Popular singer and songwriter, born in Gary, Indiana, USA. He was a child star with his brothers in a popular Motown soul group, the Jackson Five, and had his first solo hits in the early 1970s. He began producing and songwriting when the group left Motown in 1976, becoming the Jacksons, and he collaborated with Quincy Jones on his first best-selling solo album, Off The Wall (1979). His second solo album, Thriller (1982), sold over 30 million copies and made him a superstar. As his recordings and videos continued to attract an ever larger public and gain him ever more millions of dollars in sales, commercial endorsements, and contracts, he moved beyond being another popular singer to become more an entertainment phenomenon, known for his unusual choreography (including the moon walk), elaborate special effects, mannered performances, and occasional tours before frenzied crowds. His album Number Ones, largely a collection of his biggest hits, topped the UK charts in 2003. Meanwhile, his offstage life also became increasingly bizarre: he transformed his face with plastic surgery, became chummy with celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, and lived in a secluded estate rumoured to be like an amusement park and zoo. In 1993 his private and public careers collided when he was accused of sexual abuse of minor boys; although he was never legally charged, his somewhat ambiguous sexual persona and relations with young children, on and off stage, lost some of their appeal. In 2003 he was arrested on child molestation charges and released on $3m bail pending a court hearing in January 2004. A full trial was due to begin in September that year but was delayed until January 2005. In June 2005 he was cleared of all charges. He married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, in 1994 but they divorced in 1996. Later that year he married nurse Debbie Rowe (divorced, 1999); they have two children. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and the newly established UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
| Michael Jackson | ||
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Michael Jackson on May 14, 1984 |
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Michael Joseph Jackson | |
| Born | August 29, 1958 | |
| Origin | Gary, Indiana, United States | |
| Genre(s) | R&B | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, multiple instruments | |
| Years active | 1968–present | |
| Label(s) |
Motown (1968–1976) Epic (1976–2006) |
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Associated acts |
The Jackson 5 | |
| Website | michaeljackson.com | |
Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an American musician and entertainer whose successful music career and controversial personal life have been at the forefront of pop culture for the last quarter-century.
Jackson began his musical career at the age of seven as the lead singer of The Jackson 5 and released his first solo recording, Got to Be There in 1971 while remaining a member of the group. In his solo career, Jackson recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller with worldwide sales of 104 million;
Throughout his four-decade career, Michael Jackson has been awarded numerous honors including the World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award and the Bambi Award's Pop Artist of the Millennium Award. Raymone Bain, Jackson's PR, claims that Jackson has sold over 750 million units worldwide to date.
From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, on which he built an amusement park and private zoo for economically disadvantaged and terminally ill children. This resulted in Jackson being tried, and later acquitted, of more child molestation allegations and several other charges in 2005.
Biography
Early life and career: 1966–1980
Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. In 1966, after taking co-lead singing duties with brother Jermaine, the group's name changed from The Jackson Brothers to The Jackson 5. Jackson, as a solo artist, also released and charted many hit singles as part of the Jackson 5 franchise, including "Got to Be There", "Ben", and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin".
The group's sales declined after 1973, and the group chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow the Jacksons creative control or input.
As a result of the legal proceedings, which were complicated further by the fact that Jermaine Jackson was married to the daughter of Motown president (Berry Gordy), the Jacksons lost the rights to use the "Jackson 5" name and logo and also Jermaine, who wanted to stay at Motown. They changed their name to "The Jacksons", featuring youngest brother Randy in Jermaine's place, and continued their successful career, touring internationally and releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984, with Jermaine eventually re-joining in 1983, making them a sextet.
In 1978, Jackson starred as the scarecrow in The Wiz with former-label mate Diana Ross playing Dorothy. The songs for the musical were arranged by Quincy Jones, who established a partnership with Jackson during the film's production and agreed to produce his first solo album in four years.
The Thriller era: 1982–1986
In 1982, Jackson released his second Epic album, Thriller, which became the best-selling album in music history with estimated sales of 104 million copies worldwide. The thirteen-minute "Thriller" was critically acclaimed, and massive airplay lead to it being packaged with the featurette "Making Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on VHS, where it became the best-selling music home video ever.
In 1983, whilst performing "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever concert Jackson debuted what can be regarded as his signature move: the moonwalk.
Later in 1984, Jackson won eight Grammy awards.
In 1985, Jackson was invited to the White House and was personally thanked by then-President Ronald Reagan at a White House ceremony for donating the song "Beat It" for use in drunk driving prevention television and radio public service announcements.
Jackson continued his charity work in 1985 by co-writing, with Lionel Richie, the hit single "We Are the World".
