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Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine Jackson (née Katherine Esther Scruse) and Joe Jackson, a musician. She is the youngest of ten children. Before her birth, her brothers formed a band later called The Jackson 5. She lived at home with her sisters, while her brothers and father lived an extravagant life in Los Angeles. She later moved in with them while her brothers were making a name for themselves, and signed a deal with Motown. Janet was in the shadow but later also made a name for herself.

As she was touring, and making appearances with her brothers, and the rest of the family, she co-starred with the rest of them in "The Jacksons". In 1977, she got the part of Penny Gordon on "Good Times". That showed her acting abilities early on. She also made a few memorable appearances on the hit TV show "Diff'rent Strokes" as Charlene Dupree. Soon afterwards came her role on "Fame".

She married boyfriend James Debarge, but they divorced just months later. She signed with A&M Records, and recorded her first solo album titled "Janet Jackson". The album did poorly on the music charts. Two years later she recorded "Dream Street" which turned out to be another disaster. A year later she signed on Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to record a third album, this time called "Control". It was a hit, selling 5 million copies in the U.S. alone, spawning six hits, and the #1 "When I Think of You". Afterwards, she fired her father, her manager to truly gain control.

Janet was determined to make this happen again. She then recorded "Rhythm Nation 1814". This time it sold 9 million copies in the U.S. - a bigger hit than "Control"! She happened to fall in love with a dancer named René Elizondo, Jr. from one of her sister's, LaToya Jackson's music video and later secretly married him in March of 1991. The year before she got a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Janet went to work on her fifth album simply called "Janet.". It was her biggest hit to date selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone and includes her biggest hit single to date, "That's The Way Love Goes". Two years later she released a Greatest Hits album "Design of a Decade" which included two new hits "Runaway", and "Twenty-Foreplay". Her sixth album "The Velvet Rope" clarified her pop culture status.

In the midst of the release of "Nutty Professor II", René Elizondo filed for divorce, which is when it emerged they had been secretly married. Janet recorded her seventh album "All For You". Another hit. She was honored by MTV as an MTV Icon. In 2003, Janet went to work on her next album "Damita Jo" - it was another hit.

(1999) Music video: Appeared in <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm2052429/?ref_=nmwrk">Blackstreet</a> video &quot;Girlfriend/Boyfriend&quot;.

(1999) Music video: Appeared in <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0005354/?ref_=nmwrk">Busta Rhymes</a> video &quot;What&#39;s It Gonna Be?!&quot;.

(1989) Album: &quot;Rhythm Nation 1814&quot;

(1995) Album: &quot;Design of a Decade 1986/1996&quot;

(1997) Album: &quot;The Velvet Rope&quot;

(1990) Music tour: &quot;The Rhythm Nation World Tour&quot;

(1993) Music tour: &quot;the janet world tour&quot;

(1998) Music tour: &quot;The Velvet Rope World Tour&quot;

Music video: Appeared in <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0001391/?ref_=nmwrk">Michael Jackson</a> video &quot;Scream&quot;. Also on Michael&#39;s album &quot;HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book 1&quot;.

(2002) Music video: Appeared in <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0541182/?ref_=nmwrk">Beenie Man</a> video &quot;Feel It Boy&quot;.

(2001) Music tour: &quot;All For You&quot;.

(1998) Song: &quot;Ask For More&quot; for Pepsi commercial

(1986) Music video: &quot;What Have You Done For Me Lately&quot;, directed by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0039328/?ref_=nmwrk">Piers Ashworth</a>

(1986) Music video: &quot;When I Think Of You&quot;

(1987) Music video: &quot;Let&#39;s Wait A While&quot;

(1987) Music video: &quot;The Pleasure Principle&quot;

(1989) Music video: &quot;2300 Jackson Street&quot; (featuring Jackson family)

(1989) Music video: &quot;Miss You Much&quot;.

(1989) Music video: &quot;Rhythm Nation&quot;

(1989) Music video: &quot;Come Back To Me&quot;

(5/90) Music video (extended version): &quot;Alright,&quot; featuring <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0001998/?ref_=nmwrk">Cyd Charisse</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm1166649/?ref_=nmwrk">The Nicholas Brothers</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0130572/?ref_=nmwrk">Cab Calloway</a> (in one of his last on-screen appearances) and <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0372809/?ref_=nmwrk">Heavy D</a>; with choreography by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0858487/?ref_=nmwrk">Anthony Thomas</a>, with some scenes staged by the legendary <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0452264/?ref_=nmwrk">Michael Kidd</a>.

(1990) Music video: &quot;Black Cat&quot;

(1990) Music video: &quot;Love Will Never Do Without You&quot;

(197) Music video: &quot;Got&#39; Til It&#39;s Gone&quot;

(1998) Music video: &quot;I Get Lonely&quot;

(1998) Music video: &quot;Together Again&quot;

(1998) Music video: &quot;Everytime&quot;

(1995) Music video: &quot;Twenty Foreplay&quot;

(1995) Music video: &quot;Scream Featuring Michael Jackson&quot;

(1994) Music video: &quot;Anytime, Anyplace&quot;

(1994) Music video: &quot;Whoops Now&quot;

(1993) Music video: &quot;That&#39;s The Way Love Goes&quot;

(1994) Music video: &quot;You Want This&quot;

(1994) Music video: &quot;Because Of Love&quot;

(2000) Music video: &quot;Doesn&#39;t Really Matter&quot;

Other works

Janet Jackson

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