Joe Jackson, patriarch of US musical dynasty, dead at 89

'Glad I was tough'

"I'm glad I was tough because look what I came out with," Joe Jackson said in a 2013 CNN interview. "I came out with some kids that everybody loved all over the world. And they treated everybody right."

The Jackson 5's big break came in 1967 when they won an amateur competition at New York's Apollo Theater. Two years later, the father signed his sons to a deal with Motown Records, which put them in the company of acts such as the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and Marvin Gaye.

Michael's singing, dancing and charisma made him the focus of the group, which dominated the 1970s pop charts with No. 1 hits such as I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, I'll Be There and Never Can Say Goodbye.

Joe Jackson eventually moved the family from Gary to a mansion in Encino, California.

In 1979, Michael broke from the group - as well as his father's management - and went to even greater acclaim with the landmark albums Off the Wall and Thriller. His stylized videos became entertainment trendsetters.

Joe Jackson managed daughter La Toya when she started her career in 1980, and Janet, who Jackson helped launch to stardom in 1982. The children all eventually severed their management ties with their father but Janet paid tribute at the Radio Disney Music Awards last week, saying her "incredible father" had driven her "to be the best I can."

In 2015, Jackson suffered a stroke, but despite bouts of ill health he continued to make appearances at celebrity events around the world. In March he released a pictorial book of memories called Precious Moments: 60 Years in Show Business.

Jackson and wife Katherine married in 1949 and had 10 children - one of whom died shortly after birth - but lived apart in later years. Jackson also had a daughter out of wedlock. 

REUTERS