Michael Jackson Biography

The Life and Career of the King of Pop

Sep 26, 2009

Michael Jackson escaped many trials and tribulations in life while creating a lasting music career even in his death. This is in in-depth view of his life.

June 25, 2009 the world at large was shocked to find out that Michael Jackson was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest. Jackson’s Memorial was said to be viewed worldwide by over one billion people.

Michael Jackson from a very early age showed tremendous potential in the music department leading the popular Jackson 5 from the tender age of five. From there Michael would capture the hearts of many, even through the toughest of personal trials.

Childhood (Jackson Five)/Off The Wall

Born Michael Joseph Jackson, August 29, 1958, this pop star to be was nearly destined for the big time from an early age. Michael Jackson’s talent for singing was first discovered by his mother while Michael was the young age of three. From there Michael’s father, a struggling musician himself, gathered young Michael and his brothers to form a music group known as the Jackson Five.

The group played almost anywhere they could get a gig including strip clubs. This made a lasting impression on Michael most believe. Jackson’s father was tough and strict on him and his brothers to practice and stay focused on their musical careers. This toughness paid off when Gladys Knight discovered them and pleaded with Berry Gordy to meet with the talented Jackson Five.

The Jackson Five signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown imprint in the early 1960s and from there Michael’s star and career began to shine. Gordy immediately singled the young lead singer out to be his next big solo act giving him hits to perform alone such as “Ben”.

Eventually Michael broke off from his brothers to pursue a solo career. His debut solo effort was Off the Wall. Off the Wall was a breakthrough album for Michael and his new label, so much so, that his record label believed it was impossible for Michael to top, or even repeat, his success on his follow-up album.

Michael Jackson's Thriller

As the history books would show Jackson did just that with his 1982 release named Thriller. Thriller was the work between Michael and super-producer Quincy Jones. The video for the titled track shattered MTV’s color barriers and was the first of its kind in that it actually had a storyline to it.

The eighties for the most part, especially the early part, was amazing for Michael as he released several big hits and was named the ‘King of Pop’. He even introduced the world to the moonwalk, a dance he had created and perfected, at Motown’s 25th Anniversary televised show. The years ahead wouldn’t be so bright for Michael’s personal life and career however.

Marriage, Children and Molestation Accusations

Jackson married the daughter of music king Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1994. Many believed the marriage to be a show or put on by Jackson to end accusations that lingered that he was gay. Accusations of child molestation would soon around this time forever tarnish the King of Pop’s image, as well as several instances of bizarre behavior on Michael’s part.

The accuser took an out of court settlement leading some to suspicions about whether or not the accusations were true. Regardless though, the stigma of being attached to such accusations hurt Michael’s career badly. Jackson also remarried after this in ’96 to Debbie Rowe. Michael then became a father for the first time.

Invincible

Jackson became a favorite media punch line towards the end of his life. His final release was the critically overlooked Invincible CD project. Jackson reportedly felt snubbed by his longtime record label and felt they could have done more to help the CD succeed. Aside from that Jackson had other troubles.

Following a documentary about his life, with Martin Bashir, which aired in 2003, a young 13 year old, Gavin Arvizo, accused Michael of sexual abuse. This time Jackson would be taken to court with 9 different counts against him (7 of which were child molestation related). Michael would again escape the accusations being cleared of all 9 counts against him. Michael too became a father for the third time around this time to a child known as Blanket.

Death & Memorial

For many of Michael’s devoted fans, and even those who no longer were, tragedy struck the afternoon of June 25, 2009 when it was announced that Michael Jackson had passed away due to cardiac arrest. Michael was training and rehearsing for an upcoming comeback set of final performances which he himself had announced earlier in the spring of 2009. The tickets for these 50 scheduled performances sold out within hours, proving that Michael still had his place in the music industry as one of the top draws.

It was a somber, but also celebratory mood all day July 7, 2009, the day of Jackson’s memorial. The memorial took place at the Los Angeles Staple Center after a private service for his family at Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Hall of Liberty. Stars such as Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Jackson and Usher performed at the memorial. Smokey Robinson and others gave eulogies while others like Erving “Magic” Johnson and Brooke Shields spoke fondly of times they spent with Michael.

After several drugs were found in Jackson’s body by the coroner, police confirmed that they would be treating Michael’s death as a homicide. They are conducting investigations on his personal doctor Conrad Murray to date. September 3, 2009 at Forest Lawn Memorial in Glendale California Michael Jackson’s body was finally put to rest after much debate within his family as whether or not to lay him to rest at the Neverland Ranch.

Discography

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