Jermaine LaJuane Jackson (born December 11, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist. He is known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of the Jackson 5, and played bass guitar. In 1983, he rejoined the group, which had been renamed the Jacksons; he then consistently played in the group's performances and recordings until he left the group again in 2020.

Jermaine Jackson
Jackson in 2007
Born
Jermaine LaJuane Jackson

(1954-12-11) December 11, 1954 (age 69)
EducationBirmingham High School
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Years active1964–2012[1]
Spouses
Hazel Gordy
(m. 1973; div. 1988)
Alejandra Loaiza
(m. 1995; div. 2003)
Halima Rashid
(m. 2004; div. 2016)
Children7, including Jaafar
Parents
FamilyJackson
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • bass
Labels
Formerly of
Websitejermainejacksonentertainment.com

While Jermaine did not usually sing the lead vocal on the Jackson Five's biggest hits, he is featured on "I'll Be There" and "I Want You Back", among others. When four of the brothers left Motown Records for Epic Records in 1976 (having to rename the family act The Jacksons in the process), Jermaine, who had just married Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, stayed at Motown. He was replaced in The Jacksons by his youngest brother, Randy. Jermaine had a solo career concurrent with his brother Michael's, including some top-30 hits, until the 1980s. He produced and recorded duets with Whitney Houston on her debut album in 1985, and was a producer for the band Switch. After seven years outside the group he rejoined the Jacksons, and remained until 2020 through various breakups and reunions.

Early life

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Jermaine was born December 11, 1954, at St Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana,[2][3] He is the fourth child born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson.[3] His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (Marlon's twin who died shortly after birth in 1957), Michael, Randy, and Janet.[4] Jackson's father Joe had musical aspirations, playing guitar with his brother Luther in an R&B band, the Falcons, and his mother Katherine, a devout Jehovah's Witness, was a passionate pianist and singer.[3] Their large family and limited means made them refocus, with Katherine becoming a housewife, and Joe a steel mill worker at nearby Inland Steel Company in East Chicago, Indiana, where they lived before moving to Gary in 1950.[4]

While his father, Joe, worked long hours as a crane operator, Jermaine and his brothers, Tito and Jackie, secretly practiced their own songs using Joe's guitar, and they sang harmonies with their mother Katherine.[3] Jermaine became the original lead singer, and also played the bass in the Jackson Brothers, an earlier incarnation of the Jackson 5 until 1966, when younger brother Michael began singing lead.[5] Father Joe began rehearsing his sons under a strict regimen when he realized their potential, seeing his sons' talent as a way out of Gary.[6] Jermaine would continue to provide some leads over the years.[5] Jermaine graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, in 1973.[7]

Career

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The Jackson 5

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Jermaine (top left) and his brothers in 1974

Jermaine and his brothers first signed as the Jackson 5 with Gordon Keith of Steeltown Records in November 1967, and their first single "Big Boy", was released on January 31, 1968.[8] After the group recorded three more songs with the Steeltown label (on two records) they were signed with Berry Gordy of Motown Records in 1969.[5] As the third lead singer of the Jackson 5 after his brothers Jackie and Michael, Jermaine sang notable parts of "I Want You Back", "ABC", "I'll Be There", "The Love You Save", "Dancing Machine" and many other Jackson 5 songs.[5] Jermaine performed as part of the group for six years.[3] Not feeling that they were being paid fair royalties by Motown Records for their success as well as their desire for creative control, the Jackson 5 decided to leave the label and sign with Epic Records in 1975.[9] However, Jermaine decided to stay with Motown Records, citing loyalty to the company as the reason. Others argue that Jermaine's marriage to Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, whom he married in 1973, was a deciding factor.[3]

Jermaine split from the Jackson Five to start a solo career at Motown, and was replaced by his brother Randy.[3] Unbeknownst to the group, Gordy had trademarked the name Jackson Five and did not allow the group to continue using the name when they left the label.[3] Once signed with Epic, the group became known simply as the Jacksons. In 1983, Gordy asked the group to perform at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special.[10] After the success of the broadcast, Jermaine finally rejoined the band to record the album Victory which featured all six brothers on the Jackson's album cover.[10] Jermaine also participated in the band's Victory Tour.[10] He stayed with the group for their final album, 2300 Jackson Street, in 1989.[3] Jermaine performed the song "If You'd Only Believe" on March 15, 1993, with his brothers Jackie, Tito and Randy, on the stage of the Grand Théâtre de Genève for the evening of the Nations.[11] He also performed this song alone, on January 14, 1990, in Atlanta, in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., during King Week 90 '.[12] In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Jackson 5. In 2001, he reunited with his brothers to perform for the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special.[13]

