Joe Jackson Biography: Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Wife, Awards, Children, Cause of Death

Joe Jackson, whose full name is Joseph Walter Jackson, was the patriarch of the Jackson family and a pivotal figure in shaping the careers of The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, and Janet Jackson.

As a talent manager, he maintained strict discipline and vision, propelling his children to global stardom, though his methods sparked controversy.

His legacy in music management is marked by his induction into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.

Profile

• Full Name: Joseph Walter Jackson
• Stage Name: Joe Jackson
• Born: July 26, 1928
• Died: June 27, 2018 (Age: 89 years old)
• Birthplace: Fountain Hill, Arkansas, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Talent Manager, Musician, Former Boxer
• Height: 175 cm (5’8”)
• Religion: Christianity
• Parents: Crystal Lee King, Samuel Joseph Jackson
• Siblings: Verna Mae Jackson, Lula Mae Jackson, Lawrence Jackson, Luther Jackson
• Spouse: Katherine Scruse (M. 1949–2018)
• Children: Rebbie Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Brandon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson, Janet Jackson, Joh’Vonnie Jackson
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $500,000

Early Life

Joseph Walter Jackson was born on July 26, 1928, in Fountain Hill, Arkansas, to Crystal Lee King and Samuel Joseph Jackson, a school teacher. His ethnicity was African-American, with some sources claiming his great-grandfather, July “Jack” Gale, was an Indigenous American medicine man, though no tribal affiliation is confirmed.

The eldest of five children, Joe had two sisters, Verna Mae and Lula Mae, and two brothers, Lawrence and Luther. Raised during the Great Depression, he described a lonely childhood with few friends, shaped by his father’s domineering and strict nature.

After his parents’ divorce when he was 12, Joe moved with his father to Oakland, California, while his mother and siblings relocated to East Chicago, Indiana. At 18, after his father remarried, Joe joined his mother in East Chicago, where he worked at Inland Steel Company and pursued boxing dreams through the Golden Gloves program.

Education

Joe Jackson did not complete high school, instead focusing on work and boxing in East Chicago, Indiana. His practical education came through life experiences, including his early jobs and his brief musical pursuits with his brother, Luther, in their blues band, The Falcons.

Career

Joe began his career as a crane operator at Inland Steel Company and later took a part-time job at American Foundries in East Chicago. In the early 1950s, he played guitar in a blues band, The Falcons, with his brother Luther, but the group disbanded without a recording deal.

His career pivoted in the early 1960s when he discovered his sons’ musical talents and formed The Jackson Brothers with Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine. By 1965, adding Marlon and Michael, he renamed the group The Jackson 5.

Enforcing intense rehearsals, Joe managed their performances at local talent shows, Chicago’s Regal Theater, and Harlem’s Apollo Theater, securing their first contract with Steeltown Records in 1967 for the single “Big Boy” (1968).

In 1969, he landed a Motown contract, leading to The Jackson 5’s breakthrough with “I Want You Back,” which hit #1, followed by “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There” (all 1970).In 1974, Joe founded Ivory Tower International Records and managed other artists who toured with The Jackson 5.

After the group left Motown for Epic Records in 1975, renaming themselves The Jacksons due to Motown’s trademark on their original name, tensions grew. Michael fired Joe as his manager in 1979, followed by his other sons in 1983.

Joe then managed Janet Jackson’s early career, financing her demo and securing an A&M Records contract in 1982. In his later years, he focused on promoting new talent, though he faced criticism for his strict management style. He was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Awards & Nominations

• 2002: Best Entertainment Manager of All Time, awarded by Jane L. Campbell, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio
• 2014: Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Inductee

Social Media

Joe lived before widespread social media use, and no active accounts are associated with him.

Personal Life

Joe, who stood at 175 cm, married Katherine Scruse on November 5, 1949, and remained married until his death in 2018, though they lived separately after 1982. They had 10 children: Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (deceased at birth), Michael, Randy, and Janet. Joe also fathered Joh’Vonnie Jackson with Cheryle Terrell during a 25-year affair (1973–1998).

Katherine filed for divorce in 1973 and 1982 but withdrew both times. Joe’s strict parenting, including physical discipline with belts and switches, drew controversy, with Michael publicly detailing abuse in a 1993 Oprah Winfrey interview.

Some siblings confirmed this, while others denied it. Joe lived in Las Vegas in his final years, where he died of pancreatic cancer on June 27, 2018, at Nathan Adelson Hospice. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Net Worth

Joe Jackson’s net worth was estimated at $500,000 at the time of his death in 2018, primarily from managing The Jackson 5 and other artists through Ivory Tower International Records. His wealth was modest compared to his children’s, and he received nothing from Michael’s estate. The $500,000 estimate aligns with his career earnings and lack of major personal assets.