Joe Jackson, the 87-year-old father of the entire Jackson clan, has been in a Los Angeles hospital since last Friday after falling ill during some routine tests.
According to TMZ, Jackson was at his personal physicians’ office on Friday when he became weak and spiked a fever. He was taken to the hospital where he has remained for treatment and observation. TMZ says that sources report that he has not been able to kick the fever and doctors are stumped on the cause.
Son Jermaine told the site that his father is slowly getting better. “He’s 87. Listen, my father’s very strong. He’s up there telling jokes, and he’s very strong. He’s doing fine.”
Joe was hospitalized in Brazil last summer after suffering a stroke while in that country to celebrate his 87th birthday.
Joe and Katherine, the mother of the Jackson brood, married in 1949 and had their first child, Rebbie, in 1950. During the early 50’s, he played in a group called The Falcons with Pookie Hudson but the group broke up after Pookie left to form The Spaniels. Beginning in the early-60’s, he took an interest in his children’s musical prowess, first with sons Jackie, Tito and Jermaine and, later, with the addition of Marlon and Michael.
Known for his relentless pushing of his sons to rehearse for long hours, it all paid off in 1969 after Diana Ross took the band under her wing which led to their first hit, I Want You Back. He continued to manage his children’s careers for many years even though, personally, some members of the family were not close to him.
Along with the five members of the Jackson 5, Joe and Katherine are also the parents of Rebbie, La Toya, Brandon, Randy and Janet.
