Joseph Jackson, patriarch of the Jackson family, has suffered a stroke while visiting the South American country of Brazil to celebrate his 87th birthday.
Jackson, who was the initial architect of the careers of Michael Jackson and his brothers as the Jackson 5, as well as the solo careers Janet, Rebbie and LaToya Jackson, has been a controversial figure over the course of the past 45 years; viewed by some as a loving but strict father who drove his children to greatness, and by others as an overbearing taskmaster who ignored the needs of his children to be children.
See our biography of the Jackson 5
The Albert Einstein Hospital in San Paolo indicated that Jackson was in the intensive care unit with an irregular heartbeat. There is no word on Jackson’ current condition.
