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Kindergarten / Becoming Lead Singer

Michael Jackson, “Moonwalk” autobiography (1988)

One day, in the first grade, I participated in a program that was put on before the whole school. Everyone of us in each class had to do something, so I went home and discussed it with my parents. We decided I should wear black pants and a white shirt and sing “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music. When I finished that song, the reaction in the auditorium overwhelmed me. The applause was thunderous and people were smiling; some of them were standing. My teachers were crying and I just couldn’t believe it. I had made them all happy. It was such a great feeling. I felt a little confused too, because I didn’t think I had done anything special. I was just singing the way I sang at home every night. When you’re performing, you don’t realize what you sound like or how you’re coming across. You just open your mouth and sing.

“TV Guide” interview (November 10, 2001) (mirror)

TV Guide: ...Do you remember the first time you ever stepped onstage?

Michael Jackson: I was 5 years old. And it was at a public school recital. We had to wear white shirts and short knickers. And I remember them saying, "Little Michael Jackson is coming up to sing 'Climb Every Mountain.'" I got the biggest applause. When I went to my seat my grandfather and mother were crying. They said, "[We] can't believe how beautiful you sound." That's the first one I remember.

Felicia Childress, kindergarten teacher, “WLS-TV” (July 9, 2009) (archived)

"I think I remember his eyes because he was so happy and he was almost bouncing around the room...and I remember Michael was the center of a lot of attention," said Childress.

Childress said it is not generally known, but Jackson had a slight speech impediment.

"Michael had this stammer, but when he sang he would not miss a note and his pitch was perfect. He must have had an excellent ear because his little voice was just right on tune and everything you know and he was happy," said Childress.

Jackson attended Garrett Elementary School and when he shot to stardom at such a young age, Childress said she felt for him.

"My heart ached for him because I remember the joy that he had mixing with his little friends, but it was so short lived. He didn't have time to be a child. He just had to leave all of that behind and go to the serious part of life. And, that bothered me because I felt you know that's the way you learn so much about your relationships; is how you play."

Chris Cadman’s “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

At the MJ Fanvention in August 2010 Michael’s kindergarten teacher Felicia Childress, remembered him singing “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

“He sang every word; he had perfect pitch. He loved to sing.”

"The Plain Dealer" (October 19, 1984)

...It started in 1963 when Michael Jackson became the front man for the Jackson 5 when he was 5.

"I think it might have been because I had the highest voice the family. Every group has to have a lead singer, and I just kind of worked my way up there", Michael told television reporters at a Los Angeles news conference seven years ago [in 1977].

“Time” magazine (March 19, 1984)

Rufus Morgan, whose organization hired them to perform at a fundraiser for a firemen's ball, recalls, "Those boys were so fascinating to watch that everybody just gathered around the stage. We didn't dance. We watched and threw money." At Garnett Elementary School, Principal Gladys Johnson invited the boys to perform at an assembly. (Admission: 10¢. Proceeds split with the Jackson family.) About 1,200 students turned out, and this time around, not a rock was thrown. "The children really enjoyed that show," Johnson remembers. "I could not believe how they idolized those Jackson 5 boys." Johnson also kept an eye on Michael's academics, and once advised the fourth-grader to bone up on his math. "My manager," Michael replied, "will take care of my money."