Don Cornelius remembers meeting Michael Jackson when the singer was just a lad beginning to take the entertainment industry by storm. Cornelius first met the Jackson family, including young Michael when they still operated out of Gary, Indiana.

"I met Michael Jackson at the age of 8, when his father and my new friend, Joe Jackson, first began to bring the Jackson 5 to Chicago, from their home in Gary, Indiana, for concert appearances," Cornelius told Spinner.

The Jackson 5 was so successful because their prowess spread by word of mouth, which had people lining up to see their concerts.

"The word of the Jackson 5's devastating abilities as concert artists had already begun to spread like an out-of-control forest fire to the laser-like attention of all Chicago area R&B music stars."

Don Cornelius soon realized that he didn't want to appear on a show with the Jackson 5 because their performance would end up overpowering his own.

"If Michael Jackson and his brothers were booked on an upcoming Chicagoland show, leave it alone! Don’t book it! Don’t go on that show and get completely blown away by young Michael and the Jackson 5!'"

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