by Elizabeth A. Marion

Created on: July 12, 2009

Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley both had very successful careers in the music industry and did things that had never been done before. They both pushed the limits, took risks, tried to change things and still be true to themselves. Both became icons and were appropriately named Kings in the music industry.

Elvis Presley lived in Memphis, Tennessee and began his career at nineteen. When auditioning to make a demo he only performed parts of a few songs because he didn't know the full songs. His singing made him popular locally and people would gather outside his home to listen to him sing, and he became a star nationally when he first performed on television. He immediately gained an immense following. Everything about him, from his voice to his fashion to his dancing, was different from anything people had seen from performers before Elvis. Even though he was removed from the music scene for two years because he was drafted into the army, his career was not harmed by his absence. People were just as crazy about him when he returned to America and he continued making hits. He also starred in a string of movies, paid one hundred thousand or more for each of his roles. He died in 1977 at the age of forty-three. The autopsy revealed that fourteen different drugs were in Elvis' bloodstream at the time of his death. It has been estimated that he made approximately four and half billion dollars in his lifetime.

Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana and began his career at seven when he and his brothers started a group that became known across America as the Jackson 5. After the Jackson 5 had split up Michael agreed to do a reunion performance at a show that was honoring Motown's biggest stars. During the show he had the opportunity to give his first solo performance of a song called Billie Jean. After the performance it was obvious that Michael could have a successful career without his brothers. He, like Elvis, had many hits, although he did not star in any movies. He was extremely popular and experienced most of his success throughout the 80s and the early 90s. His more recent albums have not been as successful or produced as many hits. He has, however, broken records, including winning eight grammies in one night, which is more than any other artist to date. He died on June 25, 2009. Tests are still being done to find out what killed him, though it was probably his addiction to prescription drugs that led to his cardiac arrest. He died approximately five hundred million dollars in debt. However, the increased amount of sales of his music and sudden demand for all things Michael Jackson is expected to bring in more than enough money to pay off those debts.

Both of these men were icons and both were very talented, but Michael Jackson was the one who really changed the music industry. With his hit Thriller, he created an intense music video that changed the way people viewed music videos. And his incredible dance moves were much more sophisticated that Mr. Presley's. He probably made more money than Elvis, though I could not find an estimate of his earnings, he spent more than he made. Even so, the changes he made in the music industry are still affecting us today. While I enjoy listening to some of Elvis' songs, Elvis was more of a fad. Michael is a legend and there will never be another King of Pop.

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