Rebbie Jackson

Biography

Rebbie Jackson, born Maureen Reillette Jackson on May 29, 1950, in Gary, Indiana, is the eldest child of the Jackson family, known for their musical legacy. While her brothers formed the Jackson 5, Rebbie stayed home to help raise her siblings and married her childhood sweetheart Nathaniel Brown in 1968, prioritizing family over early career pursuits. She began performing publicly in 1974 with her siblings at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, debuting in June after a sprained ankle delayed her April start; she served as a filler alongside Randy, Janet, and La Toya while her five brothers were the main attraction[1][2][4].

Rebbie launched her solo career at age 34 with the 1984 debut album Centipede on Columbia Records, featuring the title track co-written and produced by her brother Michael Jackson, which hit No. 4 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and propelled the album to gold status. She followed with Reaction (1986) and R U Tuff Enuff (1988), the latter including the top-10 R&B single 'Plaything.' After a hiatus focused on family—including contributions from her children on her final album Yours Faithfully (1998) via Michael's MJJ label—she covered 'Forever Young' for the Free Willy 2 soundtrack in 1995 and toured in 2011 with the 'Pick Up the Phone Tour' dedicated to teens lost to suicide. Her style spans post-disco and new jack swing[1][3][4][7].

Rebbie's legacy lies in her resilient solo path amid the Jackson family's fame, releasing four albums with modest hits while balancing motherhood to three children. Married to Nathaniel Brown until his death in 2013, she remains the least spotlighted Jackson sibling but contributed to family performances and backing vocals for others, embodying a grounded contrast to her superstar siblings[1][3][5].

Fun Facts

• Rebbie's Las Vegas debut with the Jacksons was delayed from April to June 1974 due to a sprained ankle, making her the last sibling to join the stage shows[2][4].
• She prioritized family, releasing her debut album Centipede only after ensuring her young children were secure, following pregnancies that paused her career in the late 1970s[1][4].
• Rebbie shares the same birthday, May 29, as her sister La Toya Jackson, though in different years[3].
• Her 2011 'Pick Up the Phone Tour' was dedicated to American teenagers who died by suicide[3][4].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Michael Jackson - brother who co-wrote, produced, and provided backing vocals (Centipede title track (1984), remixed on Yours Faithfully (1998)) [1984-1998]
• Katherine Jackson - mother who taught her clarinet and piano (early musical training) [childhood, pre-1970s]
• Smokey Robinson - songwriter who contributed tracks (Centipede album (1984)) [1984]
• Prince - songwriter who contributed tracks (Centipede album (1984)) [1984]

Key Collaborators

• Michael Jackson - co-writer, producer, backing vocalist (Centipede (1984), Yours Faithfully (1998)) [1984-1998]
• The Weather Girls - backing vocalists ('Centipede' single (1984)) [1984]
• Spanky Williams (Men of Vizion) - producer and collaborator (Yours Faithfully (1998)) [1997-1998]
• Keith Thomas - producer (Yours Faithfully (1998)) [1997-1998]
• Eliot Kennedy - producer (Yours Faithfully (1998)) [1997-1998]
• Her children (Stacie, Yashi, Austin Brown) - featured contributors (Yours Faithfully (1998)) [1998]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia