Of course, I had to watch that my sons developed their musical talent, but I also wanted, them to became good baseball players. Therefore I watched all their games.

   Once there was an important match. Jermaine played outfield, the Jackie was a pitcher. We knew, that we can win, in fact Jackie was the best pitcher in the entire city. He threw so precisely and skilfully, that he could win alone.

   The boy senior than him beat off. Jackie has examined him, lifted and has stopped. That boy could not beat off. Jackie has looked back on Jermaine, and convinced, that he has taken his position and threw. This time the boy only slightly touched the ball, and he has jumped up highly in air. A mistake! From third attempt he has hit it. Jermaine together with other player has run, but just when he was pulled to catch the ball, both boys have collided heads. Both of them have fallen down without feelings, Jermaine had a bleeding wound on the forehead, directly above an eye. Other player too has suffered. I have rushed there and have helped both to get up. Than has called first aid and has gone with them to hospital.

   I observed, how the doctor sewed up Jermaine's wound above the eye, he has imposed 14 seams and when I have seen my son in such pitiable condition, I have made the decision.

   " No more baseball when you recover! ", I have declared to him.

   The same I told Jackie. They could not do both things at the same time. Baseball was too dangerous, and if one of my boys would seriously be wounded, he risked the career of the musician. Jackie has been suppressed, because he already imagined himself a famous sportsman, he was offended by my decision. But he was still too young, and I doubt, that he actually could understand the whole importance of my decision. I would support the sport talent of my sons with pleasure, but health of my children to me was most expensive. Accident with Jermaine was a warning for me, and I would reproach myself all my life if I have ignored him and something bad would happen with someone of my sons.

   So I as a navigator who notices that the floating is not in the right direction, I have adjusted my compass all over again and have concentrated on scenic career of my children. We rehearsed more, than ever, and I am softly, but categorically promoted that they worked on themselves every day.

   I was confident, that I do the right thing. they were very active guys and if their energy has not been directed to the correct purpose, they for certain would join a gang or would communicate with drugs, as many children in Gary. Besides I by any cost wanted to prevent, them from earning for life by collecting of cotton or a potato in future. I wanted to give them a chance to use the talent productively and to receive pleasure from work.

   Winters in Gary frequently were very cold, but we continued rehearsals. Some groups rehearsed singing and dances separately, but I had a better idea. Jackson 5 should train everything simultaneously so that during singing to not get off the breath if they will have to do a difficult dancing movements. They studied correctly to breathe during dance so the pressure did not influence their voices.

   Many people tried to attribute to themselves, that they have taught my sons to dance, but each of my children had his own style long before the choreographers have started to work with them. On our rehearsals boys experimented with various movements and gestures while I played on a guitar. I told them about all fashionable styles, about everything, that they had to know, and we corrected steps in front of mirror. I was strict in everything concerning the schedule of rehearsals, but they also could rain at any time separately. I never prevented their creativity, on the contrary, the opposite I tried to support it. Jermaine played on a bass, and Tito on a guitar, the responsibility for musical support had laid on them. They had to take care, that people will feel our music that it would carry them away. Jackie, Marlon and Michael as dancers were responsible for visual representation of the group, and the success of the five depended on how they held themselves on stage.

   Michael has talent for dances by nature. If he saw a combination of movements, he could repeat it at once. But it was clear to me, that in the middle 60s it is not enough for an unknown black child from Gary just to be only talented. Therefore I accustomed Michael to constantly improve his singing, in fact he could achieve a lot. He, fortunately, has followed my advice. Certainly, it was difficult for him, but the true success can be achieved, only if you constantly work on yourself.

   I repeated to my boys again and again, that they have to be able to draw public attention. For me it meant, that they have to create a good mood, for the viewers only that way the viewer really can feel the music.

   As many children at their age, my boys at first complained, that because of rehearsals they constantly have to be home - they with much more pleasure would play in the street with neighbour's children. I had another point of view, it was important for me, and that they studied to sing in a number of voices. My wife supported me in it as much as she could. Frequently she asked:

   " You have already learnt the set? Can you hold this sound when you sing together? "

   We were engaged with our children daily so they inevitably had to become better and better. If I was not, with them they practised with Kate. In our family we always supported each other.

