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Who Is Rebbie Jackson?
Rebbie Jackson, the eldest member of the renowned Jackson musical family, is celebrated for her significant contributions to the music industry. In 1984, she achieved commercial success with her number one hit “Centipede,” a collaboration with her brother, Michael Jackson. Throughout her career, Rebbie released several successful albums, including Reaction and RU Tuff Enuff. In 1998, she released Yours Faithfully, an album that showcased contributions from her children, further highlighting her family’s artistic legacy. Rebbie was married to her childhood sweetheart, Nathaniel Brown, from 1968 until his passing in 2013.
Personal Life
Rebbie Jackson married her childhood sweetheart, Nathaniel Brown, in 1968. Together, they have three children: two daughters, Stacee and Yashi, and a son, Austin, also known as Auggie. All of Jackson’s children are singers and performers; her daughters initially formed a group called X-Girls, which later became known as Geneva. Her son, Auggie, has established himself as a solo artist. In 2005, Stacee Jackson welcomed Jackson’s first grandchild, London Blue. Nathaniel Brown passed away in January 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Musical Career
“Centipede” – Collaboration with Michael Jackson
In 1984, Rebbie Jackson collaborated with her brother, Michael Jackson, to co-write and produce her debut solo hit, “Centipede,” from her album Centipede on the Columbia label. The song achieved significant success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album Centipede went gold, largely due to the single’s success. Following this, Jackson released her second album, Reaction, in 1986.
“Reaction”
Produced by members of the group Surface and her brother Tito Jackson, Reaction featured Jackson’s popular single of the same name, which peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The album also included notable duets with Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander and R&B icon Isaac Hayes.
“Plaything”
Rebbie Jackson’s third album, RU Tuff Enuff, released in 1988, included the popular single “Plaything,” which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Due to her growing popularity in England, she released a compilation album titled The Rebbie Jackson Collection in 1996. Her final solo album, Yours Faithfully, was released in 1998 on her brother Michael’s MJJ label.
Early Life
Born Maureen “Rebbie” Reillette Jackson on May 29, 1950, in Gary, Indiana, she is the eldest child of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, the renowned Jackson musical family. In 1965, when her mother Katherine became a Jehovah’s Witness, Rebbie followed suit and embraced the faith. She began her career by performing in her family’s Las Vegas shows and television variety productions, later expanding her repertoire as a background singer for prominent artists such as Lou Rawls and Chaka Khan.