The producer of our first Motown album was Bobby Taylor. We liked his sound style "urban." Some of the album we produced in Detroit, and have completed the rest in Los Angeles.

   Bobby also produced " Who's lovin' you ". I observed how they worked together in studio. Bobby has sung the song to Michael and has shown him what how he thinks it has to be. Michael has repeated after him, and that way it was recorded. When Michael still was very little he had a perfect pitch and memory like a recording machine.

   With the back-vocal of other boys on a background the song has turned out simply fantastic. Later on it made covers - versions but by nobody else it sounded as good as by Jacksons.

   In past the songs for Jackson 5 were written by a team under the name " The Corporation ". Sometimes Berry himself produced the songs for Corporation, but generally in the team there were Deke Richards, Freddie Perren, "Fonce" Mizell and Bobby Taylor. Fonce and Freddie cooperated especially close - if you met one of them, the other one always appeared nearby.

   When the first album was ready and we played it for Berry, he almost lost his mind. He has come to a conclusion, that with these songs my group can subdue the white pop - market!

   I too considered, that my boys have made everything that depended on them for this album. Anyway, Berry was so amazed, that has arranged a party for us . Among visitors was Diana Ross who has invited us to her show.

   In September Jackson 5 performed in Daisy Disco, a night club in Los Angeles, and there for the first time we were presented as Motown's artists. A month later Motown has released a song "I want you back" from the first album, on a single. It has rushed into charts as a rocket!

   Steeltown was a small company and had no system of selling all over the country, but Motown has delivered ours records to all musical shops in those cities where we already performed earlier. The number of the sold records promptly increased and the fame of Jackson 5 grew.

   10 year old Michael was the junior, Jackie, the senior was 16. So you can imagine yourselves how carefully I had to watch that they decently behaved in the society. But faultlessly clean image was extremely important for our success.

   Now it was important to perform as much as possible to support the marketing of Motown. On October, 18, 1969 Jackson 5 for the first time performed on TV on the ABC channel in a show called "The Hollywood Palace" where Diana Ross and The Supremes have presented my boys to public. For the first time they sang " I want you back " live on TV.

   At the end of November "I want you back" has appeared in Black Charts, and then became ? 1 in Pop Charts. We have sold 2 million singles for 6 weeks! It has brought a heap of money, and Motown has expanded the advertising of the group to other countries. In couple of months as this song has taken 1 place in the USA, the single has appeared in the British market (on the B side there was "Who's lovin' you") and there it achieved the 1 place too. I so happy, that boys fans not only in America, but also in other countries.

   On February, 24, 1970, "?BC" was released on a single and too became ? 1. This time we have sold 2 million records in 2 weeks!

   The third single, "The love you save" ("I found that girl " on the B-side), has followed in May and also has been sold in about 2 million copies.

   Then we have again received an official offer to participate in Diana Ross Special in the hall Forum. To be presented by Diana Ross was extremely effective for Jackson 5, in the advertising relation, and simultaneously advanced her career as a solo performer. She has not yet left yet The Supremes, but already thought of it.

   On June, 19, 1970 Jackson 5 performed together with Diana on her show in Forum, that was sold out up to the last ticket. She has never stood on a stage in front of that much people - more than 18 thousand fans, then it was considered as phenomenal success. It was magical, and I was pleased, when the fans welcomed guys with screams- I so was proud of them.

   Motown has released "The third album", 3d Jackson 5 record. From this album the single "I`ll be there" has been released. When also this song has taken the 1 place, Jackson 5 became the first group from which 4 songs have taken 1 place in the raw.

   "I`ll be there" has been sold in amount of 2,5 million only in 3 days. And at the end of September, 1970 Tamla/Motown Records has declared, that Jackson 5 have sold 10 million singles worldwide only in 9 months - the figure earlier considered unattainable. We have broken all records.

   Now our sons were in the center of attention of the public for which I have prepared them. One concert followed another, and in breaks between them we were recording in the studio. It was great - to make such success, but I precisely knew, that we can earn even more if we will continue to work on ourselves. We could become popular not only in America, but also all over the world, and I will never have to think of strikes of trade unions on steel factory or about collateral earnings. And children will not need to worry about the future anymore.

   We have bought ourselves a new Ford Kombi for taking boys to the concerts, and Motown lent us a new Lincoln Continental - though it there was the company’s car, we could use to it at any time.

   Katherine and the rest of the children now had enough money to buy clothes and practically everything that they wanted. And Jackie received a sports car a new Datsun 28OZ.

