2 days and 9 years after his legendary son, Joe Jackson has died at 89 at a Las Vegas hospital.
Jackson was the father, or better, the patriarch of one of the most talented and celebrated families in music; from their debut, he was manager to pop stars Michael and Janet Jackson, and to the sibling group The Jackson 5, contributing to their formation and following the early success.
The young family band from Gary, Indiana, became a phenomenon in the late 1960s and 70s, with unforgettable hits like “I Want You Back“, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There“.
The relationship with his sons however, especially with superstar Michael, was complicated and is still somehow shrouded in mystery. Joseph – his complete first name – was later accused of abuse and violence; it had been reported that he obliged intense rehearsals for his sons using hard methods.
Michael fired his father and went on with his career by himself, and it seems that the fame he acquired came at the cost of physical and psychological efforts when he was younger.
Janet Jackson said her father only beat her once, but that they had a distant relationship. In the last years of his short life, Michael forgave his father and honored him.
Jackson is survived by his wife, Katherine, and their children Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, LaToya, Marlon, Randy, Janet and another daughter, Joh’vonnie, by Cheryl Terrell.
His last sunset – referring to a Tweet posted few days ago where he comments “I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see” – arrived at the final stage of a battle against pancreatic cancer; since 2015 he suffered from serious heart attacks too.
#Peace.Love.RIPJoeJackson
