Jackson One for Sumfest

Officials of Reggae Sumfest announced that this year’s staging of the annual reggae festival would be dedicated to late pop icon Michael Jackson and that the remaining members of legendary group, the Jackson Five were to attend/perform. They were slated for International Night 2 on Saturday July 25. This would be their second performance in the island. The Jackson Five was the opening act for Bob Marley and the Wailers at the National Stadium back in 1975. We are now receiving conflicting stories about their attendance in the days leading up to the festival. Jermaine Jackson, the only brother with a post Jackson Five career insisted that the family was not even coming to Jamaica in interviews with TMZ and E! Online. Subsequently one of the shows directors, Robert Russell, told The Gleaner that Tito Jackson is the only one confirmed to perform. Even Prime Minister Bruce Golding got involved, he spoke with Tito and received a correspondence confirming his performance. So it seems that the headline act has dwindled from the Jackson Four to the Jackson One. I don’t know how many Jamaicans were duped into buying pre-sold tickets in anticipation of seeing the Jacksons perform, but I’m sure they’re upset. At least they’ll get a chance to see other stellar acts like Mackie Conscious, Sophia Squire and Romain Virgo, the 2007 Digicel Rising Stars winner as consolation.