JACKSON 5 TURN BMI URBAN AWARDS INTO FAMILY AFFAIR

The JACKSON 5 returned to the stage in California on Thursday (04Sep08) night to accept a BMI icon award - but MICHAEL and JERMAINE JACKSON were nowhere in sight. The ABC hitmakers - consisting of brothers Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, Randy, Jackie and Michael - were honoured with the lifetime achievement accolade at the BMI Urban Awards. Tito, Marlon, Randy and Jackie were on hand to collect the prize, which was presented to them by sister Janet Jackson, but Jermaine and the Thriller star were notable absentees.

And when asked about Michael's whereabouts, Marlon chose to poke fun at his younger brother's bizarre superstar lifestyle saying: "I don't know (where he is). I think he's in Egypt riding a camel or something." But the siblings refused to let the absentees spoil the occasion, as they enjoyed a tribute performance by the likes of R&B singers Mario, Keri Hilson, JoJo and Lloyd, who teamed up to deliver a cover of I'll Be There.

The tribute - at the Wilshire Theater Beverly Hills - was capped off with a rousing rendition of Never Can Say Goodbye from Mario, Bobby Valentino, Lloyd and Ray J. After the show, Tito said, "It's a great honour to know your music influenced a generation. We're very proud of this moment." And the occasion was turned into a real family affair when the Jackson 5 members - who did not perform - posed for photos on stage with parents Joseph and Katherine, and sisters Janet, LaToya and Rebbie after receiving the Icon prize.

Other winners on the night included Ne-Yo, who won Song of the Year for Irreplaceable, a track performed by Beyonce Knowles and written by the Closer hitmaker, along with Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund. Kanye West, T-Pain and Jonathan 'J.R.' Rotem were named Producers of the Year, while T-Pain scored the Songwriter of the Year title for writing hits including West's Good Life and Flo Rida's Low. The BMI awards pay tribute to the music industry's top songwriters, composers and producers. Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am, Polow Da Don, and Soulja Boy were also noted on BMI's list of 2008's Top Urban Producers.