Solo career

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Like Michael, Jermaine began a solo career while still a member of the Jackson 5, and had a hit with the 1972 Shep and the Limelites cover "Daddy's Home". It sold over one million copies by March 1973, and was awarded a gold disc.[14] When the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, Jermaine left the group and stayed at the label until 1983, when he finally rejoined his brothers for the Motown 25 television special, and their album Victory the following year.[3] Jermaine was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his 1980 album Let's Get Serious.[3] He had a number of Billboard top-30 hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "Daddy's Home" (No. 9), "That's How Love Goes", "Let's Be Young Tonight", "Bass Odyssey", "Feel the Fire", "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" (featuring Devo on backing vocals) (No. 18), "Let's Get Serious" (No. 9, also one of his only two UK hits, peaking at No. 8), "Dynamite" (No. 15), "Do What You Do" (No. 13), and "I Think It's Love" (No. 16).[3] A duet with his brother Michael, "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)", hit number one on the dance chart in 1984.[3] Michael and he also collaborated with Rockwell, both providing guest vocals on his 1984 hit single, "Somebody's Watching Me".[3]

In 1985, his duet with Pia Zadora, "When the Rain Begins to Fall", topped several singles charts in Europe.[15] His final chart success, 1989's "Don't Take It Personal", hit number one on the R&B singles chart.[3] Some of Jermaine's finest moments as a singer can be heard in the soulful "Castles of Sand" and the Earth Wind & Fire-inspired "You Need to Be Loved".[16] Jermaine was the executive producer of the Jackson Family Honors concert televised from the MGM Grand on February 22, 1994.[17] On May 19, 2003, he performed "Let's Start Right Now" live on the talk show The View, hosted by Barbara Walters.[18]

Jackson is proficient on the electric guitar and is a talented bass guitar player.[3] At an early age, he performed the parts of legendary bass player James Jamerson and others when the Five performed live.[3] His main instrument was a Gibson EB-3.[19] Jermaine also composed and produced for other artists, such as Switch and he produced and sang duets on Whitney Houston's debut album for Arista Records.[3] Jackson is featured on the Switch track "Tahiti Hut" released in 2019, recorded during the Reaching for Tomorrow sessions.

Reality television

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Jackson was the first housemate to enter the Celebrity Big Brother 5 house in 2007, which he placed 2nd.[3] After leaving Big Brother, Jackson did several interviews on UK television explaining why and how he took his peaceful and mediating stance in the Big Brother house. He also spoke about the Jackson Five reuniting for a performance.[20] Jackson was part of the second season of the CMT reality show Gone Country.[21] On the premiere episode of season three of the ABC reality show Celebrity Wife Swap[22] on April 15, 2014, Jackson and his wife Halima swapped places with Daniel Baldwin and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Isabella Hofmann.[23]

Later work

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Jackson in 2017

In April 2007, Jackson returned to the UK to take part in a one-off special of ITV's Challenge Anneka. On the same trip, he appeared in Glasgow with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking in support of Searchlight magazine's anti racism campaign, the Daily Mirror "Hope Not Hate Bus".[24]

On November 23, 2007, Jackson appeared on Katie & Peter: Unleashed and again talked of a reunion with his brothers on a tour the following year. In 2008, Jackson flew to Australia to be a guest judge and mentor for the top-five Michael Jackson night on Australian Idol. In March 2008, Jackson was the guest of honor at the Muslim Writers Awards in Birmingham. In 2009, following his brother Michael's passing, Jermaine appeared on the A&E television series The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, documenting what was supposed to be a 40th-anniversary reunion between Jermaine and his brothers.[25] The series lasted one season and Jermaine, along with his three brothers, was listed as an executive producer.[25] In October 2010, Jermaine played a concert at the Planet Hollywood hotel and casino in Las Vegas, naming it "40 Years of Jackson Music" and dedicating the concert to Michael.[26] He wrote the memoir You Are Not Alone: Michael Through a Brother's Eyes (2011).[27]

In a 2012 interview with Luka Neskovic, for The Huffington Post, Jackson said that his brother planned a reunion with him: "... the plan was to do some shows with the brothers, as well, after he finished his commitment with the This Is It [concert], and we probably gonna do some songs with him on the This Is It tour".[28] In October 2012, Jackson released I Wish You Love, his first solo album in 21 years, consisting mostly of jazz covers.[29] The album was arranged and produced by French opera singer David Serero, who recorded a duet on "Autumn Leaves" with Jermaine, and was released by David Serero Productions.[30] They both performed You Are Not Alone: The Musical, written, directed and produced by Serero, in France in January 2013. The following year, You Are Not Alone: The Musical Live was released on video and audio.[31][32]

