Born on May 16: Janet Jackson, the youngest of the clan is not the least talented

She was born in 1966 in Gary, Indiana, the youngest of the Jackson clan celebrates her 59th birthday with a series of concerts under the neon lights of Las Vegas.

In the large Jackson family, the so-called weaker sex didn't really have a say. A worker and also a boxer without much success, the pater familias Joe had a cold and authoritarian character. All ten of his children can still testify to this today. In rare confessions, Michael even admitted that his father terrified him.

Even though Joe played guitar in a rhythm'n blues band, it's on this seemingly infertile ground that some of the greatest careers in African American music would be built: The Jackson 5 in the 60s and later the solo careers of Michael and Jermaine. On the girls' side, it was a bit more laborious. LaToya, ten years Janet's senior, showed the way in 1980 with an album simply titled "LaToya Jackson". Despite Michael's contribution to writing "Night Time Lover", success wasn't really forthcoming. At the time, Janet was just 14 but certainly dreamed of following in her sister's footsteps. And doing better!

Two years later, the 16-year-old ventured into the adventure with a self-titled album where references to Michael were evident. But gradually, she developed a more personal style tinged with funk, R&B and even rock. Her third album "Control" in 1986 marked her breakthrough with no less than five tracks in the Top 5 of the American charts, the "Billboard", including of course "Nasty" and "When I Think Of You". She then continued with three memorable albums: "Rhythm Nation 1814", "Janet" and "The Velvet Rope".

We won't revisit the famous episode of Janet's right breast accidentally revealed by Justin Timberlake during the Superbowl final in Houston on February 1st, 2004. The "nipplegate" caused much ink to flow. After a downturn, the albums "Discipline" (2008) and the most recent "Unbreakable" marked the start of a return to favour with some contemporary duets alongside Missy Elliott or Jermaine Cole.

Concerts in residence at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas (USA) beginning May 22nd

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Janet Jackson on stage at the Ahoy in Rotterdam (Netherlands) on 6 October 1990