MICHAEL JACKSON
1958 - 2009
- SINGER, SONGWRITER,
DANCER & MUSIC PRODUCER -
G'day folks,
Welcome to a post on one of the most talented singers and performers of our time. Singer-songwriter Michael Jackson's award-winning career
as the King of Pop transformed the face of pop music and popular culture. He
released the best-selling album in history, Thriller, in 1982. Sadly, he died
unexpectedly in 2009.
Synopsis
Dubbed the
"King of Pop," singer-songwriter Michael Jackson was born in Gary,
Indiana, on August 29, 1958. As a child, he performed as the lead singer of the
Jackson family's popular Motown group, the Jackson 5. Jackson went on to become
one of the most internationally famous award-winning solo pop sensations to
date. Jackson's 2009 death stirred controversy and was ultimately ruled a
homicide. Dr. Conrad Murray, who had been caring for the pop star at the time
of his death, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on November 7, 2011,
later receiving a four-year prison sentence.
Michael
Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, to an
African-American working-class family. His father, Joseph Jackson, had been a
guitarist but had put aside his musical aspirations to provide for his family
as a crane operator. Believing his sons had talent, he molded them into a
musical group in the early 1960s. At first, the Jackson Family performers
consisted of Michael's older brothers, Tito, Jermaine and Jackie. Michael
joined his siblings when he was 5 years old, and emerged as the group's lead
vocalist. He showed remarkable range and depth for such a young performer,
impressing audiences with his ability to convey complex emotions. Older brother
Marlon also became a member of the group, which evolved into the Jackson 5.
The Jackson 5 moved on to working an opening act for such R&B artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, James Brown, and Sam and Dave. Many of these performers were signed to the legendary Motown record label, and it has been reported that Gladys Knight may have been the one to tell Motown founder Berry Gordy about the Jackson 5. Impressed by the group, Gordy signed them to his label in 1968.
Relocating to Los Angeles, Michael and his brothers started work on their music and dancing with their father as their manager. They lived with Gordy and also with Supremes singer Diana Ross when they first arrived there. In August 1969, the Jackson 5 was introduced to the music industry at a special event, and later served as the opening act for the Supremes. Their first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, hit the charts in December of that year. It's first single, "I Want You Back," hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1970. More chart-topping singles quickly followed, such as "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There."
Solo Career
At the age of 13, Jackson launched a solo career in addition to his work with the Jackson 5. He made the charts in 1971 with "Got to Be There" from the album of the same name. His 1972 album, Ben, featured the eponymous ballad about a rat. The song became Jackson's first solo No. 1 single.
For
several years, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 maintained a busy tour and
recording schedule, under the supervision of Berry Gordy and his Motown staff.
Gordy wrote many of the songs recorded by the group and by Michael Jackson as a
solo artist. The group became so popular that they even had their own
self-titled cartoon show, which ran from 1971 to 1973.
Despite
Jackson's individual achievements and the group's great success, there was
trouble between the Jacksons and their record company. Tensions mounted between
Gordy and Joseph Jackson over the management of his children's careers, and
their level of participation in making their music. The Jacksons wanted more
control over their recordings, which led to most of the Jacksons breaking ties
with Motown in 1975. Jermaine Jackson remained with the label and continued to
pursue a solo career, having previously released several albums—none of which
had matched the success of his younger brother Michael.
Now
calling themselves the Jacksons, the group signed a new recording deal with
Epic Records. With 1978's Destiny, Michael Jackson and his brothers
(which by now included younger brother Randy) emerged as talented songwriters,
penning all of the record's tracks. Working with producer Quincy Jones, Michael
Jackson wowed the music world with his next solo album, 1979's Off the Wall.
It featured an infectious blend of pop and funk with such hit tracks as the
Grammy Award-winning "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough," "Rock
with You," and the title track. He also found success with the ballad
"She's Out of My Life."
The
overwhelmingly positive response to Michael's latest solo album also helped
buoy the Jacksons' career as well. Triumph (1980) sold more than 1
million copies, and the brothers went on an extensive tour to support the
recording. Jackson, however, began to branch out on his own more. Teaming up
with rock legend Paul McCartney, Jackson sang on their 1982 duet, "The
Girl Is Mine," which nearly reached the top of the pop charts.
The song
also appeared on his next solo album, Thriller (1982), which generated
seven Top 10 hits and became the best-selling album in history. On a television
special honoring Motown, Jackson performed "Billie Jean"—eventually a
No. 1 hit—and debuted his soon-to-be-famous dance move called "The
Moonwalk." Jackson, a veteran performer by this time, created this step
himself and choreographed the dance sequences for the video of his other No. 1
hit, "Beat It."