Controversy began when Jackson purchased shares in the ATV Music Publishing (a company which owned the rights to most of the Beatles' songs), making himself the majority shareholder. Following this controversial business deal, tabloid stories of Jackson sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to stall the aging-process, and an allegation claiming Jackson attempted to purchase the bones of the Elephant Man inspired the pejorative nickname "Wacko Jacko".
In 1986, Jackson starred in the George Lucas-produced, Francis Ford Coppola-directed 3-D film Captain EO.
Bad and controversies: 1987–1990
In 1987, Jackson released Bad;
Jackson hired film director Martin Scorsese to direct the video for the album's title track. When the 18-minute music video debuted on TV, it sparked a great deal of controversy as it became apparent that Jackson's appearance had changed dramatically. This change became so noticeable that it gained widespread media coverage with some tabloid's claiming that it was due to Jackson bleaching his skin. Despite a number of surgeons' claims that Jackson had undergone multiple nasal surgeries as well as a forehead lift, thinned lips and cheekbone surgery, Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography Moon Walk that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin, while attributing puberty and diet to the noticeable change in the structure of his face.
The success Jackson achieved during this period in his career led to him to be dubbed the "King of Pop", a nickname which he continues to be referred to by fans. According to Jackson, it was conceived by actress and long-term friend Elizabeth Taylor when she presented Jackson with an "Artist of the Decade" award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul".
Dangerous and further career: 1991–1994
In November 1991, Michael Jackson released Dangerous. Winners from around the world attended a dinner party hosted by Michael Jackson on the set of his music video "In the Closet". Later that year, a biopic, The Jacksons: An American Dream debuted on ABC based on the true story of the rise of The Jackson 5.
Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" (named after his humanitarian single "Heal the World") in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's Neverland Ranch, located outside Santa Ynez, California, to go on theme park rides which Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it in 1988.
In January 1993, Michael Jackson performed during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII.
On the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1993, Jackson claimed that the change in his skin color was due to vitiligo. In the interview, Jackson stated that his skin was, at first, black with white spots which he used make-up to cover.
Jackson was reported to be inviting or allowing children to sleepover at Neverland. This practice came under much media and public scrutiny in 1993 when allegations of child molestation were brought against Jackson by a child who had stayed with him on several occasions. On January 25, 1994, Jackson settled out of court with the accuser for an undisclosed sum, reported to be $20 million, and was not charged.
After the allegations were settled in 1994, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley.
HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: 1995–2000
In 1995, Jackson released HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book I. On September 7, 1995 at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards Jackson and Janet Jackson won three awards for the song "Scream", from HIStory.
To promote the album, Jackson embarked on the successful HIStory World Tour. On November 14, 1996, during the Australian leg of the tour, Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. The paternity of Michael Jackson's children has been heavily debated by the public. However the The Sun made two controversial claims about Jackson's parentage: first, that Jackson conceived his first child via artificial insemination using his own sperm and, second, that the second child, Paris, was conceived in and named after Paris, France, where Jackson had gone to console Rowe for his having taken her first child, and all parental rights from Rowe.
At the 1996 Brit Awards Jackson performed the track "Earth Song", dressed in white and surrounded by children and an actor portraying a Rabbi. In response to the ensuing media scrutiny of the action, Cocker responded, "My actions were a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing... Gallagher said of Jackson's behavior: "for Michael Jackson to come over to this country after what's all gone on - and I think we all know what I'm talking about here - to dress in a white robe, right, thinking he's the Messiah - I mean who does he think he is?
In 1997, Jackson released an album of new material with remixes of hit singles from HIStory titled Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. The short film, written by Michael Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston, features many special effects and dance moves choreographed to original music written by Michael Jackson.
In 1998 Jackson reached an out-of-court settlement with the Daily Mirror, which apologized for having described his face as "hideously disfigured and scarred". Jackson and 35 other artists recorded a charity benefit single entitled "What More Can I Give" which was never released. Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was not going to renew his contract;
On September 7 and September 10, 2001, Jackson organised a special 30th Anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden for his 30th year of being a solo artist.
In late 2002, Jackson's Heal the World Foundation had net assets of just $3,542 and reported $2,585 in expenses, mostly for "management fees".
In November 2002, Jackson travelled to Berlin to accept an award for his humanitarian efforts.
After watching media coverage of the Berlin event, a California attorney and radio talk show host, Gloria Allred, wrote a letter to California's Child Protective Services, asking for an investigation into the safety of Jackson's children.
When a reporter asked Jackson what he thought of Allred's complaints, he remarked "Ah, tell her to go to hell".
In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said that the media was wrong in their comments about him being irresponsible with his children, "I love my children", he explained. One particular part of the documentary, which stirred controversy and raised a significant level of concern, showed Jackson holding hands with a then 13-year-old cancer victim Gavin Arviso, and admitting to sharing his bedroom with him (but not in the same bed) as well as sharing his bed (non-sexually) with other children. In response to the media scrutiny, two specials were aired: Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See and Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies. Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See which aired later in February showed uncut footage of the Living with Michael Jackson documentary. The Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies aired in April was a 2-hour special with footage of Michael Jackson's home videos and included commentary by Jackson.
