was saner than we all thought. According to A&E's website, the show will allow "unprecedented access into their world as they record new material and rehearse for a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Jackson Five." Never mind that the lead singer is gone.
Are the Jackson brothers capitalizing on Michael's death?
A cynic would say that Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Tito are crassly capitalizing on their brother's tragic death in a desperate attempt to rescue their own forgotten careers from irrelevance. But the brothers say the show is "just a chance to see what the family is all about."
Count me in. I may be a cynic, but I love a good comeback story. Or a train wreck.
The Jacksons (or their publicist) proclaim the clan to be America's First Family of Music, but does one King of Pop make a royal family? The Jackson 5 were undisputedly one of the biggest acts of the '70s and — as did most Motown artists — they broke down racial barriers. The group lasted through most of the '80s, but their success was long gone by the time of their 1989 album 2300 Jackson Street bombed.
If the Jacksons want to claim the Musical Family Dynasty title, they'll have to fight off these groups (not to mention the dozens of family duos who are not the subject of this discussion; I'm keeping it to groups with three or more family members today).
The Osmond Family Dynasty: First Mormon Family of Music
The seven Osmond siblings' squeaky clean '70s image was the blueprint for every family friendly, Disney-fied act to come for generations. Brother and sister Donny & Marie spun off a successful duo act (which continues to this day as a Vegas mainstay), and sibling Jimmy became the youngest singer ever tp have a #1 U.K. hit, with his '72 single "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool." He was nine years old.
The Carter Family: First Family of Country Music
The Carter Family was country music's first superstar group. From 1927 to 1956, they reshaped popular music with their gospel-influenced harmonies and Maybelle Carter's distinctive "Carter Scratch" guitar playing. Daughter June later established herself as a comedic music talent with the Grand Ole Opry, where she would meet her husband, Johnny Cash.
The Neville Brothers: First Family of New Orleans Music
The Nevilles have been making music together since 1976. The four brothers — Art, Charles, Aaron, and Cyril — have a signature fusion of Creole funk and tight harmonies. But it's burly Aaron Neville's voice, soaring for the stars, that defines the band's sound. Aaron's son, Ivan, is a monster keyboardist who played in Keith Richards' other group, the X-Pensive Winos, and fronts his own band, Dumpstaphunk.
The Bee Gees Dynasty: First Family of Pop Music
The Bee Gees were born in England but raised in Australia, where the Brothers Gibb had their first success as a pop act. They moved back to the U.K. and spent the '60s riding high as international stars on the heels of such European hits as "Words" and "Massachusetts." Lasting U.S. success eluded them until "Saturday Night Fever" made them reluctant disco poster boys. Maurice (Robin's twin) died suddenly in 2003, but Robin and older brother Barry have said they plan on restarting the Gibbfest soon.
The Beach Boys: First Family of Beach Music
Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, along with their cousin Mike Love (and friend Al Jardine), set the bar for harmony-driven pop music. And they set the bar high. Powered by Brian Wilson's mind-altering songwriting and arrangements to rival those of Mozart, the Beach Boys' seminal Pet Sounds album inspired the Beatles to make Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Unfortunately, Mike Love has done his best to gut the group's legacy with years of meritless lawsuits, lame post-Brian Wilson songs, and half-cocked "Beach Boys" tours with session players.
The Jonas Brothers: First Family of Tween Pop
You gotta give credit to the Jonas Brothers for sticking to the middle of the road. The purity siblings rival the Osmonds for blandness. The Jonas Brothers make music so innocuous it is offensive. It's also inarguably successful. I guess 50 million tweens can't be wrong. Until they turn twenty.
The Kings of Leon: First Family of Rock
OK, it may be a bit early in their career to call them the First Family, but the Followill brothers (Caleb, Nathan, and Jared) and their cousin Matthew have single-handedly saved rock music from the self-conscious fashion slaves who pass for bands in this post-MTV music age. Hopefully, Grammy nominations and Billboard awards won't spoil Kings of Leon's Southern souls.
Follow Shawn Amos on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ACGPopFeed
However, they are a dynasty as far as I'm concerned and I appreciate the other dynasties that you cited, as well. I don't see it as a competition.
I love the show. It is the only reality show I have ever watched. The brothers are so sweet and loving. Even when they disagree you can feel their love for another. I am sorry it's only five episodes because this type of wholesome show is really missing today.
I love the Jacksons and have followed them from the beginning. I never saw Michael as crazy. Everyone has the right to their own personality and he had his, along with his superb musical talent. I don't waste time judging others or buying into tabloid rumor, gossip and speculation.
I wish the entire Jackson family well and pray that time will continue to heal the pain hey feel at the loss of their brother.
Michael has serious problems and now he's a hero? Give me a break.
Jackson 4 + Randy have been kind of penalized in the industry when they could not get Mike to do anything with them, which is unfair to them and Mike. All of the boys worked.Here's one example, in 2007 Vanity Fair did a feature on Motown. Jermaine wanted the brothers to be a part of it. Annie Leibovitz and Lisa Roberson didn’t want to photograph or interview them without Michael.
.How would that make you feel?
They got a message from Jermaine saying they needed to contact Michael’s spokesman, Dr. Tohme Tohme. Vanity Fair wrote a letter requesting Michael’s participation. They never heard back and thus the brothers were NOT in the issue. I feel like that happened ALOT and it was wrong. Mike should not be forced to do it and the brothers should not be penalized for it.
Mike being a mega superstar, the industry seemed to say Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, Randy, Marlon, you're worthless without Mike. I don't see how that doesn't cause problems in a family.
The public & the industry seem to hold Mike's success against them...and that's not fair. They have a right to use the legacy THEY ALL created.
the only good thing about the virus known as reality TV is that it is cured just by pressing a button.
The Carter family fits.
I wouldn't call any of the others a dynasty until we see their grandchildren building their own successful careers.
your comments "Freaky Family Dynasty:....freaky? they'e older guys who grew up in the business, and seem to still love it..
you dont have any comments about the Osmonds being freaky...
you crack "was saner than we thought." so were Donny and Marie saner when they left their family behind and branched out on their own?
the osmonds are still hanging around Branson trying to perform, but let the Jackson brothers do it and
they're a "trainwreck
So the comparisons are window dressing anyway. Different eras and tradtions, different innovations and accomplishments, with a good bit of good music around and yet to come.
another inane coment from Jermaine- asked about Joe's attempt to get an allowance from MJ's estate..
he said Joe is the estate-- he shouldn't even ask..
the estate MJ made after leaving his bros.?? crikey. meanwhile outside of Jermaine & his s illy hair.. the other bros seem down to earth.
As antiseptic, insipid, and substantial as a bowl of Kix cereal, and with no fruit flavors or colors for sensory leavening.
The one area where the Osmonds surpassed the J5 was in having a talented younger sister. Marie had more talent than any of the Jackson sisters, including Janet, and more talent than all of her brothers combined.
For a funny look at the similarities between the two groups see:
http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q51/j5collector/J5%20vs%20osmonds/?albumview=slideshow