Jackson's
most elaborate music video, however, was for the album's title track. John
Landis directed the horror-tinged video, which featured complex dance scenes,
special effects and a voice-over by actor Vincent Price. The
"Thriller" video was an immense success, boosting sales for the
already successful album. The single stayed on the charts for 80 weeks, holding
the No. 1 spot for 37 weeks. In addition to its unparalleled commercial
achievements, "Thriller" garnered 12 Grammy Award nominations,
winning eight.
Jackson's
Grammy victories showcased the diverse nature of his work. For his songwriting
talents, he earned a Grammy Award (best rhythm and blues song) for "Billie
Jean." He also won Grammys for the singles "Thriller" (best pop
vocal performance, male) and "Beat It" (best rock vocal performance,
male). With co-producer Quincy Jones, Jackson shared a Grammy for album of the
year.
Jackson
also broke numerous records as an artist. He earned several Guinness World
Records titles, including achieving the longest span of U.S. Top 40
singles—from November 6, 1971, to January 1, 2011. He won a total of 13 Grammy
Awards—eight of them in one night in 1984—and was the first artist to have five
singles reach No. 1 from the same album (1987's Bad). He was also a
double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for both his work with the
Jackson 5 and as a solo artist.
Pepsi, Bad and Neverland
At the
top of his game creatively and commercially, Michael Jackson signed a $5
million endorsement deal with Pepsi-Cola around this time. He, however, was
badly injured while filming a commercial for the soda giant in 1984, suffering
burns to his face and scalp. Jackson had surgery to repair his injuries, and is
believed to have begun experimenting with plastic surgery around this time. His
face, especially his nose, would become dramatically altered in the coming
years.
That same
year, Jackson embarked on his final tour with the Jacksons to the support the
album Victory. The one major hit from the recording was Michael
Jackson's duet with Mick Jagger, "State of Shock." In 1985, Jackson
showed his altruistic side, co-writing and singing on "We Are the
World," a charity single for USA for Africa. A veritable who's who of
music stars participated in the project including Lionel Ritchie, Ray Charles,
Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner.
Releasing
his follow-up to Thriller in 1987, Jackson reached the top of the charts
with Bad. It featured five No. 1 hits, including "Man in the
Mirror," "The Way You Make Me Feel" and the title track, which
was supported by a video directed by Martin Scorsese. Jackson spent more than a
year on the road, playing concerts to promote the album. While successful, Bad
was unable to duplicate the phenomenal sales of Thriller.
Raised as
a Jehovah's Witness, Jackson was a shy and quiet person off-stage. He was never
truly comfortable with the media attention he received and rarely gave
interviews. By the late 1980s, Jackson had created his own fantasy retreat—a
California ranch called Neverland. There he kept exotic pets, such as a
chimpanzee named Bubbles, and had his own amusement rides. To some, it seemed
that Jackson perhaps was exploring a second childhood. He sometimes opened up
the ranch for children's events. Rumors swirled around him, including that he
was lightening the color of his skin to appear more white and slept in a
special chamber to increase his life span.
In 1991,
Jackson released Dangerous, featuring the hit "Black or
White." The video for this song included an appearance by child star
Macaulay Culkin, and was directed by John Landis. In the video's final minutes,
Jackson caused some controversy with his sexual gesturing and violent actions.
Many were surprised to see the Peter Pan-like Jackson act in this manner.
Jackson's
music continued to enjoy wide-spread popularity in the upcoming years. In 1993,
he performed several important events, including the halftime show at Superbowl
XXVII. Jackson gave a rare television interview, which aired that February.
Sitting down with Oprah Winfrey, he explained that the change in his skin tone
was the result of a disease known as vitiligo. He also opened up about the
abuse he suffered from his father.
In 1993,
allegations of child molestation against Jackson emerged. A 13-year-old boy
claimed that the music star had fondled him. Jackson was known to have
sleepovers with boys at his Neverland Ranch, but this was the first public
charge of wrongdoing. The police searched the ranch, but they found no evidence
to support the claim. The following year, Jackson settled the case out of court
with the boy's family. Other allegations emerged, but Jackson maintained his
innocence.
In August
1994, Jackson announced that he had married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of
rock icon Elvis Presley. The couple gave a joint television interview with
Diane Sawyer, but the union proved to be short-lived. They divorced in 1996.
Some thought that the marriage was a publicity ploy to restore Jackson's image
after the molestation allegations.
Later
that same year, Jackson wed nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children
through artificial insemination. Son Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson
Jr. was born in 1997, and daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson was born in
1998. Rowe and Jackson divorced in 1999, with Jackson receiving full custody of
their two children. He would go on to have a third child, Prince Michael
"Blanket" Jackson II, with an unknown surrogate.