In June 2003, Jackson's friend, actor Marlon Brando, signed a half-acre plot of land on his island Tetiaroa to Jackson, in gratitude for Jackson hosting a party for Brando's daughter, Nina, then aged 13.
Trial, acquittal and the aftermath: 2003–2006
In November 2003, Michael Jackson and Sony Records released a compilation of his number-one hits on CD and DVD titled Number Ones. On the album's scheduled release date, while Michael Jackson was in Las Vegas filming the video for "One More Chance" (the only new song included in the Number Ones compilation), the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department searched the Neverland Ranch and issued an arrest warrant for Jackson on charges of new child molestation. Jackson was accused of sexual abuse by Gavin Arviso, who appeared in the Living with Michael Jackson documentary earlier that year. The allegations later led to a trial in which Jackson was found not guilty of all charges.
Jackson converted to the Nation of Islam on December 17, 2003.
Marlon Brando, who was a frequent user of the Internet, informed Jackson on February 8, 2004 that the declarations made by Jordy Chandler relating to the 1993 child molestation allegations had been published on the internet site The Smoking Gun.
Also on August 6, 2004, Man In The Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story debuted on VH1 starring Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson.
Rapper Eminem parodied new allegations raised against Jackson by Gavin Arviso in his music video for "Just Lose It" in 2004.
On June 10, Jackson's PR, Raymone Bain was reportedly fired. Bain later told the Associated Press that she had not been fired and that only Michael Jackson, not his production company (operated at the time by his brother, Randy Jackson), could fire her. Bain continues releasing press statements and answering media enquiries on behalf of Michael Jackson, and was named general manager of The Michael Jackson Company, Inc.
On June 13, Jackson was acquitted of all ten charges, including four additional lesser ones.
After being acquitted of the child molestation charges, Jackson relocated to the Gulf island of Bahrain, where he reportedly bought a house formerly owned by a Bahrain MP. Jackson allegedly spent his time in the Gulf writing new music, including a charity single dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina entitled, "I Have This Dream". Kelly, Keyshia Cole, James Ingram, Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine, Shanice, the Reverend Shirley Caesar and The O'Jays all reportedly lent their voices to the charity song.
In 2006, allegations of sexual assault were made against Jackson by a man who claims Michael Jackson molested him, intoxicated him with drugs and alcohol, and forced him to undergo unnecessary cosmetic surgery. Michael Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mesereau, who successfully defended him against allegations of child molestation in 2005, said "the charges are ridiculous on their face.
Visionary, Tokyo and the World Music Awards: 2006–Present
In February 2006, Jackson's label released Visionary - The Video Singles, a box set made up of twenty of his biggest hit singles, each of which were issued individually week by week over a five-month period.
An appeals court ruled on February 15, that a lower court improperly terminated Deborah Rowe's parental rights to her two children with pop star Michael Jackson, opening the door to a possible custody battle between the singer and his ex-wife.
Soon after this payment, Jackson's spokesperson announced on March 16, 2006 that Jackson was closing his house at Neverland and had laid off some of the employees but added that reports of the closing of the entire ranch were inaccurate.
In a move named by Jackson's advisors as "refinancing", it was announced on April 14, 2006 that Jackson had struck a deal with Sony and Fortress Investments. In the deal Sony may be allowed to take control of half of Jackson's 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing (worth an estimated $1 billion) which Jackson co-owns.
In exchange, Sony negotiated with a loans company on behalf of Jackson. As another part of the deal Jackson was given a new $300 million loan, and a lower interest rate on the old loan to match the original Bank of America rate.
On April 18, 2006, Michael Jackson signed a management deal with English music producer Guy Holmes. Holmes is the recently appointed CEO of Two Seas Records, with whom Jackson has signed a recording contract for one album.
On May 27, 2006, Michael Jackson accepted a Legend Award at MTV Japan's VMA Awards in Tokyo. Following the award ceremony, Jackson also made an appearance on SMAPxSMAP. Marc Schaffel, a former associate of Jackson, filed a suit for millions of dollars allegedly owed to him after working with Jackson on an unreleased charity record named "What More Can I Give" and documentaries. Florida businessman Alvin Malnik, who had advised Jackson, appeared in court and stated that Jackson appeared to be bewildered by financial matters. Schaffel had received an urgent plea from Jackson for $1 million so that Jackson could buy jewelry for Elizabeth Taylor so that she would agree to sign a release for her involvement in a Fox special. Brando's son Miko Brando, a long time bodyguard and assistant to Jackson stated "The last time my father left his house to go anywhere, to spend any kind of time... was with Michael Jackson".
