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Family dynamics can be complicated.
For example, Jermaine Jackson has always been a talented singer/songwriter and bass player. Unfortunately, he was always overshadowed by brother Michael.
Jermaine occasionally carried the lead vocal on Jackson Five songs, but after Michael became such a sensation, that happened less and less.
Jermaine married Hazel Gordy (daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr.) in 1973...and that became an interesting dynamic itself when the Jacksons left Motown for Epic records in 1975. Jermaine stayed at Motown and launched a solo career.
Shortly thereafter, Michael started HIS solo career, and we all know how THAT worked out. :-)
Although he had a few solo releases, Jermaine was once again in his brother's shadow--until 1980.
With some help from one of his Motown friends--a guy by the name of Stevie Wonder--Jermaine released the album "Let's Get Serious." Stevie produced it, and, with Lee Garret, wrote wrote the title song and sang backup on it.
"Let's Get Serious" was a Great Song and a bona fide funky masterpiece, topping the Black Singles and Soul Charts, and reaching #2 on the Dance Chart, as well as #9 on the Hot 100. (As a club DJ at the time, I can confirm that it was a definite floor filler!)
The icing on the cake? At the end of 1980, Billboard ranked "Let's Get Serious" as the #1 Soul Song of the YEAR. In second place: Brother Michael's "Rock With You," (which, of course, we'll highlight at a later date).
He was also nominated for the Grammy Award for "Best Male R&B Vocal!"
Jermaine was finally in the spotlight on his own, thanks to Stevie Wonder (who stood back and let Jermaine shine), with "Let's Get Serious:" a Great Song of 1980! Click the link, and start some serious dancing! :-)
Single version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMLKb4or8yg
12-inch Dance Club version:
Tomorrow: A Tribute to Sinead.
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