Michael Jackson by History, Hourly

since it would later be claimed that Joe Jackson wasn’t above dishing out corporal punishment if his children failed to deliver musically. Michael later revealed that, on some occasions, he would get whipped by a belt if he didn’t perform a song quite right. At any rate, it was the stern guidance of Joe that helped the group rapidly evolve in their early days. It was also Joe who saved up whatever resources he had to buy the group musical equipment. After buying Tito his first guitar, he soon purchased a bass guitar, microphone, amps, and drums—all so his children could play. Joe, who himself was a musician, had a keen eye for talent, and even if he himself had missed the boat to superstardom, he developed a new determination to bring forth the best from his offspring. It’s said that Joe made sure that his sons practiced every single day after school. Although Michael loved music, he sometimes came to regret the fact that it was forced on him. He would later recall feeling envious of other kids who were able to go out and play after school while he and his brothers were obligated to stay inside for band practice. Once the band had become a solid unit, Joe Jackson was ready to take them to the next level. He booked them for their first string of gigs at local talent shows and amateur hours in every venue he could find. The first break for the Jackson 5 came in 1966 when they managed to win a citywide competition at the high school Tito attended. It was during these early perfo