In which family group did Michael Jackson perform as a child?

Michael Jackson performed as a child in the Jackson 5, the family group formed by him and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon.

The group began performing in Gary, Indiana, during the mid-1960s. Michael initially played percussion, but his remarkable singing and dancing soon made him the lead vocalist. Their father, Joe Jackson, managed the act and pushed the brothers through intensive rehearsals and talent-show performances.

The Jackson 5 won local competitions before signing with Motown in 1968. Their first four major singles—“I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There”—all reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael was still a child when the group became nationally famous.

A common mix-up is confusing the Jackson 5 with the later Jacksons. After leaving Motown, the brothers changed their name to the Jacksons, while Michael eventually became a solo superstar. The O’Jays, Isley Brothers, and Temptations were influential groups, but they were not Michael’s family band.