Randy Jackson (musician)

Randy Jackson (born Steven Randall Jackson on October 29, 1961 in Gary, Indiana) is an African-American singer and musician and a member of the Jacksons. By the time Randy was 11, he had joined his brothers as member of their touring band playing congas.

Related Topics:
October 29 - 1961 - Gary, Indiana - African-American - Singer - Musician - Jacksons - Congas

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Randy didn't began singing, though, until after the Jackson family toured Las Vegas as an act there to revive the Jackson 5's dying career. Randy first got noticed as the straight man to baby sister's Janet's entertaining antics. Randy later joined his brothers as a group member when the Jacksons left Motown for Epic in 1976 after brother Jermaine decided to branch on a full-fledged solo career leaving his brothers behind. Randy released a solo single in 1978 titled "How Can I Be Sure" - it was only charted on the R&B Billboard Charts at number 91. He also appeared on sister LaToya's 1981 album "My Special Love" when he sung a duet in the single "Giving You Up".

Related Topics:
Las Vegas - Janet - Motown - Epic - 1976 - Jermaine - Billboard Charts

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As The Jacksons and with Randy's various amount of talent, the Jacksons were transformed into a funk band. And together with Michael, he and Randy co-composed songs together, one of which, became the brothers' biggest-selling single ever when they released "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" in 1979.

Related Topics:
Funk - Michael - Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) - 1979

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The only album Randy Jackson ever made was called "Randy Jackson and The Gypsy's". Along with band member's known as the 'Gypsy's' the album was relased in 1989 under A&M Records. Both singles released from the album, called "Perpetrator" and "Love You Honey" performed poorly and were not charted. No album was further released.

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Randy escaped death twice ironically. In one instance, as he was driving to a recording studio to record a solo album, he got involved in a car accident that had him semi-conscious for a minute. After gaining conciousness, doctors told Randy that he was paralyzed from the waist down as the injury caused major breakage in his leg cartilages. Undeterred, though, Randy battled through the pain and his bravery shown on the Jacksons' "Triumph" and "Victory" tours was enough to overcome the strain. Randy is still walking to this very day.

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In another instance, he was in Mexico and a couple of thugs kidnapped him and held him hostage for a week before Randy figured out of a way to get out of the situation.

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Randy was first married in 1989 to Eliza Shaffe. In 1990 Eliza gave birth to their child Steveanna. The same year his daughter Genevieve was born but the mother was a woman called Alejandra Genevieve Oaiaza. Randy and Eliza were divorced in 1991 and Randy was found guilty on charges for spousal abuse against her. He spent one month in prison and then another in a psychiatric clinic.

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In 1992 Randy wed Alejandra Genevieve Oaiaza and she gave birth to twins Randy Jr. and Donte the same year. The couple were divorced in 1994. In 1995 Alejandra fell pregnant to Jermaine Jackson. They were married the same year.

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On May 2nd 1996 it was Randy who flew from California to New York to rescue sister LaToya Jackson from abusive husband Jack Gordon. LaToya, who hadn't contacted her family she publicly critised for years, called Randy after she was allegedly abused by her violent hudband of 6 and a half years. Randy immeadiately caught a plane and took LaToya from the hotel straight to Las Vegas. Here LaToya was treated for bruises and she filed for divorce. To this day she is publicly grateful for Randy's trip to save her.

Related Topics:
1996 - California - New York - LaToya Jackson - Jack Gordon - Las Vegas

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In 1998 Randy set up his own record label called 'Modern Records'. The same year he and his brothers planned for the Jackson's to produce another album called "J5" with all of them including Michael and Jermaine. However, the following year when it was officially announced, Michael chose not to participate and the record was never made.

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Randy also was allegedly involved in a house spat with Tina Turner after a supposed drunk Randy intruded Turner's house and Turner shot at him. Randy also dated Sugar Ray Leonard's current wife, Bernadette. Randy reunited with all of his brothers on Michael's 30th anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden in 2001.

Related Topics:
Tina Turner - Sugar Ray Leonard - Madison Square Garden - 2001

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In recent times Randy has been living at brother Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch as the business manager of the ranch, companies MJJ Productions, MJJ Records and Michael Jackson's official website mjjsource.com while Michael has been facing charges of child molestation. In 2004 he was rumuored to be lending Michael hundreds of thousands of dollars to merely keep the ranch running. He was responsible for firing Michael Jackson's publicist Raymone K. Bain weeks before Michael's verdict for releasing information not confirmed by Jackson's attorney's. For a short time Randy's girlfriend, Taunya Zilkie, acted as publicist until Michael re-hired Bain. Though rumours speculate Michael and the Jackson family don't approve of Zilkie, Randy has remained supporting Michael through the trial and also represented the Jackson family at the funeral of author John Johnson on August 15 2005.

Related Topics:
Michael Jackson - Neverland Ranch - John Johnson

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Randy Jackson is quite often mistaken for American Idol judge Randy Jackson.

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The following link is a photograph of Randy Jackson (left) with brother Michael Jackson (right) attending the Santa Maria courthouse for Michael Jackson's child molestation trial:

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40102000/jpg/_40102955_jackson300.jpg

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