The Guardian

How we made the Jackson 5's I Want You Back

‘Michael and I were such pranksters. We’d put itching powder on men’s bald spots – or a bucket of water over a door to give someone a soaking’
The Flip Wilson Show -- 'Jackson Five' Episode 8 -- Aired 11/04/1971 -- Pictured: The Jackson Five -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank / Getty Images

Tito Jackson, singer

We were five of nine siblings who grew up in a house the size of a double garage in Gary, Indiana. We weren’t allowed to touch our father’s guitar when he went to work. Of course I did – my mum would let us play – and he found out, because I’d broken a string. He scolded me, put a new string on and said: “Show me what you know.” He was surprised that I could sing our tongues fell out of our mouths. We invited our other little brother, Marlon, to join as well, and that was the start of the Jackson 5.

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