Michael Jackson

Who Was Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson, widely recognized as the “King of Pop,” was an iconic American singer, songwriter, and dancer whose influence on the music industry remains unparalleled. He first gained fame as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a Motown group consisting of him and his brothers. Jackson later embarked on a solo career, achieving extraordinary global success with hit albums such as Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. His 1982 album Thriller remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, cementing his place in music history. Known for his groundbreaking music videos, electrifying performances, and innovative dance moves, Jackson earned 13 Grammy Awards throughout his career.

Despite his artistic achievements, Jackson’s later years were marred by personal controversies, including allegations of child molestation, which he consistently denied. His sudden death in 2009, due to a drug overdose, occurred just before he was set to begin a highly anticipated comeback tour, leaving behind a complex legacy in the music world.

Early Life and Family Background

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the eighth of ten children to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. His father worked as a crane operator, while his mother was a homemaker with musical aspirations, playing clarinet and piano and aspiring to be a country singer. Joseph, who had performed in local R&B bands, pushed his children toward music, particularly Michael, whose extraordinary talent became apparent at a very young age.

The Jackson family had a deep involvement in the music industry, with many of Michael’s siblings—Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy, and Janet—achieving success in their own right. The Jackson household, however, was reportedly strict, with Joseph known for his harsh discipline, which included physical punishment during music rehearsals.

The Rise of the Jackson 5

In the early 1960s, Joseph Jackson formed a musical group with his sons, which later became the Jackson 5. Michael, who joined the group at age five, quickly emerged as its lead vocalist. Despite his young age, he exhibited remarkable vocal ability, charisma, and an ability to express complex emotions on stage. The Jackson 5 initially performed at local venues before gaining recognition and opening for established R&B acts like Gladys Knight and The Pips, James Brown, and Sam and Dave.

The group’s big break came when they caught the attention of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, who signed them in 1969. Relocating to Los Angeles, the Jackson 5 made their television debut that same year, performing on the Miss Black America Pageant. Their first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, was released in December 1969, and the single “I Want You Back” quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The group followed this success with more chart-topping hits, including “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.”

With their growing fame, the Jackson 5 maintained a demanding tour and recording schedule, and even had their own cartoon series. Michael Jackson’s signature dance move, the “robot,” became widely popular after he performed it during a 1973 television performance.

Transition and Solo Career

Despite the Jackson 5’s success, tensions grew between the group and Motown over creative control. In 1976, the Jacksons parted ways with the label and signed with Epic Records, where they continued recording as “The Jacksons.” By the late 1970s, Michael had already begun his journey toward solo superstardom, and the release of his albums in the 1980s would forever change the landscape of pop music.

Emerging Solo Career

Michael Jackson began his solo career while still performing with the Jackson 5, releasing his debut solo album Got to Be There in 1971 at the age of 13. The title track quickly climbed the charts, marking the start of a promising solo journey. Jackson achieved his first solo No. 1 single with the title track from his second album, Ben (1972), which was recorded for the film of the same name about a killer rat. He followed up with two more albums, Music and Me (1973) and Forever, Michael (1975), the latter being his final project under Motown Records.

As Jackson’s fame grew, he ventured into acting, which further influenced his music. In 1977, Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, directed by Sidney Lumet, alongside Diana Ross and Nipsey Russell. While in New York City for the film, Jackson became immersed in the local music scene, frequenting Studio 54 and being exposed to early hip-hop influences, which later inspired his beatboxing in tracks like “Working Day and Night.”

Jackson’s breakthrough as a solo artist came with the release of Off the Wall in 1979, his first album with Epic Records and produced by Quincy Jones, whom he met while working on The Wiz. Blending pop and funk, Off the Wall produced several hits, including the Grammy-winning “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” and the singles “Rock with You,” “She’s Out of My Life,” and the title track. The album marked Jackson’s transition from youthful pop to a more sophisticated sound and is considered one of the greatest pop albums ever. During this period, Jackson still performed with his brothers, and the success of Off the Wall helped boost the Jacksons’ album Triumph (1980), which sold over a million copies. However, by 1983, Jackson embarked on his last tour with his brothers to support their album Victory (1984), with the hit single “State of Shock,” a duet with Mick Jagger, standing out as the most successful track from the album.