On July 14, 2006, the jury awarded Schaffel $900,000 of the original $3.8 million he sued Jackson for, which Schaffel later reduced to $1.6 million, and finally to $1.4 million. The jury also awarded Jackson $200,000 plus interest of the $660,000 that Jackson claimed he was owed by Schaffel. Jackson's lawyer Thomas Mundell said that he had never heard the allegation during the pre-trial investigation and that "it was an effort to smear Mr Jackson with a remark that could be interpreted to hurt him in light of the case against him last year".
On July 31, 2006, a federal judge allowed a $48 million claim against Jackson and one of Jackson's trusts for unpaid fees and breach of contract.
On November 2 and November 3, 2006, Access Hollywood aired a special Michael Jackson in Ireland which showed Jackson and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas in the process of recording Jackson's new album. There, he received eight awards: "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time", "Youngest Vocalist to Top the US Singles Charts" (at the age of 11 as part of the Jackson Five), "First Vocalist to Enter the US Singles Chart at Number One" (for "You Are Not Alone"), "First Entertainer to Earn More Than 100 million Dollars in a Year", "Highest Paid Entertainer of All Time" ($125 in 1989), "First Entertainer to Sell More Than 100 Million Albums Outside the US", "Most Weeks at the Top of the US Albums Chart" (for the album Thriller) and "Most Successful Music Video" (for the music video Thriller).
On November 15, 2006, Michael Jackson received the Diamond Award at the World Music Awards, his second public appearance at an awards show since the trial of 2005.
Solo discography
Studio albumsMotown releases 1971: Got to Be There 1972: Ben 1973: Music and Me 1975: Forever, Michael Epic releases 1979: Off the Wall 1982: Thriller 1987: Bad 1991: Dangerous 1995: HIStory 1997: Blood on the Dance Floor 2001: Invincible |
US and UK number-one singles1972: "Ben" (#1 US) 1979: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B) 1980: "Rock With You" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B) 1981: "One Day in Your Life" (#1 UK) 1982: "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney, #1 US-R&B) 1983: "Billie Jean" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B, #1 UK) 1983: "Beat It" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B) 1983: "Say Say Say" (with Paul McCartney, #1 US) 1987: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B, #1 UK) 1987: "Bad" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B) 1987: "The Way You Make Me Feel" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B) 1988: "Man in the Mirror" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B) 1988: "Dirty Diana" (#1 US) 1988: "Another Part Of Me" (#1 US-R&B) 1991: "Black or White" (#1 US, #1 UK) 1992: "Remember the Time" (#1 US-R&B) 1992: "In The Closet" (#1 US-R&B) 1995: "You Are Not Alone" (#1 US, #1 US-R&B, #1 UK) 1995: "Earth Song" (#1 UK) 1997: "Blood on the Dance Floor" (#1 UK) |
Filmography
Notable music videos"Billie Jean" (1983) "Beat It" (1983) "Thriller" (1983) "Bad" (1987) "The Way You Make Me Feel" (1987) "Smooth Criminal" (1988) "Leave Me Alone" (1989) "Black or White" (1991) "Remember the Time" (1992) "Scream" (1995) "Earth Song" (1995) "Blood on the Dance Floor" (1997) "You Rock My World" (2001)FilmsThe Wiz (1978) Captain EO (1986) Moonwalker (1988) Ghosts (1997) Men in Black II (2002, Cameo appearance) Miss Cast Away (2004, Cameo appearance) |
TelevisionThe Jacksons TV Show (1976-1977) The Simpsons, Season 3 Episode 1, "Stark Raving Dad", (1991) (Credited as John Jay Smith)Video gamesMichael Jackson's Moonwalker is an arcade game that was ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis and Sega Master System and various 8-bit home computers, including the Amiga, which sported more levels and better graphics. Space Channel 5 for the Sega Dreamcast featured Michael Jackson in the later levels. Space Channel 5 Part 2, a dance game for the PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast also featured Michael Jackson in the later levels. Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 is a fighting game for the PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast featuring Michael Jackson as a hidden character. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PS2, PC, and Xbox includes two songs by Michael Jackson: "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". |
Music samples
| "Ben" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Ben (1972) "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Off The Wall (1979) "Billie Jean" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Thriller (1982) "Beat It" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Thriller (1982) "Somebody's Watching Me" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me (1984) "Man in The Mirror" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Bad (1987) | "Jam" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Dangerous (1991) "Black or White" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Dangerous (1991) "You Are Not Alone" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from HIStory (1995) "Blood on the Dance Floor" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Blood on the Dance Floor (1997) "You Rock My World" (2001) (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Invincible (2001) "We've Had Enough" (file info) — play in browser (beta) from Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (2004) |
Problems playing the files? Jackson, Michael (1992). Jackson, Michael (2006).
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