Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29 1958 and died on June 25th 2009 from an as yet unsolved reason although currently his physician is being investigated under manslaughter charges. Michael Jackson was a Singer / Songwriter and known throughout the world as the King of Pop.

Jackson made his performing debut at the age of 6 alongside his brothers in the Jackson 5 and they signed with Motown Records in 1968. The band toured and set a chart record when their first four singles (I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, I’ll Be There) reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100.

When the Jackson 5 signed a contract with CBS Records they continued to release albums (including Dina Ross Presents the Jackson 5, ABC, Third Album, Jackson 5 Christmas Album and Destiny) with Jackson as the lead songwriter. When he starred in The Wiz he teamed up with Quincy Jones and together they decided to produce, write and release the Off The Wall album. This was the first album to have four US top 10 hits and sold over 21 million worldwide! The Thriller album followed which became the most commercially successful album of all time and remained in the top ten of the Billboard 200 for 80 consecutive weeks, 37 at number one.

On March 25th 1983 Michael Jackson performed on the Motown 25 TV Special where he débuted the famous sequined glove but more importantly, what became his signature move – The Moonwalk! His performance was seen by 47 million viewers!

Jackson went on to make public appearances with President Ronald Regan in 1984 and won an award that year for his support of charities for people overcoming drug and alcohol abuse. He also won 8 Grammy awards that year.

It was at this time that Jacksons heath and appearance began to make headlines. His skin began to grow paler and the structure of his face also changed. Sensational reports following and the media dubbed him “Wacko Jacko”.

In 1987 Jackson released Bad which although it had lower sales that Thriller was a great success and had seven hit singles, 5 of which reached number 1 in the Billboard Top 100. The world tour began and over 4.4million people saw the shows, making it into the Guinness World Record.

In March 1991 Jackson released his eighth studio album; Dangerous. It sold 32 million copies worldwide, also being the album that Heal The World was on. From this single came the Heal The World Foundation which brought underprivileged children to Jackson’s Neverland Wranch to enjoy theme park rides and help invest money to protect children threatened by war, poverty and disease.

Through the nineties there were sexual abuse allegations made against Michael Jackson however after pleading his innocence and then going on to say that he could not endure a long trial to his deteriorating healthy – he negotiated a financial settlement with the boy’s family.

In 1994 Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. The marriage lasted two years however Jackson and Presley remained amicable.

The HIStory album was released in 1995 and was a double CD with new material and a Greatest Hits album, You Are Not Alone, a track from the new material was the first song ever to debut at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Jackson toured with this album, performing 82 concerts in 58 cities to over 4.5 million fans, becoming Jacksons most successful tour in terms of audience figures.

In 1996 Michael Jackson married Debbie Rower in Australia. She gave birth to Michael Jackson’s first two children, a son called Michael Joseph Junior (although known by most as Prince) and a daughter Paris Michael Katherine. Their marriage subsequently ended after 3 years, again amicably and Rowe handed over full custody to Jackson.

In the 21st century Jackson went on to release two more albums, both considered successes selling worldwide.

Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed “Blanket”) was born in 2002 and the child’s mother’s identity is still unknown.

In 2003 Jackson was accused of sexual abuse on seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent. The charges and the trial lasted two years and on June 13th 2005, Jackson was acquitted on all counts.

In March 2009, Jackson announced at London’s O2 Arena that he would perform major comeback concerts entitled This Is It! Over one million tickets were sold and 50 dates booked in. The concerts were due to commence on July 13th 2009 however on June 25th 2009, less than 3 weeks before the first show was due to begin, Michael Jackson died from cardiac arrest.

Jackson’s memorial was held on July 7th 2009 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles preceded by a family service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Hall of Liberty. The US audience alone for the memorial was 31.1million leaving a lasting legacy of the King of Pop.