THIS summer, The Jacksons have been crossing the Atlantic on a regular basis as fans can't get enough of the songs from a career spanning 50 years.

Soon brothers Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie will be back on our shores again to headline the opening night of the Livewire Festival in Blackpool on Friday.

"It's always very exciting to come back to the UK," said Tito, "It's a bit like a family reunion."

Family is a word which crops up a lot in any conversation with the Jacksons. After all, they have never known a time when they weren't performing together.

From their early days as the Jackson Five including youngest brother Michael, when they stormed to chart success, the brothers have always been in the limelight - even spawning their own cartoon series at one point. This summer they delighted crowds at Glastonbury, running through a catalogue of hits.

"Coming to do shows in the UK is always like a reunion for us," said Tito. "We see the fans who enjoyed the Jackson Five back in the day and then the Jacksons and you also get the kids.

"There is such a wide variety of people in our audience, it's interesting to see the different generations of families who come along. That is quite fulfilling.

"It shows that our songs have universal appeal. We try to really have fun on stage and we love doing what we do."

For some families, spending so much time with each other may prove a recipe for disaster, but Tito insists that the Jacksons have never had any such problems.

"It's not work, it's part of our life," he said. "We grew up together, learned music together and we've always worked together.

"This is what we do. It's something we enjoy doing and we pass that enjoyment on to our audience."

In spite of a busy touring schedule, Tito has finally managed to release his first solo album - Tito Time. He is the last of the brothers to go into the studios and produce a solo work.

"People always ask me why it has taken me song long," he said. "It's a long story but basically while the brothers doing their solo things I was making sure I had a solid marriage and then I became a father and had all the responsibilities that came with that.

"I had to balance that with the work with the Jacksons and I thought my solo career could wait

"I figured you are only a father one time so I should concentrate on doing that."

Tito's three sons Toriano, Taryll and Tito Junior formed their own group 3T and they were hugely influential in persuading Tito to record a solo album.

"With the boys all grown up I've got all the time in the world," he said.

Tito Time is a mix of soul, rock,blues and even country and features guest appearances by the likes of Jocelyn Brown, Big Daddy Kane and 3T.

"Tito Time is a real fun record," said Tito. "I'm very pleased with it."

The Jacksons, supported by Mica Paris and The Christians, Livewire Festival, Blackpool Headland, Friday, August 25. Details from www.livewirefestival.co.uk