Personal life

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Family

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Jackson has been married and divorced three times,[3] and has seven children. His first marriage was to Motown founder Berry Gordy's daughter, Hazel Gordy (born August 24, 1954), which lasted[33][34] from December 15, 1973[35] until 1988. He has three children with Hazel:

  • Jermaine La Jaune "Jay" Jackson Jr., (born January 27, 1977). Jermaine Jr. and his longtime girlfriend, Asa Soltan Rahmati, have a son, Soltan Soul Jackson, born on January 20, 2017.[3]
  • Autumn Joi Jackson (born June 16, 1978), married to producer Narinder Singh.
  • Jaimy Jermaine Jackson (born March 17, 1987).

Jackson was in a relationship with Margaret Maldonado from 1986 until 1993. They have two sons:

  • Jeremy Maldonado Jackson (born December 26, 1986).
  • Jourdynn Michael Jackson (born January 5, 1989): Jourdynn is married to Marike Le Roux.[3]

He began a relationship with Alejandra Loaiza, former girlfriend of his brother, Randy,[36] and married her on March 18, 1995. The marriage lasted until May 19, 2003. They have two sons:

In January 2004, Jackson met Halima Rashid while in line at Starbucks.[3] In March 2004, he proposed to her and five months later, they were married in a mosque in Los Angeles.[37] Rashid was arrested on November 28, 2015, in Los Angeles for alleged domestic violence.[38] Rashid filed a petition for divorce on June 21, 2016, citing irreconcilable differences.[39]

Jermaine supported his brother, Michael, during the 2005 trial.[40] He came to Michael's defense on CNN's Larry King Live and appeared with him in court on many occasions.[41] On June 25, 2009, Jermaine held a press conference at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and broke the news of Michael Jackson's passing to the media.[42]

Jermaine is a supporter of the English football team Sheffield Wednesday.[43][44]

Michael's memorial

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Jermaine thanked the people that attended Michael Jackson's memorial at the Staples Center, on July 7, 2009. "As you know," he said, "I am lost for words. I had his back. So did the family. But we thank you. That's all I can say. We thank you very much." Jermaine also tossed a rose on Michael's casket, after he sang "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin, which Michael also had covered and released.[45][46] In honor of Michael, Jermaine and his brothers, Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Randy Jackson served as pallbearers wearing a gold necktie, a single white glove and sunglasses.[47]

On January 30, 2019, Jermaine spoke out about the allegations against his brother, "Michael was tried by a jury of his peers and he was acquitted." he said. He added: "There was no real evidence, and I will say this—our family are tired. Let this man rest. He did a lot for the world. There is no truth to this. We're living in a time where people can say anything and it's taken as truth." BBC News reported.[48]

Conversion to Islam

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Jackson, like the rest of his family, was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. In 1989, he converted to Islam after a trip to Bahrain, in which he was impressed by the local children's devotion to their religion.[49]

Jermaine claimed in an interview that if his brother Michael had converted to Islam, it would have saved his life.[50]

Sexual assault lawsuit

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On December 27, 2023, a lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by a woman who alleged Jackson sexually assaulted her after forcing himself into her home in 1988.[51] The woman, identified as Rita Barrett, also alleged Motown Records owner Berry Gordy assisted in covering up the abuse.[52]

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Discography

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Filmography

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Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Facts of Life Himself Episode: "Starstruck"
1984 Voyage of the Rock Aliens Rain
As the World Turns Concert Performer
2007 Celebrity Big Brother Housemate
2008 Gone Country Himself/contestant 7 episodes (season 2)
2013 You Are Not Alone, the Musical Singer Credited as Jermaine Jacksun
2014 Celebrity Wife Swap Himself Episode: "Daniel Baldwin/Jermaine Jackson"

