Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in
Gary, Indiana and raised in
Encino, Los Angeles, California, she is the youngest child of the
Jackson family of musicians. She first performed on stage with her family beginning at the age of seven, and later started her career as an actress with the
variety television series
The Jacksons in 1976. She went on to star in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including
Good Times and
Diff'rent Strokes.
At age sixteen in 1982, Jackson signed a recording contract with
A&M, releasing her self-titled debut album the same year. She faced criticism for her limited vocal range, and for being yet another member of the Jackson family to become a recording artist. Beginning with her third studio album
Control (1986), Jackson began a long-term collaboration with record producers
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Her music with Jam and Lewis incorporated
contemporary R&B with elements of
rap music,
sample loop,
triple swing and
industrial beats, which led to crossover appeal in
popular music. In addition to receiving recognition for the innovation in her albums, music videos and choreography, Jackson was acknowledged as a role model for her socially conscious lyrics.
