The Family Business
With their dad Tito as one-fifth of the Jackson Five, brothers Taj, Taryll and TJ Jackson have always been exposed to music. And as far as they're concerned, they've always been a group in their own right-though it took their 1995 debut as 3T and the accompanying album Brotherhood prove it. "It's just something that we grew up doing," Taj tells BOP. "I mean, when we were really little, we used to go home right after my dad's concerts and mimic them with whatever we could find that looked like guitars. We would bang on seats and stuff that made sounds like drums."
As the boys got older, though, their in-home performances became more polished. "We have performed a lot for our family," Taj notes, "because they are honest critics."
Indeed, singing for the likes of Uncle Michael and Aunt Janet would certainly provide the up-and-coming trio with some expert advice. But at the same time, there's a lot of baggage that comes with being part of a musically-gifted family. "The con," says youngest brother TJ, "is the high expectation, and there is a level that people are expecting us to reach."
Then again, he and brothers Taj and Taryll, realize that there are many positives to being a Jackson-like having your Uncle Michael contribute to the group's second single, "Why", for instance. "We are already in the door in a sense," TJ points out. "Our last name is pretty well-known, so that helps us out a lot."
pros and cons aside, however, 3T has one proud pop who is happy to see the family legacy continue. In addition to showering his sons with support, Tito constantly reminds Taj, Taryll and TJ to stay together, work hard and have fun-and that's just what they're doing.
Article courtesy of "BOP" Magazine