   Sometimes neighbour's children peeked to our rehearsals in a drawing room, even flattened the noses in our windows, and it was very unpleasant to my children, because they shouted: " They do not let you out! No luck, no luck, parents do not let out, you are locked up! "

   It was a pity to me of my sons. Because of my work I knew, how the envy and jealousy of others can be awful, and I have noticed, that it very much touches them. But I could explain to them, that it should not distract them.

   Certainly, I was strict with them, it was necessary, if we wanted to achieve something, in fact the deal was about 5(and later 6) extremely mobile and healthy boys. But as I acted consistently, they learnt well and never forgot what they learnt. It was especially important, that they later during an intense tour in perfection remembered each detail of their performance.

   Within several years all money and time that I have enclosed in Jackson 5 were paid back. They knew by heart each turn, gesture and tone. In summer months I have moved rehearsals from a house to a garden. Neighbours heard our music and enthusiastically applauded. As envy can quickly turn to respect! My boys have felt confidence of their forces and the first whiff of glory, in fact neighbours now admired them. It pleased me very much .

   In 1965 my boys finally were ready: I could rely that they will show an excellent performance.

   And when I have heard about competition of talents at the Roosevelt High school, I have written them down. When Katherine was a schoolgirl, she learnt to sew, she has sewed them smart suits for the performance, and with the new expensive equipment which I have bought, and guys looked like true professionals.

   Before they got on stage, the atmosphere was rather intense. People already heard about us but when they have seen, how small my boys still were - Michael was only 6 - they did not know, how to treat us. " And these children will sing? ", they were whispered among themselves.

   Jackson 5 performed the latest last hits of the "The Temptations ": My girl " and " Get ready " which were sang by Jermaine. The last James Brown's song: "I feel good" was sung by Michael, with his famous " Baby, Baby, Baby ". Before last note has ceased, he has removed his banjos, jumped out on the middle of a stage and started to dance. When he jumped in air as James Brown, all children in the audience have enthusiastically cried. As I also hoped, Jackson 5 have subdued the hearts of their listeners.

   Than they announced the winners: "The Jackson 5". All of us were on 7 heaven. For me it was a significant day. It has proved me, that if you work a lot, a dream can become reality.

   The following stage was a competition with the finalists from other schools. It has taken place on Gilroy Stadium. Then there were not much Afro-Americans on high posts, therefore all young blacks aspired to become artists or sportsmen, and on such shows of talents there came many very good singers, as for example Deniece Williams which sang later such hits as "Silly", " Let’s hear it for the boys " and " Black butterfly ".

   But, as I have already told, my boys have been superb prepared, so we could not to be afraid of a competition. Certainly, Jackson 5 has again won. Than other competitions which we too have won, have followed. In due course it became clear, that nobody else could win, if Jackson 5 took part.

   I rehearsed with them before each performance. When we have collected all prizes in Indiana, I have gone with guys to Illinois. There they too have won. The number of our fans grew, they have written in newspapers about us and published our photo. everybody talked about Jackson 5.

   We did not stop to work. Children quickly forget if they make pauses for too long. And I did not want it. Besides they were pleased, when they performed in front of new public. When I stood behind the scenes and looked from behind the curtain, I had tears falling down on my cheeks when the audience shouted "Bravo!"

   My children only smiled, if they noticed it - they knew, that they have made me the happiest.

   My diligence was paid back. we still had a long way ahead of us, and we had to cope with difficulties, but I have decided to make world famous stars out of my children.

   For me, with such a big family, it was the only opportunity, in fact then blacks still did not receive any grants to have an opportunity to get to university or college. Also there were not so many examples for imitation, first of all in this business. And there were no boy bands in general. Today everything is much easier. Groups such as NSYNC and Backstreet boys make the big success not only in Germany but then we went on an unbeaten path.

   From 1965 to 1968 I and the group almost each weekend were on the road. Competitions of talents, it is certainly good and fine, but I wanted, my children to receive money for performances, therefore I started to make them to sing in small clubs in Chicago. Partly it was poor snack bars but then for the black artist, it very frequently was an only opportunity to perform. We did not want to worry Katherine, therefore we did not tell her, that it was clubs with a striptease. It's just that that was the show-business back than in the part of America. At that time we also did not presume to stop in 5 star hotels, but I always cared of that children have been fed, and encouraged them with jokes.

