by Sarah Huth

Created on: May 27, 2008   Last Updated: July 19, 2009

They say that there is no bad publicity; that any media news coverage is good coverage. When it comes to Michael Jackson, one most wonder if this saying really is true. There is no doubt that Jackson is an amazingly talented performer; he has won a total of thirteen Grammys and was actually inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame twice. However, Jackson's bizarre personal life has often times seemed to overshadow his career in recent years. From baby-dangling to child molestation charges, among other things, "Wacko-Jacko" started to become known more as a weirdo than a talented musician. People may say what they will, but no one can argue against the fact that Michael Jackson is one of the biggest pop culture icons in the world; for better or for worse.

Jackson was born on August 29th, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the seventh of nine children, with five brothers (Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy, and Jackie) and three sisters (Janet, La Toya, and Rebbie). He and his brothers would later go on to form the Jackson 5, a step which catapulted Michael into the spotlight at a very young age. His father, Joeseph, worked at a steel mill and performed in a R&B group with his brother, Luther. He is also well known for being extremely strict during Michael's childhood, and was said to often times hit his children in order to punish them. His mother, Katherine, was a Jehovah's Witness, and she raised Michael and his siblings in the religion.

Music was a powerful force in the Jackson family. As mentioned, Joseph played in a R&B group with Michael's uncle, and Michael's brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine had formed a band called the "Jackson Brothers" when Michael was still very young. Michael showed musical talent early on in his life, and soon he and brother Marlon joined the "Jackson Brothers" as well, both playing backup on the congas and tambourine. Soon Micheal began singing backup vocals, and at the age of eight he and Jermaine became the lead vocalists. The group's name was changed to "The Jackson 5", and they signed with the national label Motown Records in 1968. It became clear from the start that Michael was the most talented of the five, and he soon emerged as their star performer. They began playing professional shows around 1966 after doing a tour of Indiana, and often opened for adult performances, including stripteases.

History would soon be made when the first four singles that the group released ("ABC", "The Love You Save", "I Want You Back",

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