Rare vintage glossy 8 x 10 Tamla Motown (EMI Australia Records) publicity photo of the Jackson Five, which is signed on the reverse in black ballpoint, “Michael Jackson, Be cool,” “Peace & Love, Jackie Jackson,” “Jermaine Jackson,” “Randy Jackson,” “Tito Jackson,” and “Love, Marlon Jackson.” The consignor notes that the photograph was signed for the president of the local Jackson Five Fan Club at the Park Royal Hotel in Brisbane, Australia, in late June 1973. This was not only the Jacksons' first tour of Australia and New Zealand, but they were the first black artists to tour the countries and record concert attendances of over 2 million people. Between June 23 and July 5, the band played in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney, Australia, and in Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand. In good to very good condition, with scattered small stains, surface impressions to the photo side, and heavy overall creasing.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tracks and by a letter of provenance from the father of the original recipient: “The Michael Jackson hit ‘Ben’ was the catalyst for a surge in popularity for The Jacksons in Australia, and my teenage daughter, Cheryl, wrote to one of the local radio stations in response to efforts by the station to organize a following for the group, under their auspices.
In 1973, probably to coincide with the release of the ‘Skywriter’ album, the Jacksons, or Jackson 5 or however many there were, toured Australia, traveling south from Japan. The Australian tour started in Brisbane, Queensland. The commercial radio station mentioned above (probably 4BC or 4BH), thinking they should generate a bit of noise about the tour, nominated my daughter, Cheryl, as president of the local fan club, much to her surprise. They told her that if she did certain things, like jumping up and down and screaming, she could meet the members of the Jackson 5 at their hotel and she could bring a friend. Cheryl, together with her school friend, Gina, attended the concert and were told to walk a couple of blocks to the Park Royal Hotel where they could meet the group. I was with them, and as the situation seemed innocent enough, I did not object when they were invited to the group's suite to meet the boys…The Jackson boys were very relaxed and friendly and generous with their autographs.”
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