With mixed reviews, ‘Michael’ biopic honors Jackson 5’s early ties to Chicago’s music scene - WBEZ Chicago

Source WBEZ
Original Load Date April 29, 2026, 3:01 p.m.
Last Updated April 29, 2026, 3:01 p.m.
Original URL https://www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-with-sasha-ann-simons/2026/04/29/with-mixed-reviews-michael-biopic-honors-jackson-5s-early-ties-to-chicagos-music-scene

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In Lionsgate Studio’s latest biopic, _Michael_ , Midwestern ties reveal a central part of Michael Jackson’s rise to super stardom and how the Jackson 5’s music shaped Chicago’s music scene in the late 1960s. Born in Gary, Ind., some of Jackson’s first performances were on big Chicago stages, such as...