JOE Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson and the brain behind the Jackson 5 group which launched his son’s pop career, has died aged 89.
According to TMZ, he passed away at 3.30am this morning in Los Angeles with his wife Katherine at his bedside.
The website reported he had suffered health problems for many years, with trips to hospital in 2015 and 2016 for heart attacks and high fevers respectively.
Joe oversaw the creation of the Jackson 5, the group featuring his five sons which had multiple hits in the 1960s onwards.
The group also launched member Michael’s solo career which led to him becoming one of the biggest pop stars in history.
However, Joe was plagued by claims that he was physically abusive towards his children and was a brutally tough manager.
Joe’s death also comes almost exactly nine years following that of Michael’s, who died on June 25, 2009.
Joe and Michael pictured together in 2005 during the pop star’s child molestation trial
(The Sun)
