Detroit, Michigan in black and white, a street view, from high angle, with sun illuminating the renaissance center.
To understand the success of the Jackson 5, you have to understand the city that powered their rise—even if they weren’t born there.
“The Jacksons were from Gary, but their greatness was made in Detroit,” Mason says. “You couldn’t come through here half-steppin’. Detroit made you earn it.”
In the late 1960s and early ’70s, Detroit wasn’t just a city—it was a music factory. Every street corner had talent. Every basement had a band. And inside the walls of Hitsville U.S.A., Motown was operating like NASA: precise, mission-driven, and packed with genius.
“This town had Marvin, Smokey, Stevie, Gladys, the Temps, the Tops—all in the same building. Imagine the pressure that puts on a newcomer.”
When the Jackson 5 signed with Motown, they weren’t treated like kids. They were put through the same rigorous artist development system that had turned singers into legends. Daily rehearsals. Vocal training. Stage drills. Media polish.
And Detroit was the perfect proving ground.
“You mess up a note here, people will let you know,” Mason laughs. “It’s not a city of yes-men. You better bring it.”
Detroit’s Black community, already proud of Motown’s accomplishments, watched the Jackson 5 closely. They weren’t just hoping for a fun pop act—they were watching for greatness. And once the Jacksons proved themselves, the city claimed them as honorary sons.
“Motown didn’t just sign them. Detroit embraced them. They became part of the culture.”
The influence of the city bled into their sound, their performance style, and even their mindset. Surrounded by the best, they rose to the occasion.
“You put a flower in the right soil, it grows. That’s what Detroit did for the Jacksons. It gave them sunlight, pressure, and soul.”
It’s no wonder their debut single “I Want You Back” exploded—it carried the DNA of Detroit brilliance. And even after Motown moved to Los Angeles, its heart remained rooted in the Motor City.