The Unprecedented Success of Thriller (1982)

Jackson reached unparalleled heights with the release of Thriller in 1982, which has since been recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling album of all time. As of August 2021, the album had sold 67 million copies worldwide, with 34 million in the U.S. alone. Thriller remained on the charts for 80 weeks, with a record-breaking 37 weeks at No. 1. It generated seven Top 10 hits, including “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).”

The album received 12 Grammy nominations and won eight awards, both record-setting achievements. Jackson’s creativity extended beyond music, as evidenced by the groundbreaking music video for “Thriller,” directed by John Landis. The 14-minute mini-movie, with its iconic choreography featuring Jackson and zombies, premiered on MTV in 1983 and was later selected for the National Film Registry in 2009.

Jackson’s performance of “Billie Jean” during a 1983 Motown television special became legendary, as it introduced the world to the moonwalk, one of his signature dance moves. The moonwalk, a move taught to him by R&B artist Jeffrey Daniel, helped solidify Jackson’s status as a musical and cultural icon. The New York Times hailed Jackson as a “musical phenomenon,” writing that “In the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else.”

The Height of Stardom

In November 1983, Jackson signed a historic $5 million endorsement deal with PepsiCo for the company’s “New Generation” campaign. Unfortunately, a tragic accident occurred during the filming of a commercial, when pyrotechnics ignited Jackson’s hair, causing second- and third-degree burns on his scalp. This incident led to speculation that Jackson began undergoing plastic surgery, a topic that would garner increasing attention over the years.

Beyond his musical accomplishments, Jackson demonstrated a deep commitment to humanitarian causes. In 1985, he co-wrote the charity single “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie, enlisting the help of stars like Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Tina Turner. The song became one of the best-selling singles of all time, raising more than $75 million for African famine relief.

Jackson’s follow-up album, Bad (1987), although not as commercially successful as Thriller, still made an indelible mark. It became the first album to produce five No. 1 singles, including “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror,” and “Dirty Diana.” The music video for “Bad,” directed by Martin Scorsese, starred a young Wesley Snipes and delved into themes of gang violence. Jackson embarked on a global tour in support of the album, captivating audiences worldwide.

In 1988, Jackson purchased Neverland Ranch, a sprawling 2,700-acre property in California, which became both his home and a symbol of his extravagant lifestyle. Complete with a private zoo, amusement park, and theater, the ranch was named after the mythical island in Peter Pan. Around this time, rumors circulated regarding Jackson’s changing appearance, prompting him to address speculation during a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Jackson attributed the lightening of his skin to vitiligo and spoke openly about the abuse he endured from his father, giving the public a rare glimpse into the personal challenges behind his fame.

Continued Career Success and Abuse Allegations

In 1991, Michael Jackson released Dangerous, his eighth solo album and the first in 16 years to be produced without Quincy Jones. This album marked a new direction in Jackson’s career, blending a wide range of musical genres including R&B, funk, gospel, hip-hop, rock, industrial, and classical. The album featured the hit single “Black or White,” accompanied by a music video directed by John Landis and featuring a cameo by child star Macaulay Culkin. However, the final minutes of the video, in which Jackson performed sexually suggestive gestures and destroyed cars and buildings, sparked controversy. Jackson later issued an apology and edited the video to remove these elements.

Jackson’s popularity continued through the early 1990s. In 1993, he performed at the halftime show of Super Bowl XXVII. However, that year also marked the first of several child molestation allegations against him. A 13-year-old boy accused Jackson of fondling him, and although Jackson was known to have sleepovers with boys at his Neverland Ranch, this was the first public allegation. While the police searched the ranch and found no evidence to support the claim, Jackson ultimately settled the case out of court with the boy’s family the following year.

