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MICHAEL JACKSON BIOGRAPHY |
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1980s pop
superstar Michael Jackson, whose trademark is his Moonwalk dance
movement, exploded toward the mega stardom with his biggest
selling album of all time, "Thriller" (1982). Launching his solo
career with the worldwide best selling album "Off The Wall"
(1979), Jackson later gained more acclaim with his massive hit
albums, "Bad" (1987) and "Dangerous" (1991), the latter of which
spawned probably the most aired and most remembered music video,
"Black Or White." He was also recognized with his most expensive
video, the futuristic "Scream," from the 1995 album, "History"
(a duet with sister Janet Jackson). The pop icon received the
nicknames Jacko, and The Gloved One. Jackson has frequently
drawn controversy, including his extensive cosmetic surgeries,
his marriage with Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley,
and the child molestation charges brought against him. Wrong
doings have been alleged to have taken place at Michael's
Neverland Ranch in California, and now there are rumors of
bankruptcy as well. The public and media keep raised eyebrows as
the trial unfolds. "Everyone who knows me will know the truth,
which is, that my children come first in my life and that I
would never harm any child." says Michael Jackson.
On a more positive note, the pop phenomenon was inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Jackson has also
organized food, medical aid, supplies, mentoring, vaccination
and drug-abuse education programs in war area of Sarajevo. He
also sponsors a Hungarian child's liver transplant organization.
The seventh child of parents Joseph Walter Jackson (steel mill
worker, manager for the Jackson 5) and Katherine Esther Jackson,
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary,
Indiana. Michael Jackson has six older siblings, Rebbie Jackson
(a.k.a. Maureen Jackson, singer, born on May 25, 1950), Jackie
Jackson (a.k.a. Sigmund Esco, born on May 4, 1951, former member
of the Jackson 5), Tito Jackson (a.k.a. Toriano Adaryl, born on
October 15, 1953, guitarist, former member of the Jackson 5),
Jermaine La Juane (singer, bassist, born on December 11, 1954),
LaToya (born on May 29, 1956), and Marlon David (born on March
12, 1957, former member of the Jackson 5). He also has two
younger siblings, Randy Jackson (a.k.a. Stephan Randell, born on
October 29, 1961, recording artist, former member of the Jackson
5) and Janet (singer, born on May 16, 1966). Born to a working-class
family with a bad-tempered authoritarian father, Michael and his
siblings were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses. Having shown a deep
interest in music and dancing since his very early years,
Michael and his siblings would sneak out of the house to
practice music at their neighbor's house. On May 26, 1994,
Michael became headline news for marrying Elvis "The King"
Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. The couple that tied the
knot in the Dominican Republic, later divorced in January 1996.
In the same year, on November 14, Michael exchanged wedding vows
with Debbie Rowe (former nurse) in Sydney, Australia, but they
later divorced on October 8, 1999. Michael is the father of
three: Prince Michael Jackson II (born in 2002) and Prince
Michael Jackson I (born on February 12, 1997; mother: Debbie
Rowe) and daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson (born on
April 3, 1998; mother: Debbie Rowe).
To quote Michael Jackson, "Wacko Jacko... Where'd that come from?
Some English tabloid. I have a heart, and I have feelings. I
feel that when you do that to me; don't do it. I'm not a wacko".
Having a special interest toward music, Michael Jackson joined
his four brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, in
establishing an R&B musical group in the mid 60s. With Michael
as the lead vocalist, the group won an Amateur Night competition
at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York and subsequently
landed their first contract with the local Steeltown label in
1967, with which they launched the local hit, "Big Boy." In
1968, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers
introduced the Jackson 5 to Motown Records, which landed them a
contract and brought them to Los Angeles. Presented by Diana
Ross in fall 1969, the group later was widely recognized with
their No. 1 US hit singles, "I Want You Back" (1969), and "ABC,"
"The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There" (all in 1970). They
eventually made 14 albums with the Motown Records. Michael then
initiated his solo career, producing four solo albums with
Motown Records. Michael Jackson's foremost solo hits including
the debut LP "Got to Be There" (1971), and the 1972 hits, "Rockin'
Robin," "I Wanna Be Where You Are," and the top hit "Ben." The
Jackson 5 changed their name to The Jacksons in 1976 when they
left Motown Records to join Epic Records, with which they
released 6 albums between 1976 and 1984. While filming an
adaptation of L. Frank Baum's novel, the musical The Wiz (1978,
also starring Diana Ross), Michael met music producer and
composer Quincy Jones. With Jones, Michael Jackson recorded his
debut adult album, the highly praised Off the Wall (1979). The
album went to the Top 10 hits list with the top hit singles "Don't
Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You" as well as
received a platinum certification after selling seven million
copies nationwide. 1982 was arguably Michael's most glorious
year. In that year, Michael Jackson's sophomore album Thriller
was released, breaking records by spawning 7 Top 10 hit singles
and becoming the world's best selling album (sold over 50
million copies in 2003). The album's hit singles including "Billie
Jean," "Thriller," and "Beat It," all of which broke the music
video history for being the first black music videos to be aired
on MTV.
"Thriller" poled on the charts for over two years, peaked at No.