   I also gave money to our relatives, bought them cars and furniture.

   In October, 1970 Motown has released the only Christmas record ever made by the group - "The Jackson 5 Christmas album". The single released from it "Santa Claus is coming to town" have become a hit. Then "I`ll be there" has appeared on the British market and soon the Christmas record appeared there too. And we continued to perform all over the country.

   The year 1971 was ever worse. Boys gave interviews to the magazines: Life, Rolling Stone, Cream and Ebony, and Motown has released 2 new Jackson 5 albums within a break of only 5 months. In the summer we have gone on tour in 40 cities of USA, and among other things we performed at a musical festival the Lake Michigan Summer Festival in front of 80 thousand viewers. At the end of the year we had another tour in 50 American cities.

   Our fan clubs constantly increased the number of the members, boys received awards, and the sales grew. In September release of the "Congressional Record" Jackson 5 have been presented as "a symbol of pride of black youth ", and they have received an award as the best vocal group of the year. Michael too has received some awards separately from the group, for example both his first Billboard awards: Top singles artist and Top singles male vocalist.

   In 1972 Motown has recorded Jermaine's song " Daddy`s home" . It was sold in about a million copies. Then Michael's solo album "Ben" has been released.

   While Motown was engaged in selling, I had a heap with the organization of meetings with TV, reporters, etc. Which frequently were very hard for joining with each other. In March 1973 there has appeared already 9th Motown's album, "Skywriter", and because of all these recordings in studios, tours, interviews for press and award ceremonies, no one of us could have a normal rest.

   Even the quickly working with press connections department of Motown hardly carried out inquiries for photos and interviews with Jackson 5 - sometimes they were about several months old. LaToya began to write a column in a Teen magazine in which she told, what her brothers were doing. Besides the five of them have appeared almost in each number of Tiger Beat and Right On!

   Fans have started to copy the fashion style of my sons. Everywhere children wore bell-bottomed trousers, waistcoats with a fringe and shirts with wide sleeves, and the "Afro" hairstyle was the last shout of the fashion. Other groups copied the choreography and the sound of Jackson 5, and their "family groups" appeared like mushrooms after the rain.

   Whatever Jackson 5 did they had a success. Their records were on sale in phenomenal circulations, and they became world famous. Their success was reflected on Motown which used the fact that they have signed the contract with excellent group.

   From 1969 to 1972 I spent a lot of time together with my boys in a studio. Thus they were under strong pressure because in the majority of times they were only told a day before , what songs will have to be recorded and this or that evening. Usually they weren't given even one day to learn the lyrics. They came in the studio, listened to the song and then could half an hour practice the vocal parts. Then they rehearsed a few times and immediately recorded.

   Since they never presumed to themselves such luxury as long work in studio, inevitably they had to learn quickly. And with the time they have succeeded in that. Now singers can have week and even months learn and record songs. One producer has forced Whitney Houston in the beginning of her career to repeat a song more than 200 times. My children almost always succeeded with the first time, and they actually had to be good, in fact their songs till now put on radio. They say that Chaka Khan already from second time it is ready to record, but I have never met a singer that could learn the melody and the lyrics faster than Michael. Michael recorded complete albums for Motown in 1-2 days.

   Jackson 5 have recorded on Motown so many songs, that you will not be able to count. Thy told me once that within 6 years there were 469 but not all of this songs have appeared on the market. Many of them Motown has decided to keep as a reserve, probably, they till now lay in their archive. Some of them are so amazing, that I would like to talk about them.

   To them belongs, for example "Never can say goodbye ". Motown has sold in 5 days more than one million copies of this excellent song, written by Clifton Davis. I till now remember, how my children recorded it, it is one of those songs, that are liked after the first listening.

   Also very touching I think is "With the child’s heart" - anyway, I like, the way Michael performs it. Until now it remains to be one of his most beautiful ballads. The lyrics transfer something completely special, and it's distinctly audible, how much feelings Michael puts in it. Gene Page which made magnificent arrangements in early Jackson 5 songs , has arranged also this song.

   And certainly " One day in your life ". Unless this song is not fine! I mostly like the guitar strings. Michael presents it so good, that it is possible to listen to him indefinitely. Yes, it is amazingly fine ballad, and the lyrics tell the true story.

   I cannot describe with words all the beauty of the music - you have to listen to it.. Michael's voice is so clear and expressive, that I till now smile, when I hear this song somewhere.

