The Stewarts Recall Auditioning For Jackson 5 Songwriter Hal Davis During Their Early Music Journey

As Michael Jackson week shines a new spotlight on the Motown era, a past WorldWide Entertainment TV exclusive with The Stewarts offers a powerful reminder of just how deep the Jackson 5 influence ran across the music world.

In the interview, brothers Gary and D Stewart reflected on their long musical journey, their family’s historic ties to Black music, and a key early moment from the 1970s: an audition for Hal Davis, the Motown writer connected to the Jackson 5.

For fans revisiting the roots of Michael Jackson’s rise, stories like this help paint a bigger picture of the ecosystem surrounding Motown, soul, and the artists who came up in that era.

A Motown-Era Connection To The Jackson 5

During the conversation, the brothers spoke about a poll ranking the greatest R&B groups across generations. When the topic turned to the Jacksons, they made it clear that the group still carries enormous weight with the public.

That led into a story from their own beginnings in music.

According to The Stewarts, their professional journey began in 1975, when they auditioned for Hal Davis of Motown Records. In the interview, they noted that Davis was a writer for the Jackson 5 and referenced his work on “I’ll Be There,” one of the group’s most enduring songs.

That moment instantly connects The Stewarts’ story to one of the most important musical institutions of the era. Long before Michael Jackson became a solo global icon, the Jackson 5 machine was already shaping the careers, dreams, and ambitions of artists trying to break through.

The Stewarts’ Deep Family Roots In Music History

The Jackson 5 connection is only one part of a much broader musical legacy.

The brothers explained that music was already embedded in their family history. They shared that they had a cousin, Johnny Hodges, the legendary saxophonist known for his work with Duke Ellington. They also revealed that their mother, Karen Hodges Stewart, sang gospel music with Sam Cooke back in the 1950s.

That kind of lineage makes their story especially meaningful. The Stewarts were not simply fans of great music from afar. They were raised inside a family culture that already touched jazz, gospel, and soul history at a high level.

For WWETV viewers, that makes their memories of the Motown era even more valuable. Their perspective comes from lived proximity to major cultural forces that shaped Black music across decades.

From Auditions To Regional Success

The Stewarts also spoke about their own recording career and the road they traveled after those early years.

They recalled that producer Shadow Shep worked with them on their song “Get Down Get Down,” which became a regional hit throughout the Midwest in 1980. That success showed they had real momentum and a genuine shot at expanding beyond their local market.

But like many artists from that time, they also encountered the realities of timing, competition, and industry politics.

The Roger & Zapp Story That Changed Everything

One of the most memorable parts of the interview involved a story about Roger Troutman and the group that would become Zapp.

The Stewarts said they were advised to hold back their single because Roger’s camp had just signed with Warner Bros. and was preparing to release what they described as the coming “monster hit,” “More Bounce to the Ounce.”

It is the kind of story that reveals how unpredictable the industry could be. One release, one breakout act, or one label move could completely change the lane for another artist.

For viewers interested in music history, anecdotes like that are exactly why archive interviews matter. They show how close many talented acts were to much bigger breakthroughs.

Faith, Family, And A Different Calling

The brothers also opened up about the personal side of their journey. They explained that family obligations, especially their mother’s illness, played a major role in their decision to remain in Cincinnati rather than fully pursue opportunities in places like California and Japan.

Over time, those life experiences changed the direction of their music.

Instead of chasing only commercial success, The Stewarts said they wanted to create songs with greater meaning—music designed to uplift, encourage, and inspire younger listeners. That shift led them toward a faith-based message that now defines much of their work.

They highlighted recent success from songs like “His Door Is Open,” which reached number one on up-and-coming charts, and “Stand,” which climbed to number four.

Why This Story Matters During Michael Jackson Week

As audiences look back on the rise of Michael Jackson ahead of the new film, stories like The Stewarts’ remind people that the Jackson 5 era was bigger than just one group’s success.

It was part of an entire musical world.

Motown writers, producers, singers, musicians, and hopeful young acts were all moving through the same orbit. The Stewarts’ memory of auditioning for Hal Davis offers one more piece of that history. It shows how the Jackson 5’s presence extended beyond the charts and into the aspirations of artists building their own futures in real time.

That is what makes this WWETV exclusive feel especially relevant now. It is not just a look back at one audition. It is a snapshot of how powerful the Motown and Jackson 5 influence truly was.

Final Thought

The Stewarts’ story is one of legacy, near-misses, perseverance, and purpose.

From family ties to Duke Ellington and Sam Cooke, to an audition for a Jackson 5 songwriter, to their later success in inspirational music, their journey reflects the many paths artists from that generation traveled.

And during Michael Jackson week, their recollection adds an important layer to the conversation: before solo superstardom, before global icon status, there was already an entire world forming around the Jackson 5—and artists like The Stewarts were close enough to feel its impact firsthand.