   Once I with boys had to do a long way to Arizona, not without stopping for a break to sleep. The group had performance on suburb of the Phoenix and after that we at once have gone home. I was free only on the days off, and only thus we could overcome this long road. I in fact did not want, that guys missed school. For me also mattered, that they seriously treated the performances in Arizona and other places, such as Kansas City because there they could address to the mixed public, that then was a rarity.

   In vicinities of our city they had a lot of black admirers, but I would like, that they acted both before black, and before white, Mexicans and Indians. Today it is self-evident, that public will consist of people of all races and cultures, but in the beginning 60s the fact that my boys united a lot of nations in one audience, seemed extremely unusual.

   When we have returned from Arizona, I was aimed at the biggest competition of amateurs in the world. Jackson 5 could sing the old songs becoming classics, and the newest hits, even both country and western, and their choreography was perfect. In this show in Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York we had to perform 3 songs.

   When I was a child I dreamed to get in Apollo. Apollo was soul and heart of Harlem, in 30s and 40s of 20eth century it represented its culture and pride. Such artists as the singer Lena Horn and step dancer Bo Jangles, have made it immortal, and numerous stars have begun there their career.

   When I was the manager of Jackson 5, it meant, if you will be a success of critically adjusted audience in Apollo, you will be a success everywhere. If in Apollo you sang out of tune the audience threw at you bottles and banks from under beer. It disturbed me. But in fact we many years continuously trained, and I didn't believe, that with my children such a thing can happen. No, it cannot be. They were ready to appear in front of Apollo’s audience.

   Before going out on stage there was a piece of a tree which all artists touched "for luck" before the performance. And my boys did not become an exception. But they did not need no "luck". Fans squealed and jumped out on a stage, it was necessary even to evacuate the group in a safe place. The audience raged! And I was convinced, that now my sons can perform worldwide. After a victory in Apollo nothing could take away their confidence. They liked to work together, and all of them felt even more, that they are Jackson 5.

   In Chicago I have got acquainted with a dude by name Baby James, the promoter who knew many people of show business in New York. He heard, that my boys won all competitions, therefore he has got into a contact with me and has persuaded me, to take the group to one agent to New York which worked on Universal Attractions. Every time when this agency arranged a show with artists from Motown, they invited us too, and each weekends and in a school breaks I planned performances.

   In the summer 1968 I have gone with boys to Regal Theatre in Chicago, they shad to participate in show of talents next day. That evening in the program was "Gladys Knight and the Pips". I have left my sons with relatives and have gone to theatre to write down the group. I was familiar with Pips from back when I worked with "The Falcons", and Ubba, William and David knew, that I didn’t do that already for a long time, but they did not know, that I am now the manager of the sons. I have promised to guys to present them later. Then I have agreed with director of theatre upon performance of Jackson 5 tomorrow.

   Late at night I have presented them to Gladys and to my old friends The Pips. They trampled down on one place, with embarrassment, played with the brown packages with the lunch which Katherine has given them, and Gladys has invited them to wait for the beginning of the performance in her dressing room. Michael was still so little, that his feet did not get to a floor when he sat on a sofa.

   " I heard, you sing ", Gladys has told.

   " Yes, we sing ", Michael timidly has answered.

   " You always wanted to be engaged in it? ", she has asked.

   All my sons have nodded.

   I have taken advantage of the moment and have asked Gladys, whether she and the Pips will persuade somebody from Motown to watch our performance. She has answered, that will watch, that it is possible to make.

   Then boys have passed on a stage for rehearsal. I observed Gladys from the side as she widely opened her eyes, looking at them. From admiration she hardly could breath, and begun to dance a little to the music. When boys have stopped, she has rushed to call to manager Taylor Cox in Motown and enthusiastically told to him about my children. He promised to take care of all but though she many times called and asked him to give Jackson 5 chance to sing, in Motown nobody reacted.

   I myself knew, that my children have all the qualities of professionals. They understood how to light public. So I have agreed upon the following performances in Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia and in Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. The prices for tickets have risen, and to my children were paid as much paid as much, as singers, whose hits were played on the radio.

   Jackson 5 became more famous, besides they have written in a newspaper about our success in Apollo. And children who saw our performances at schools, have gone crazy about them. Therefore some artists did not want to perform after Jackson 5. In show business there is an old saying: " Never step onstage after animals and children ". And if we were in the program, everybody knew, that public has come to see only Jackson 5.