In 2003, British journalist Martin Bashir filmed the controversial documentary Living with Michael Jackson, where Jackson admitted that he continued to allow children to sleep over at his ranch and sometimes shared his bed with them. Jackson defended his actions, stating that sharing a bed was “the most loving thing to do.” This interview reignited public scrutiny over Jackson’s behavior, setting the stage for further legal challenges.

Career Decline and Criminal Charges

Jackson’s career began to experience a decline in the mid-1990s. His 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I received a mixed reception, despite featuring major collaborations with artists such as Janet Jackson, The Notorious B.I.G., and Shaquille O’Neal. The album’s themes addressed his child abuse allegations and frustration with media treatment, and it included hits like “You Are Not Alone” and “Scream.” The music video for “Scream” set a new record for its $7 million budget, while another track, “They Don’t Care About Us,” drew backlash for its use of anti-Semitic language.

In 2001, Jackson released Invincible, his final studio album before his death. Despite a high production cost of $30 million and debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, the album received lukewarm critical reception. This period also saw Jackson’s increasing legal battles with Sony over ownership of his master recordings, including a public dispute with Sony Music Chairman Tommy Mottola, whom Jackson accused of racism and exploiting Black artists. His eccentricities, including wearing a surgical mask in public, attracted widespread media attention. In 2002, Jackson faced heavy criticism when he dangled his infant son, Blanket, over a balcony in Berlin, Germany, to greet fans.

In 2003, Jackson faced more legal troubles when he was arrested on charges related to incidents with another 13-year-old boy. He was charged with 10 counts, including lewd conduct with a minor, conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion. The 2005 trial became a media spectacle, with more than 130 witnesses testifying. However, the jury ultimately found Jackson not guilty of all charges.

Wives and Children

Jackson’s personal life was equally eventful. In August 1994, he married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock legend Elvis Presley. The marriage, however, ended in divorce in 1996. Some speculated that it was a publicity stunt to improve Jackson’s image following the molestation allegations. Later in 1996, Jackson married nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children: son Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (Prince) in 1997, and daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson in 1998. After their 1999 divorce, Jackson received full custody of the children. In 2002, he fathered a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (known as “Blanket” and later “Bigi”), through an unknown surrogate.

Death

Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50 due to cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol intoxication. His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, had administered the sedative, which Jackson referred to as his “milk,” to help him sleep. Murray, who was not licensed to prescribe most controlled substances in California, was found to have failed to meet medical standards in his care of Jackson. On November 7, 2011, Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.

In the wake of Jackson’s death, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against AEG Live, the company promoting Jackson’s 2009 comeback tour. Although they sought up to $1.5 billion in damages, a jury found that AEG Live was not responsible for his death.

Memorials and Legacy

Jackson’s death prompted an outpouring of grief worldwide. A televised memorial was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009, and was viewed by an estimated one billion people. A private funeral was held for family members and select guests at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Jackson was posthumously awarded multiple honors, including 38 Grammy nominations, 13 wins, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

His posthumous album Michael was released in December 2010, amid controversy over the authenticity of some tracks. Despite this, the album debuted at No. 1 on the charts. In 2014, another posthumous album, Xscape, was released, featuring R&B artist Usher on the single “Love Never Felt So Good.” Jackson’s estate continued to generate significant revenue, including the sale of his share in the Sony/ATV Music catalog for $750 million in 2016.

In 2019, accusations of sexual abuse resurfaced with the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, which detailed the testimonies of two men who claimed Jackson abused them as children. Jackson’s estate vehemently denied the allegations, and a lawsuit was filed against HBO, though the case was in arbitration as of December 2020. Despite the controversies surrounding his personal life, Jackson’s legacy as a musical icon remains deeply ingrained in popular culture.