The Jackson 5 never won a Grammy, but they were nominated with these 3 records

The death of Tito Jackson on Sunday, September 15 at the age of 70 has put the spotlight on the Jackson 5 (later the Jacksons), who had a string of classic hits in the 1970s and '80s.

You might be surprised to learn that the J5 never won a Grammy. Michael Jackson won 13 Grammys, but all of them were for his solo career.

Three J5 classics – “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I'll Be There” – have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which serves as the Recording Academy's second chance to honor great recordings.

The J5 has yet to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, although Michael received a posthumous lifetime achievement award in 2010.

The J5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 by their longtime friend Diana Ross, who was credited with discovering them. (Whether she discovered them or not, she lent her name to their 1970 debut studio album, which was titled Diana Ross presents the Jackson 5.) Michael was inducted into the Rock Hall as a solo artist in 2001.

Here are the three Jackson 5 albums that were nominated, but didn't win, a Grammy.

“ABC” (1970)

Recommended for: Best contemporary vocal performance by a duo, group or choir

Lost to: Carpenters, “Near you”

Notes: Both family acts were hot at the time. “Near you” it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and was Bulletin boardThe No. 1 Song of the Summer for 1970. “ABC,” which topped the Hot 100 for two weeks, was J5's second No. 1 hit of 1970 (from a career-launching volley four consecutive #1 hits). “Close to You” was also nominated for record of the year (as opposed to “ABC”), which showed its strength with Grammy voters. “ABC” and “Close to You” have both been voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a sign that both are now considered top classics.

Fun fact: Michael was known to be a fan of the Carpenters.

Dancing Machine (1974)

Recommended for: Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Choir

Lost to: “Tell Me Something Good” by Rufus

Notes: “Dancing Machine” was an important record in J5's career. Not only did it become their biggest Hot 100 hit in three years, it showed them all grown up, with little of the gumption of such early hits as “ABC.” The record reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 behind Ray Stevens' smash hit “The Streak”, a look at the hot trend of streaking at the time (see also: the streaker who crossed the stage behind David Niven at Oscar 1974). Stevie Wonder wrote the super-funky “Tell me something good” which was Rufus' first hit on the Hot 100. It peaked at #3.

Fun fact: J5 performed “Dancing Machine”. The Carol Burnett Show in 1974 and on Cher's solo TV show the following year. Cher, who never lacked nerve, joined the team in a medley of five of their hits, headlined by “Dancing Machine”.

Triumph (1980)

Recommended for: Best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals

Lost to: The “Shining Star” of Manhattan

Notes: How Grammy voters were expected to compare performances on full albums Triumph with performances in singles such as “Bright Star”? Good question. (The Recording Academy no longer pits albums against singles in performance categories.)

Triumph reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200, becoming the group's first top 10 album since J5 (who had four top 10 albums) evolved into The Jacksons in 1976. Triumph spawned four Hot 100 hits on the Hot 100: “Lovely One” (No. 12), “Heartbreak Hotel” (No. 22). “Can You Feel It” (No. 77) and “Walk Right Now” (No. 73). None of them were as big as “Shining Star,” which peaked at No. 5, becoming the second-biggest group since the old-school R&B vocal group, whose “Kiss and Say Goodbye” peaked at No. 1 in the summer of 1976.

Fun fact: The Manhattans signed to Columbia, sister label to The Jacksons' Epic. That might have made the CBS Records post-Grammy party a little awkward that year.