Michael Jackson is unquestionably the greatest entertainer. With his talented vocals and precise, technical, flawless dance moves he has became the most famous musical artist of all time. Michael Jackson's music has broken all barriers on a racial, social, and generation level. People of all ages, races, and walks of life have come to appreciate his music, thus making Michael Jackson's release, "Thriller", the all time selling album in music history.
Michael Jackson's beginnings were humble. Michael was born in Gary, Indiana on August 28, 1958. Being the seventh child of nine in a two bedroom house was anything but glamorous for Michael. Michael's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson worked hard to make ends meet. Joe worked in the steel factory while Katherine worked at Sear's while the children did chores around the house. Michael Jackson showcased his talent for the first time singing "Climb Every Mountain" when he was in Garnett Elementary School. Michael not only received a standing ovation, but reduced half of the teaching calls to tears. Shortly, Joe Jackson, who was managing his sons career begin placing them in talent shows. Together, Michael's brothers, Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, and him became "The Jackson 5". With their professional playing, singing, and dancing, they where winning one talent show after another.
In 1967, The Jackson 5 met Gladys Knight and the Pips and opened up for them at Chicago's Regal Theater. Soon after, The Jackson 5 did a performance at the famous theater in New York, "The Apollo" on amateur night, and received a standing ovation.
On July 28, 1968, Michael, and his brothers auditioned for the record label Motown, and were signed onto the label shortly after.
Throughout the 1970's, The Jackson 5 were extremely popular with stream of hits that dominated the radio stations such as "ABC", "I'll Be There", "Dancing Machine", "Blame It On The Boogie", etc. along with Michael Jackson releasing singles here and there like "Ben" and "One Day In Your Life".
By 1979, Michael Jackson decided to embark on his first solo album and released "Off The Wall". Off The Wall generated modest hits like "Rock with You", "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", "She's out Of My Life", and the title track to the album "Off The Wall".
In 1982, Michael Jackson purchased the ATV catalog for 47.5 million giving him copyright ownership of "The Beatles" catalog and released "Thriller", his second solo album that would perch him to the top. On May 16, 1983, Michael Jackson performed for Motown's 25th Anniversary, "Yesterday, Today, and Forever". Fifty million viewers tuned in as they watch Michael Jackson dance, doing his moonwalk routine, while wearing his sequined one hand glove. With MTV airing Michael Jackson's videos, along with radio stations playing a steady stream of number one hits like "Billie Jean", Thriller", "Beat it", The Girl Is Mine", "P.Y.T.", and "Human Nature", he dominated the music industry and became the most popular entertainer ever. Michael Jackson's innovative videos, well crafted fashionable sense, and a sequined glove that he wore on one hand while doing his trademark dance routine "the moonwalk" became popular among the youths and they imitated Michael's dance moves and wore the same clothes as they saw in the videos. Thriller was perched at number one for thirty seven weeks, sold fifty million copies that made Thriller the biggest selling all time record that landed Michael Jackson in "The Guinness Book of World Records". Michael Jackson received eight Grammy Awards for Thriller being album of the year along with the hits and videos that received their individual recognition. In 1985, Michael Jackson wrote the biggest famine relief song "We Are the World".
Throughout the rest of the 1980's and early 1990's, Michael Jackson would continue to maintain his popularity with his music and videos, but the tabloids would aggressively publish his antics and bizarre behaviour such as him sleeping in the hyperbaric chamber, receiving plastic surgery continuously to alter his skin colour, nose, to eradicate every trait of his African American culture, and the alleged purchase of the Elephant Man's bones. Michael Jackson was always featured on the front page of the world's most prolific tabloids and that the public began to see him as weird and bizarre. Michael Jackson still received various awards and recognition for his humanitarian efforts and major endorsements of top of the line products and he continued to create innovative videos with cameo appearances from famous actors, athletes, and models.
By 1993, Allegations of child molestation would stamp out Michael Jackson's popularity.
By 1995, not even the album "History" would bring Michael back to same level of success as achieved in the previous decade.
By the later 1990's and early 20th century, Michael Jackson had gone from famous to infamous due to his bizarre behaviour. Michael Jackson, at that point, was more famous for his bizarre behaviour than for his creative talents and humanitarian efforts.
By 2003, Michael Jackson's career and popularity spiraled down due to another court case of sexual abuse to a minor.
In 2004, Michael Jackson was found not guilty on all counts, but this however, will result in the demise of Michael's career and popularity.
Michael Jackson's Discography
"The King of Pop", Michael Jackson has been around for three decades offering some of the best music that many fans from around the world has ever heard. Michael Jackson's music is appreciated from people of all ages, race, and background. His music has defied the boundaries of all barriers ranging from rock to pop to soul. Starting his career with his brothers "The Jackson 5", Michael Jackson was carefully developing his craft and style for the world to appreciate him as a solo artist. Michael Jackson recorded a few albums in the early 1970's that served to be a taste of what he would offer to his loyal fans in years to come. Finally in 1979, Michael Jackson embarked on his full fledged solo career. Bringing every skill and talent on the table that Michael Jackson had with The Jackson 5, he uses it to generate a more skillfully crafted Michael with music that is more mature and in depth. Michael Jackson has set forth a path that many artists follow that are inspired and influenced by the king of pop. Michael Jackson has made music that serves as a template to be a standard of extraordinary music to be enjoyed forever!
1971 GOT TO BE THERE
1972 BEN
1973 MUSIC AND ME
1975 FOREVER, MICHAEL
1979 OFF THE WALL
1982 THRILLER
1987 BAD
1991 DANGEROUS
1995 HISTORY
1997 BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR
2001 INVINCIBLE