Blood is thicker than water, but harmony might be even tighter. From sibling rivalries turned chart-topping gold to living room jam sessions that grew into global fame, these family bands turned shared DNA into shared stages. Here are five legendary family acts who made music history together.
The Jackson 5
Brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson became Motown superstars in the late 1960s. They made history as the first group whose first four singles – “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There” – all hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I’ll Be There” became one of Motown’s biggest-selling singles ever, and the group scored 17 Top 40 hits in just five years.
- The Beach Boys
Founded by brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine, The Beach Boys defined the California sound. They placed 36 songs in the Billboard Top 40, including three #1 hits: “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations.” The 1966 album Pet Sounds is frequently cited among the greatest albums ever made and helped revolutionize studio production.
- The Bee Gees
Brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb became global hitmakers across three decades. They scored nine #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “Night Fever.” The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and the Bee Gees wrote or produced over 1,000 songs recorded by other artists.
- The Osmonds
The Osmonds – Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, and later sister Marie Osmond – became teen idols in the early 1970s. They earned six Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the #1 smash “One Bad Apple.” Donny Osmond also scored solo hits like “Go Away Little Girl,” while Donny and Marie’s variety show drew millions of weekly viewers.
- HAIM
Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim broke through with their 2013 debut Days Are Gone, featuring the singles “The Wire” and “If I Could Change Your Mind.” Their 2020 album Women in Music Pt. III debuted at #1 in the U.K. and earned two Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. Known for tight harmonies and sharp musicianship, they have headlined major festivals and toured globally.