JOE JACKSON
The Jackson family patriarch’s musical legacy.
“You made us one of the most famous families” —La Toya Jackson
M usical family patriarch Joe Jackson was in good spirits when he was seen at a Las Vegas juice bar on June 6. Wearing his trademark hat and dark sunglasses, 89-year-old Jackson posted a video of himself at Jamba Juice writing, “So many choices to select from. With my son Michael’s music playing in the background. I wanna be starting … drinking all three.”
Three weeks later, on June 27, Jackson died at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas surrounded by family members after a reported battle with stage-four pancreatic cancer. The passing of the father of 11, who launched the Jackson 5 to global stardom, comes almost nine years to the day that he lost his son Michael at the age of 50 from an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol. “I will always love you! You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world,” daughter La Toya, 62, wrote on her official Twitter account. “I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared. #RIP Joe Jackson.”
A controversial figure even in his final days, the music manager reportedly ordered carers to turn away senior members of the Jackson family including his wife, Katherine, 88, and eldest child, Maureen “Rebbie” Jackson, 68, reported the Daily Mail.
Jackson’s daughter Joh’vonnie Jackson, 43—the product of an extra-marital affair—was also initially barred from seeing her father despite being very close to him and living nearby in Las Vegas, the source told the Daily Mail.
“No-one knew what was going on—we shouldn’t have to beg, plead and argue to see our own father, especially at a time like this,” Jermaine Jackson, 63, said. “We have been hurting. We were not being told where he was and couldn’t get the full picture. Even from the doctor. My mother was worried sick.”
He added: “It’s what any family would want, but some people around him think they know better ... and they don’t.”
After a family meeting and pleas to Jackson’s manager, Charles Coupet, relatives were finally granted access to the ailing patriarch, according to the source.
Paris Jackson, Michael’s 20-year-old daughter, was said to have been by her grandfather’s side during his final moments.
She and her brothers, Prince, 21, and Blanket, 16, lived with their grandmother Katherine after the King of Pop died and maintained close relationships with their grandfather until his death. “Spending those last few moments with you were everything,” Paris wrote after Jackson’s passing. “Being able to tell you everything I needed to tell you before saying goodbye was such a blessing. Everyone that came to visit you came with love, respect and so much pride in their hearts for you. Proud of you, proud to be your children, grandchildren and great-great children, proud to have your strength and share the dynasty you spent your life creating.”
Jackson reportedly suffered four strokes in 2013, and another stroke and multiple cardiac arrests after partying in Brazil in 2015, according to reports. More recently, family members have said that Jackson was battling stage-four pancreatic cancer. On June 22, Jermaine confirmed his father’s health was declining.
“I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see. The sun rises when the time comes and whether you like it or not, the sun sets when the time comes,” was posted on Joe Jackson’s official Twitter account on June 25. Hours later, Paris denied her
grandfather wrote the ominous tweet.
Following Jackson’s passing, tributes flooded in from the showbiz family. Randy Jackson Jr posted an old photo of his grandfather standing next to a framed copy of Michael’s 1979 album, Off the Wall. “RIP to the king that made everything possible!!! I love you, grandpa,” the 26-year-old tweeted.
Jackson was best known for launching the career of son Michael—along with Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito—as the Jackson 5 in 1966. Two years later, they signed with Motown Records and went on to become one of the most successful R&B groups in music history.
Success came with a price, however, and Jackson was known for his iron-fisted control of his children. In her 1991 autobiography, La Toya wrote that her father abused her and terrorised her brothers, often pointing guns at the kids to get their attention. During an Oprah Winfrey special in 1993, Michael admitted his father had beaten him.
“If you messed up during rehearsal, you got hit,” Michael said in J. Randy Taraborrelli’s biography. “Once he ripped the wire cord off the refrigerator and whopped me with it ... I would fight back and my father would kill me, just tear me up.”
Jackson, who was honoured as Best Entertainment Manager of All Time by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, was unapologetic. “I’m glad I was tough, because look what I came out with,” he told CNN in 2013. “I came out with some kids that everybody loved all over the world. And they treated everybody right.”
His estranged relationship with son Michael resulted in him being completely left out of his will while Katherine continues to receive more than $US1 million annually from the Michael Jackson estate.
In 2013, Jackson told CNN his son had tried to reach him before his death, but they didn’t connect.
“He says, ‘Call my father.’ This was before he passed. ‘He would know how to get me out of this,’ ” Jackson said. “But they didn’t get in touch with me. They said they couldn’t find me, but I was right there.”
Jackson was also exposed for being unfaithful in his marriage, with Katherine documenting his alleged affairs in her 1990 book, My Family, The Jacksons. The couple split several times and lived apart for decades, but reportedly never divorced.
Despite their financial success and fame, the extended Jackson family had been divided for years amid estrangements, internal battles over money and other issues. After suffering strokes in 2013, Jackson penned an open letter to his daughter Janet, claiming she was his only child to visit him. “Only two people in my family travelled all the way to see me in the hospital. My granddaughter Brandi [Jackie’s daughter] and my baby girl Janet,” he wrote. “She sat right
—Prince Michael “You showed me strength and fearlessness”
next to me as I lay in bed, spent time with me, talking about a lot together. It meant a lot to me.”
In his final days, the family were reportedly able to put aside their differences and support Jackson. Following his death, Prince Michael paid tribute to his grandfather, telling him to “fly free.”
“This man is and always will be an example of sheer willpower and dedication,” he wrote. “He didn’t choose the path that was the easiest but he chose the path that was best for his family. You taught me to take pride in the Jackson name and what it really means, you taught me dedication in the face of adversity and most of all you showed me strength and fearlessness. There is and never will be someone like you. Fly free and until we meet again, The Hawk.”