The Jacksun 1?

Jermaine Jackson wants to change the spelling of his last name. According to a legal petition filed this week in Los Angeles, Mr. Jackson, who has long carried the burden of often being referred to as Michael Jackson's older brother, now wants to be known as Jermaine Jacksun. That's Jacksun with a “u.”

Why would someone with one of the most famous surnames in pop music want to change it? The petition says only that the switch is for “artistic reasons.” Mr. Jackson has yet to spell out his motives.

The request requires a judge's approval, and a hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22. In recent months Mr. Jackson has been touring with his brothers and has been promoting his book, “You Are Not Alone,” about his superstar brother, who died in 2009.

Jermaine Jackson started a solo career in the mid-1970s, staying on with Motown records when the rest of the brothers moved over to CBS Records. Though he had an occasional hit in the late 1970s and ea rly 1980s, his solo career was overshadowed by Michael Jackson's rise and dominance on the pop charts.