Joe Jackson, Father Of Pop Icons Michael And Janet, Dead At 89
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the Jackson family that includes music icons Michael and Janet Jackson, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 89.
Entertainment Tonight confirmed his death Wednesday, quoting a family source who said Jackson last week was in a Las Vegas hospital, where family members were gathered to say their goodbyes.
Jackson died about 3:30 a.m. at a Los Angeles-area hospital, according to reports.
He reportedly battled a variety of illnesses in recent years, including suffering a stroke and three heart attacks in 2015.
The Jackson 5, formed in 1964, was originally comprised of Jackson's sons Jackie, Tito and Jermaine. Younger
brothers Marlon and Michael joined the group later.
Michael, of course, later went on to achieve multi-platinum status as a solo artist, followed by his sister, Janet Jackson.
Lauded for managing the group's emergence, Joe Jackson's reputation suffered after stories emerged in the 1980s of his alleged abusive treatment of his kids, including allegations made by Michael which were later denied by Joe and Katherine Jackson, the children's mother.
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In a 2013 interview, Jackson said he had no regrets about being hard on his kids.
"I'm glad I was tough because look at what I came out with, I came out with kids that people loved all over the world," he said.
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