Chapter 2
Sunny California

In 1969, Berry Gordy moved his Motown offices to Los Angeles, California—and the Jackson 5 moved with him. Gordy wanted them to live in California so they could record music there. Joe and Katherine Jackson were still back in Indiana. They were closing up their house so they could move to LA, too.

For a while, Michael lived part-time with Berry Gordy. The rest of the time, he lived down the street with a neighbor. The neighbor was a famous singer named Diana Ross!

Diana Ross was the star of a Motown group called the Supremes. She taught Michael about art and music. She took him to museums and taught him to draw.

Michael loved Diana Ross. Living with her was one of the most special times in his life. He loved California, too. It was almost always sunny outside. He couldn’t believe there were oranges on the trees. He and his brothers went to Disneyland.

Pretty soon, Berry Gordy brought the Jackson boys into his new recording studio. He had a song for them. It was called “I Want You Back.”

Berry Gordy made the boys record it over and over again. For weeks! Michael listened to every word Berry Gordy said. Little by little, Michael was learning all about the music business—and he was learning from one of the best.

Berry Gordy turned the Jackson 5 into pop stars. He gave them new outfits and new hairstyles. He had someone teach the boys how to answer questions from reporters. They were tested on the answers! They were given lessons in table manners. Of course that was easy for Michael and his brothers. Their mother had insisted on good manners all their lives.

When “I Want You Back” came out in November 1969, it sold two million copies in six weeks! It was a number one hit, just as Berry Gordy had promised. Their next three singles were number one hits, too. The Jackson 5 were stars. And Michael Jackson was the most famous one in the group.

They did television shows with Diana Ross. They signed autographs. They went on the Ed Sullivan Show—a famous Sunday-night TV show. It was the same show where the Beatles had performed.

They played concerts in huge arenas like Madison Square Garden in New York. Mobs of fans—screaming girls—crowded around Michael wherever he went. Michael loved performing. He was never happier than when he was onstage. But he didn’t like being crushed by fans. Sometimes girls scratched his face by accident. It was scary!

To avoid the crowds of fans, Michael and his brothers hid in their hotel rooms most of the time. They didn’t have much freedom, but they did have a lot of fun together. They made fake phone calls. Then they giggled and hung up. They ordered room-service meals for other people’s rooms. They held races in the hallways and had pillow fights. Michael loved to play pranks and practical jokes. His brothers did, too. Sometimes they dropped water balloons on people from the hotel windows!

Now the Jacksons were rich enough to buy their own fancy house in California. Joe and Katherine bought a house not far from Hollywood. The whole family lived there together for many years.

His early teen years were good times for Michael. He was still working nonstop, but at least he was having some fun in his time off.

But as Michael got older, he got hit with all the problems that teenagers face. Except he wasn’t like other teenagers. He was a famous singer. It was a lot harder to grow up being Michael Jackson—rich, famous, and with everyone watching all the time.