Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was
an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. Often referred to as
the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the
most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His
contributions to music, dance, and fashion n, along with a much-publicized personal
life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.
Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958. The eighth child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.Michael and his brothers spent endless hours rehearsing and polishing up
their act. At first, the Jackson 5 played local gigs and built a strong
following. They recorded one single on their own, "Big Boy" with the
b-side "You've Changed," but it failed to generate much interest.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.
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.
The video for "Thriller" became immensely popular, boosting sales for
the already successful album. It stayed on the charts for 80 weeks,
holding the No. 1 spot for 37 weeks. In addition to its unparalleled
commercial achievements,
"Thriller" earned 12 Grammy Award nominations and won eight of those awards.
Jackson's Grammy victories showcased the diverse nature of his work. For
his songwriting talents, he received the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm
and Blues Song for "Billie Jean." Jackson also won Best Pop Vocal
Performance, Male for "Thriller" and Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male
for "Beat It." With co-producer Quincy Jones, he shared the Grammy Award
for Album of the Year.
In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music.The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller",
were credited with breaking down racial barriers and transforming the
medium into an art form and promotional tool. The popularity of these
videos helped to bring the then relatively new television channel MTV to fame. With videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream"
he continued to innovate the medium throughout the 1990s, as well as
forging a reputation as a touring solo artist. Through stage and video
performances, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance
techniques, such as the robot, and the 'moon walk', to which he gave the name. His distinctive sound and style has influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B p op and rock artists.
Jackson's 1 982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including Of the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and History (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling . Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first
and only dancer from pop and rock music.
Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards as we ll 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 100era; and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He was also one of the world's most prominent humanitarians and philanthropists; personally, and through his Heal the World Foundation, he donated more than $300 million in charity, holds the Guinness World Records for having supported the most charities out of any pop star, and echoed these themes throughout some of his notable songs.
Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationship, and behavior, generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, but the case was settled out of court and no formal charges were brought. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted
of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges
after the jury found him not guilty on all counts.
While preparing for
his concert series titled This is it, Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25, 2009, after suffering from cardiac arrest. The Los angels Coroner ruled his death a homicide, and his personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and as many as
one billion people around the world reportedly watched his public memorial service on live television. In March 2010, Sony
Music Entertainment and Jackson's estate signed the largest music contract ever, with a
$250 million deal to retain distribution rights to his recordings until
2017, and to release seven posthumous albums over the decade following
his death.
Michael Jackson(1958-2009), one of the most widely beloved entertainers and
profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint
on popular music and culture. Miss u MJ!