Tours

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References

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  1. ^ Charlie Burton (February 7, 2018). "Inside the Jackson machine". Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "Abandoned: St. Mary's Mercy Hospital". Sometimes-interesting.com. June 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Biography: Jermaine Jackson Lifetime". Archived from the original on January 30, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Jackson, Katherine; Rich Wiseman (1990). My Family, the Jackson's. St. Martin's Paperbacks. ISBN 0-312-92350-3.
  5. ^ a b c d "History 60–68 | The Jacksons | The Official Website". Thejacksons.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Jacksons: 'It was Michael's body, and he did what he wanted to look how he wanted to look'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Vol. 44, No. 26". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. September 20, 1973. p. 55.
  8. ^ Independent Record Labels Of Indiana Archived December 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. 45 RPM Records
  9. ^ "History 1975 | The Jacksons | The Official Website". Thejacksons.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c "History 1980 | The Jacksons | The Official Website". Thejacksons.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Les Jackson cherchent une maison à Genève". Le Matin. Tamedia. March 16, 1993.
  12. ^ "Night Beat". The Atlanta Constitution: 42. May 1, 1990.
  13. ^ "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration". IMDb.com. November 13, 2001. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  14. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 314. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  15. ^ "JERMAINE JACKSON & PIA ZADORA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "Greatest Hits and Rare Classics by Jermaine Jackson". Music.apple.com. January 1991. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  17. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (February 21, 1994). "The Jackson Family Reunited, Sort Of". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  18. ^ Jermaine Jackson (March 29, 2016), Jermaine Jackson performs "Let's Start Right Now" on The View (2003), archived from the original on November 3, 2021, retrieved July 28, 2017
  19. ^ Hall, Russell (February 3, 2017). "10 Champions of the Gibson EB Bass". Gibson. Archived from the original on October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Jermaine Eviction :CBB5 Celebrity Big Brother 5". YouTube. May 7, 2007. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  21. ^ "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  22. ^ "Watch Celebrity Wife Swap TV Show - ABC.com". Abc.go.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
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  24. ^ Wynne-Jones, Ros (April 7, 2007). "MAGIC BUS ; Last stop against racism". Daily Mirror via ProQuest News UK. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  25. ^ a b TV.com. "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty". Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  26. ^ Janneke. "Let's Get Serious (1980) – Jermaine Jackson – #1 source for anything JJ!". Archived from the original on March 15, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  27. ^ Jackson, Jermaine (2011). You Are Not Alone (9780007435678): Jermaine Jackson: Books. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0007435678.
  28. ^ Luka Neskovic (June 19, 2012). "Jermaine Jackson on His Brother Michael and First Tour in 30 Years". HuffPost Canada. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "I Wish You Love : Jermaine's new album !". Jermaine Jackson Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  30. ^ "♫ I Wish You Love (feat. David Serero) – Jermaine Jackson. Listen @cdbaby". Store.cdbaby.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  31. ^ "Amazon.com: YOU ARE NOT ALONE, The only JACKSON MUSICAL by JERMAINE JACKSON: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, David Serero: Amazon Digital Services LLC". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  32. ^ "♫ You Are Not Alone: The Musical – Jermaine Jackson. Listen @cdbaby". Store.cdbaby.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  33. ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (December 20, 1973). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2020 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  34. ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (November 1, 1973). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2020 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  35. ^ The Jacksons, Fred Bronson (October 24, 2017). The Jacksons: Legacy. Running Press. ISBN 9780316473743. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  36. ^ "Jackson source".
  37. ^ "At home with Jermaine Jackson and family- Hello! Magazine". Positivelymichael.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  38. ^ "Jermaine Jackson's Wife Arrested for Domestic Violence". TMZ. December 2, 2015. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  39. ^ Jermaine Jackson's Wife Files for Divorce Archived June 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. TMZ.com (June 23, 2016). Retrieved on January 5, 2017.
  40. ^ "Jermaine Jackson: Michael Had Escape Plan". ABC News. September 13, 2011. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  41. ^ myfavoritemrtvshow (June 25, 2010). "Jermaine Jackson @ Larry King Live Part 4". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021.
  42. ^ "Michael Jackson's death: Jermaine Jackson speaks". Los Angeles Times. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  43. ^ "WATCH: Jermaine Jackson's a Sheffield Wednesday fan". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  44. ^ This Sheff Wed love is no new thing Archived September 8, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ "Michael Jackson hailed during emotional memorial service". Los Angeles Times. July 7, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  46. ^ Archibold, Randal C. (July 7, 2009). "At Jackson Memorial, Music and Mourning". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  47. ^ "Honoring the White Glove". CBS News. July 7, 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  48. ^ "Jermaine Jackson: 'No truth' to allegations in Michael documentary". BBC News. January 30, 2019. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  49. ^ "Top 10 Rockers Who Found God: Jermaine Jackson". Rolling Stone. December 10, 2010. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  50. ^ Willie Moore Jr (June 24, 2010). "Jermaine Jackson Says Islam Would Have Saved Michael". Praise Houston. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  51. ^ Brown, August (December 28, 2023). "Jermaine Jackson sued for alleged sexual assault". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  52. ^ Moorman, Talijuan (December 29, 2023). "New lawsuit claims Jermaine Jackson sexually assaulted woman, Berry Gordy assisted in 'cover-up'". USA Today. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  53. ^ "Jermaine Jackson Precious Moments Tour (1986)". Jackson Source. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  54. ^ "Jermaine Jackson Australian Tour (1987–1988)". Jackson Source. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
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