1 for 37 nonconsecutive weeks, and sold 25 million copies
nationwide and 20 million worldwide. It also spawned other songs
such as "Human Nature" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)."
Meanwhile, Michael created a trademark while performing the
Moonwalk dance movement on the special TV show, the Motown 25:
Yesterday, Today, Forever. In addition, Michael Jackson was
handed a deal with Pepsi to be the company's spokesperson and by
the end of 1983, his duet with McCartney, "Say Say Say," topped
the single's charts. The runaway success of "Thriller" netted
him 8 awards at the American Music Awards and 8 Grammy awards (7
for Thriller and 1 for his narrative on The E.T. Storybook). It
eventually received the Guinness Book of Records certification
as the biggest selling popular music album of all time. Michael
also earned the H. Claude Hodson Medal of Freedom at the NAACP
Image Awards and the Presidential Special Achievement Award at
the White House (by President Ronald Reagan). After reuniting
with his brothers in the next album Victory, Michael then teamed
with Lionel Richie in writing the single "We Are the World"
(1985). Sung by various singers, notably Harry Belafonte, Cyndi
Lauper, Diana Ross, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, the single
sold 7 million copies in the US alone and became the fastest-selling
single of all time. The cash was used to benefit the starving
community in Africa. In 1986, Michael graced the screen by
starring in Francis Ford Coppola's most expensive film ever
produced, the musical sci-fi Captain Eo (costarring Anjelica
Huston), in which the songs "We Are Here To Change The World"
and "Another Part Of Me" were included. The film continued to be
shown in Disney theme parks until 1998.
"Bad" was released in 1987 and Michael Jackson initiated an
extensive, highest-grossing international solo tour. The album
spawned a string of hits on the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 charts,
including "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad," "The Way You
Make Me Feel," "Man In The Mirror," and "Dirty Diana." It also
produced the No. 11 "Another Part Of Me" and the No. 7 "Smooth
Criminal." Despite the brilliant charting of its singles, "Bad"
could not beat "Thriller" and only sold 8 million copies. On the
silver screen, Michael starred in the disappointing musical
film, Moonwalker, in 1988. Under the Sony recording company,
Michael, with the new title of King of Pop, launched "Dangerous"
(1991). It produced such singles and music videos as "Who Is It,"
"Give In To Me," "Gone Too Soon" (an honor to young AIDS victim
Ryan White), and "Will You Be There" (later become the Free
Willy theme song). However, the album was more popular with the
singles and videos like "Jam" (alongside basketball star Michael
Jordan), "Remember The Time" (an Egyptian set, starring Eddie
Murphy), "Black Or White," "In The Closet" (with supermodel
Naomi Campbell), and "Heal The World," the latter of which was
written to his charity organization with the same name. "Dangerous"
shortly stayed in the top 10 and sold 7 million copies
nationwide as well as 29 million copies worldwide. Double-disc
album "History" was released in 1995. The first disc consisted
of Michael's fifteen greatest hits and the second disc
introduced fifteen new singles. It spawned double hit singles
and videos, "Scream" (a duet with sister Janet Jackson) and "You
Are Not Alone" (debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Singles Chart). "History" also produced other singles and
videos, including "Childhood," "Earth Song," "Stranger In Moscow,"
and "They Don't Care About Us." The album gained average success
in the US, staying at No. 1 for only two weeks, but gained more
accomplishment in the UK, with the single "Earth Song" topping
the chart for six weeks and selling over a million copies. The
remix album of some "History" tracks, "Blood on the Dance Floor,"
was released in 1997. Containing 5 new singles, the album became
the biggest selling remix album of all time, though it gained
more success in Europe but failed to achieve platinum. During
that time, Michael also produced the short movie "Ghost," in
which he sang the songs "Ghosts" and "2 Bad."
Following his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
2001, Michael Jackson launched the album "Invincible," the most
expensive album ever produced, to celebrate his 30th anniversary
as a solo artist. It spawned considerably few singles, "You Rock
My World," "Butterflies," and "Cry" (Europe). The album topped
the U.S. charts in its first week release and sold 2 million
copies nationwide, 12 million copies worldwide. A prolific
songwriter, Michael was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of
Fame in June 2002 and was awarded a Berlin Germany's Millennium
Bambi 2002 Award. In the next year, Michael Jackson launched a
new single, "One More Chance" (written by R. Kelly), the only
new song on his Number Ones greatest hits album. For three weeks,
the single stayed at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Singles
Sales chart. As for his future plans, Michael Jackson was
reported to be planning a world tour with music tycoon Charles
Koppelman. The tour, temporarily called "Celebration," would
take place sometime after his trial for the child molestation
charges brought against him.
Jackson was found not guilty of child molestation, conspiracy
and other counts. Jurors said the accusations of a young boy and
his family were not credible - a total legal victory that
triggered jubilation among the singer's fans and embarrassment
for the district attorney's office. On June 14, 2005, the Jury
rejects all 10 counts in child-molestation trial and Jackson has
been acquitted of all charges of child abuse, held against him.
"I believe in perfection, and I try to create that in everything
we do. We never seem to totally get there, but I believe in
perfect execution. And when we don't get at least 99.9%, I get
really upset..." Michael Jackson. |
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