City of Gary to host two-day Jackson 5 celebration in August
On Aug. 29 and 30, the city will host the 2300 Jackson Street Block Party at Roosevelt High School's campus.
'As Mayor of Gary, I'm proud to celebrate the enduring legacy of Michael Jackson and the entire Jackson family with this incredible homecoming event,' Mayor Eddie Melton said in a news release. 'The 2300 Jackson Street Block Party is more than a celebration — it's a tribute to the roots of greatness that started right here in our city. We honor the Jacksons not just for their global impact, but for the pride and inspiration they continue to give the people of Gary.'
The celebration will start on Michael Jackson's birthday, Aug. 29, and will be hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker. Attendees will hear and see Michael Jackson's 'legendary music and films that continue to inspire generations worldwide.'
On Aug. 30, Gary will honor the Jackson family and welcome Jackie and Marlon Jackson, who are both original members of the Jackson 5. The city will also recognize Tito Jackson, who died in September 2024.
Tito Jackson was the third of nine Jackson children and was a background singer who played guitar in the band, according to Post-Tribune archives. Tito Jackson repeatedly returned to Gary and supported Melton's mayoral campaign, saying he would return the city to the vibrant community he grew up in.
Grammy-award winning vocalist Deniece Williams will host the event on Aug. 30. Other performers will include rapper Freddie Gibbs, DJ Kid Capri and Edward Hollis, a nationally recognized Michael Jackson impersonator, according to the city.
Jackie and Marlon Jackson both acknowledged in the release how important Gary is to their family, saying that the Jackson 5 got its start in the city. Marlon Jackson called it a blessing to return and celebrate with people who knew the family before its fame.
'Coming back to 2300 Jackson Street is always deeply emotional for me,' Jackie Jackson said. 'This is where it all started for the Jackson 5, and I have so many memories here. To see Gary celebrating our family's legacy and our roots in this very neighborhood means the world to us.'
The celebration comes just about two months after a new mural of the Jackson 5 was installed in Gary. East Chicago artist Felix Maldonado painted the mural, which was sponsored by Karren and Pat Lee and Tom and Sylvia Collins.
The mural is located on the north side of the Vogue Cleaners building at 610 S. Lake St. in the city's Miller neighborhood, according to Post-Tribune archives. The art replaces a previous one that was located on Lake Street and removed in 2018 because of deterioration.
'The Jackson family's music helped define a generation — and it all started right here in Gary,' Maldonado said in a news release. 'I wanted this new mural to feel alive, so that people can connect with the joy and pride this city feels for them. It's not just art — it's a celebration of legacy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
2 hours ago
Singer-songwriter Ashe talk wrapping up solo tour, collaborating with Finneas
BC News' Juju Chang sits down with singer-songwriter Ashe to talk joining forces with Grammy and Oscar winner Finneas to form The Favors and what to expect in debut album 'The Dream.'
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Tyla Releases New Single ‘Is It'
Tyla Grammy-winning singer Tyla is ready to party after the release of her self-titled debut album last year. The South African songstress has been teasing her next project in recent months and giving fans a peek at her musical direction with the single 'Bliss' in May. Now, just as the summer is heating up and fans are eager to get moving, the 'Water' singer is helping them cool off with the new single 'Is It.' 'Is it the f**ks that I don't give? / Is it the men that I don't miss? / Is this song why we get along? / Or am I coming on a little strong?' she sings on the track. 'Is it the way this dress unzips? / Is it the girls that I came with? / 'Cause the more that you tell me 'Don't' / It's the more that you turn me on.' Tyla has been wasting little time since her debut as she puts in work on her sophomore LP. 'Every day I can be in the studio, I'm there. I'm working on the new project currently. I'm super excited because even though I love my debut album, I feel like a totally different person. Everything that has happened forced me to grow very fast,' she told Nylon of her progress. 'I'm also the type of person that gets bored very easily. So I'm excited to see this new version of me and hear what it sounds like and just have fun with it — just bring back fun in music.' Though it might feel like a quick turnaround from her Tyla album last April, the 'Push 2 Start" singer explained to Billboard that a lot has happened since she made her stateside breakthrough in 2023. 'I've changed a lot in a short amount of time because I was kind of forced to with how fast I had to adapt to everything,' she said. 'I don't think it's going to be the same energy [as Tyla]It's all in service of continuing to elevate her career as an up-and-coming star. 'I really want to be the best artist that I can be," she told Nylon. "When you have a lot of pressure, it makes you feel like you need to live up to what people expect. A year from now, I want to be making whatever I want to make, doing whatever I want to do — regardless of the pressures. That's where I want to see myself next year.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Donovan Mitchell Pops the Question to Grammy Award-Winning Singer
Donovan Mitchell Pops the Question to Grammy Award-Winning Singer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. This past NBA season saw Donovan Mitchell lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the franchise's first 60-win season since 2009-10, and somehow that may not even be the most exciting development of the year for him. On Friday, the 28-year-old guard, whom the Cavaliers acquired via trade in 2022 from the Utah Jazz, shared exciting news on Instagram about his relationship with singer Coco Jones. According to People, the couple has been dating for two years and got engaged after Jones' "Why Not More" tour, which saw the United States portion end in June. While he didn't caption the post, fans noticed the massive diamond on Jones' finger. Mitchell also shared a drone shot of the moment he dropped to one knee to ask the Grammy-winning R&B artist to marry him. In a statement to People, it was revealed what the two are most looking forward to getting married. "The couple has been dating for two years and looks forward to building a life together," read the statement. The announcement also comes about a year after Mitchell inked a three-year $150.3 million contract extension with the Cavs. While the two are both major stars in their respective fields, they are an extremely private couple. So while they shared the engagement news, it seems unlikely we will be getting many wedding planning updates. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
