MJ fact set

The Jackson 5 & Motown beginnings

Where it all began — Gary, Indiana, and four #1s in a row.

• He started recording at age 6

  Michael joined his brothers in The Jackson Brothers in 1964 at age 6, and by 1968 the group — renamed The Jackson 5 — had signed with Motown Records.

• Four straight #1 debut singles

  The Jackson 5's first four Motown singles — 'I Want You Back,' 'ABC,' 'The Love You Save' and 'I'll Be There' (1969–70) — all hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, an unprecedented debut run.

• Born in Gary, Indiana

  Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children, in a small two-bedroom house at 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana.

Facts compiled from publicly available sources including Billboard, the RIAA, Guinness World Records, the US Patent Office and reputable music publications. This is an independent fan publication and is not affiliated with the Estate of Michael Jackson. All trademarks and song titles belong to their respective owners.