Jackson's
musical career began to decline with the lukewarm reception to 1995's HIStory:
Past, Present, and Future, Book I, which featured some of his earlier hits
as well as new material. The record spawned two hits, "You Are Not
Alone" and his duet with sister Janet Jackson, "Scream."
"Scream" (the most expensive music video ever made, costing $7
million to produce) earned Michael and Janet a Grammy Award for Best Music
Video, Short Form that year. Another track from the album, "They Don't
Care About Us," however, brought Jackson intense criticism for using an
anti-Semitic term.
By the
release of 2001's Invincible, Jackson was better known as an eccentric
whose quirks were reported in the tabloids than as a performer. The album sold
well, but stories of his odd behavior started to overshadow his talent. He
often appeared in public wearing a surgical mask, and he hid his children's
faces under veils.
In 2002,
Jackson made headlines when he seemed confused and disoriented on stage at an
MTV awards show. Soon after, he received enormous criticism for dangling his
son, Prince Michael II, over a balcony while greeting fans in Berlin, Germany.
In a later interview, Jackson explained that "We were waiting for
thousands of fans down below, and they were chanting they wanted to see my
child, so I was kind enough to let them see. I was doing something out of
innocence." But many were unforgiving of the star's behavior, with former
fans and media outlets clamoring to have Child Protective Services take
Jackson's children from him.
Jackson's
reputation was served another blow in 2003 with the television documentary, Living
with Michael Jackson. British journalist Martin Bashir spent several months
with Jackson, and he got Jackson to discuss his relationships with children. He
admitted that he continued to have children sleepover at his ranch, even after
the 1993 allegations. Jackson said that sometimes he slept with the children in
his bed. "Why can't you share your bed? That's the most loving thing to
do, to share your bed with someone," Jackson told Bashir.
Jackson
faced more legal woes in 2004 when he was arrested on charges related to
incidents with a 13-year-old boy the previous year. Facing 10 counts in all, he
was charged with lewd conduct with a minor, attempted lewd conduct,
administering alcohol to facilitate molestation, and conspiracy to commit child
abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. The resulting 2005 trial was a
media circus with fans, detractors and camera crews surrounding the courthouse.
More than 130 people testified, including Macaulay Culkin who appeared on
Jackson's behalf. He said that he had been friends with Jackson as a young
teen. While he had stayed over at the Neverland Ranch, he told the court that
Jackson never tried to molest him. Jackson's accuser also appeared via
videotape and described how Jackson had given him wine and molested him.
On June
14, 2005, Jackson was acquitted of all charges. His reputation, however, was
effectively destroyed, and his finances were in shambles. Thanks to mounting
legal bills, the singer no longer had a bank account and was unable to maintain
even his most basic finances. Jackson soon found refuge in his friendship with
the prince of Bahrain, Prince Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who wired
Jackson the money needed to pay Neverland's utility bills. He then invited the
pop star to his country as a personal guest.
In
Bahrain, the prince provided Jackson with more than $7 million, not including
living expenses. He also built the singer a recording studio, hired him a
"motivational guru" and helped Jackson to entertain family at
Christmas. In return, Jackson promised to collaborate with the prince on a new
album on Al-Khalifa's record label, as well as write an autobiography and
create a stage play.
None of
the work materialized, however, and Jackson soon faced litigation from his
friend for reneging on his promises. In even greater financial straits, Jackson
defaulted on the $23.5 million loan owed on his Neverland Ranch in 2008. Unable
to part with certain items, including the crystal gloves he used in
performances, Jackson sued to block the auction of some of his personal items
from the home the following year.
Around
this same time, the largely reclusive Jackson announced that he would be
performing a series of concerts in London as his "final curtain
call." There had been some speculation regarding whether the fragile
singer would be able to handle the rigors of 50 concerts. Despite all of the
allegations and stories of odd behavior, Jackson remained a figure of great
interest, as demonstrated by the strong response to his concert plans; set to
appear at the O2 Arena in London, England, beginning July 8, 2009, Jackson saw
all of the tickets to his "This Is It" tour sell out in only four
hours.
Sadly,
Michael Jackson would never get to experience the anticipated success of his
comeback tour. On June 25, 2009, Jackson suffered cardiac arrest in his Los
Angeles home. He was rushed to the hospital after his heart stopped and CPR
attempts failed, and died later that morning. He was 50 years old.
The Jackson family held a private funeral on September 3, 2009, at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, for Michael Jackson's immediate family members and 200 guests. Celebrity mourners included former child star Macaulay Culkin; Jackson's ex-wife, Lisa Marie Presley; and actress Elizabeth Taylor.
I'm ...
R.I.P
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