Note: If viewing Michael Jackson Ultimate Archive on archive.org (Wayback Machine), please view the latest snapshot of this page for the most up-to-date information and media.

"The Jackson 5" Motown Audition

Suzanne de Passe, “The Jackson 5” Motown supervisor, “Larry King Live” (June 25, 2009) (archived)

I would dearly love to take credit for discovering the Jackson 5, but really what I was, was the conduit for them to get to Motown.

I had just gone to work for Mr. Gordy in 1968. And he was a very imposing figure. And I was so happy to be at Motown and I was asked to come to see this group at Bobby Taylor's apartment. We lived in the same apartment building.

And I walked in and I saw these kids. And they were unbelievable. And I called Mr. Gordy and I said, oh, I've just seen the most fantastic act. And he said, great. And I said, yes, these kids. He said, kids? I don't want any kids. Stevie Wonder is enough of a handful. Go find some talented adults basically.

And, you know, I was terribly new and terribly green. And I didn't know what to do. And I just had been so profoundly affected by their talent that I went back one more time, mustered up all my courage. And I said, Mr. Gordy, you just have to see these kids. And he finally relented and he agreed to audition them. And the rest is history.