   During all these years while I conducted Jackson 5 to success, I had to communicate with many people, first of all with journalists because I understood, that we need the support of press and other mass-media if we want to become popular. Today the majority of artists have their own press-agent that does the whole public work for them but then it was not accepted yet.

   I frequently met with 2 editors of the Soul magazine Regina Jones and Judy Spiegelmann. Regina, Ken Jones (the television reporter) and Judy were the first ones who informed about Jackson 5 in press when we have arrived to Los Angeles. I closely cooperated with them to provide that the article transfers a truthful picture of the group and will be interesting for readers. And the magazine too received benefit, in fact its circulation constantly grew due to us.

   Other person with whom I then worked, was Cynthia Horner from the Right on! magazine, which was read basically by teenagers. Cynthia rendered us a big support, and I am till now grateful to her for the numerous press-campaigns, led by her for Jackson 5.

   Shortly after we have signed the contract with Motown, I have got acquainted with very lovely young man by name Dick Clark. He at once has liked me. Firstly he has seemed to me very quiet and even closed, but later I have found out, that he with pleasure communicates with people. He accompanied with us in our first years when we became professional singers, and supported us in every respect.

   He then had a new show, "American Bandstand" in which he invited my sons again and again . Dick has a congenial, very natural manner to host an interview, and, in my opinion, he always asked boys the correct questions.

   He also helped us with the arraignment of the first concerts. He is sincere, will always answer any question, he likes to work with intelligent people, and he discriminates nobody. As well as Michael, he persistently works, and he too is well-known. Whatever he does he puts all the soul in to it, and he is a true admirer of our music. In my opinion, it is fine, that Dick and Michael still work together - one does for another everything that he can. Affairs in his company, Dick Clark Productions in which some members of his family work also, go well, and he for ever remains one of our best friends. I will always be grateful for everything that he has made for us.

   Also Dick Griffley has made much for promotion of our early concerts. He did his job well. Later Griffley has founded his own record company, SOLAR.

   The Fame can bring also problems. Once in the evening when children still were small, the group had to perform in one show. The concert in one of hotels in the main street of Gary had to last about an hour.

   Shortly before the concert me with children have approached to an entrance on a stage, and every one of us carried a part of the equipment. I just wanted to open the door when five big guys came to us and have asked, whether they can help us. I have felt, that that was only a pretext - they tried to pass to the performance without a ticket. When I have refused, they have simply seized some tools and microphones and wanted to get to the door. I wanted to take the things away from them, the situation was heated, and in an instant fight already was in a heat.

   I had to fight with five opponents at once.

   My boys were still too small and could not help me. Two of them I managed to knock down, but the others have started to beat me with the microphone racks, and someone of them had kicked me and the head so hard that I have fallen. From the following impact I have lost consciousness.

   When I have again come to the senses, policemen were declined over me and shined me in eyes with a flashlight. They asked, whether I am wounded. "Yes", I have murmured, and thus blood has rushed from the broken lip.

   I barely could stand up. When I touched my face, I have found out, that one half of it feels nothing, and the nose is broken. But I did not want, to go to the hospital, we had a performance. Therefore we have brought in the equipment and have established it. When I have asked my children, what happened there, they have told, that those guys have beaten me till the loss of consciousness, and that Michael has called the police.

   The whole crowd of gapers had looked at it but as soon as the police have appeared, these dudes have run away. And if not Michael, they for certain would continue to beat me, though I already lay on the ground. The boy, probably, has rescued my life.

   During the concert my sons worked as professional, as always. As they say "The show must go on". I have taught them this. I looked at them, and all my bones. The face and the right hand have grown dumb, all body was penetrated with a pain.

   After show my eyes have so swum away, that I could not drive a car, but guys have somehow managed to get me home. When Kate saw me, she started to shout and has burst into tears. I hardly could be recognised because I was so badly beaten.

   Nevertheless the following few days I continued to work as usual, but in a week I felt myself so bad that I have decided to go in hospital for an exam. They have X-rayed me and have put simply tremendous diagnosis: my scalp was broken, the malar bone has been split, and the hand is broken. The doctor has declared to me with a serious mien: " It is simply a miracle that you have not picked up any infection. You could die! "

   I have perplexedly looked at him. I have played with my life, and it because I then did not trust doctors and thought, that I can understand everything myself.

   My doctor has again put me on the feet, and in 3 weeks I already recovered. And I have promised to myself never to get involved in fight any more. Gangs are dangerous, it is better not to fight with these people, and to try to use verbal arguments.