Biography of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Date of Birth 29 August 1958, Gary, Indiana, USA

Date of Death 25 June 2009,

Los Angeles, California, USA (homicide)

Birth Name Michael Joseph Jackson

Height: 5' 11" (1.80 m)

Michael Jackson was born on the 29th of August 1958 in Gary, Indiana. in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B band called The Falcons. He was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, His contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. He was the 7th of nine children. Michael began his musical career at the age of 5 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 who formed in 1964. In these early years the Jackson 5, Jackie, Germaine, Tito, Marlon and lead singer Michael played local clubs and bars in Gary Indiana and moving further a field as there talents grew and they could compete in bigger competitions. In 1968 the Bobby Taylor and The Vancouver’s discovered the Jackson five and from there they got an audition for Berry Gordy of Motown Records. The Jackson 5 signed for Motown and moved to California. Their first 4 singles, "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There" all made US No1 hits. The Jackson 5 recorded 14 albums and Michael recorded 4 solo albums with Motown and The Jackson’s had a number of hit records and in total made 6 albums between the years of 1976 and 1984. Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and History (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. In 1982 Michael Jackson released the world's largest selling album of all time, 'Thriller'. This album produced 7 hit singles, breaking yet again more records, and went on to sell over 50 million copies worldwide. In 1977 Michael made his first film debut when he starred in the musical 'The Wiz' playing Scarecrow with Diana Ross in the lead role of Dorothy. It was at this time Michael met Quincy Jones who was doing the score for the film. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; 26 American Music Awards, more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century" and "Artist of the 1980s"; 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career, more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era; and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards,

Celebrities provided varied comments after Jackson's sudden death. Madonna and Diana Ross released statements saying they could not stop crying. Jackson's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said the singer had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father. Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, "can't imagine life without him." Liza Minnelli told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're ­celebrating him now." Jamie Foxx, stated: "We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everybody else.".

 

In 1994 Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock legend Elvis Presley. The marriage only lasted for 19 months, as they divorced in 1996.

A special 25th anniversary edition of his 1982 album "Thriller", entitled "Thriller 25", sold an estimated 3 million copies worldwide.

The Jacksons were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

There are countless other books about Michael Jackson and no doubt many, many more will be released.

In November 2003 a new single "One More Chance" was released as a single and was also a track on new compilation album "Number Ones".

In March 2009, Michael announced a shock comeback tour at the O2 Arena in London to start in July 2009, initially for 10 dates but the total grew to a sold out 50 dates with over 750,000 tickets sold. All sold tickets sold out within minutes of being released.

Michael Jackson albums (as an adult artist)

• Invincible
• Blood On The Dance Floor
• History
• Dangerous
• Bad
• Thriller
• Off The Wall

In this section we have only listed albums that Michael Jackson has released as an adult solo artist. These are all albums he has released since taking over total control of his career and own decisions. On previous albums with the Jacksons or as a solo artist with Motown, Michael was under the influence of others and not always able to make all the decisions that he felt were right. The above links give various insights into each album.

Other works

Music video: Appeared in Eddie Murphy video "Whatzupwitu"
1972 Got to Be There Motown

1972 Ben Motown

1973 Music & Me Motown

1975 Forever, Michael Motown

(1979) Album: "Off the Wall" (Epic)

(1982) Album: "Thriller"

(1987) Album: "Bad"

(1991) Album: "Dangerous"

(1995) Album: "History: Past, Present, and Future Book 1"

(1997) Album: "Blood on the Dance Floor: History in the Remix"

(1980s) TV commercial: Pepsi-Cola

(1983) Single: Sand backing vocals on Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me"

Music video with Paul McCartney: "Say, Say, Say". Also on McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" album.

(2001) Album: "Invincible"

(1982) Album: Performed a song on the audio storytelling LP for E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

(1982) Single: "Billie Jean"

(1990) TV commercial: LA Gear athletic wear

(1990) Song: Wrote the lyrics for the song "Do the Bartman" (music by Bryan Loren).

TV commercial (Japan only): Suzuki

 

MICHAEL JACKSON  ALBUM SONG & LYRICS

On June 25th 2009 Michael Jackson died suddenly of a reported cardiac arrest. He was 50 years old.