Michael Jackson Biography (August 29 1958-June 25 2009) Eccentric superstar Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. Along with his eight siblings, Jackson grew up in a cramped, two bedroom house. His father, Joseph Jackson, worked in a steel mill, and performed in a local R&B band. Eventually he mobilized his sons into a band as well, called The Ripples and Waves. Before long, young Michael’s natural singing and dancing abilities brought him to the forefront, and the brothers began winning local talent competitions as The Ripples and Waves plus Michael, later called The Jackson Five.
The Jackson Five first caught the attention of Motown songstress Gladys Knight when they performed at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night. Knight then recommended the band of brothers to Motown Records founder, Berry Gordy, and within a year they were signed to the label. The Jackson Five quickly exploded into mainstream music when their first four singles, “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save,” and “I'll Be There” all became number one hits.
In 1979, twenty-one year old Jackson released his first solo album, Off the Wall. To Jackson ’s disappointment, the album received only one Grammy nomination. A few years later in 1982, Jackson made up for it when he took home eight Grammy’s for his next solo effort and the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. The album’s release coincided with, and has been credited in launching the birth of MTV and the music video. A combination of talent and timing turned Thriller into a pop culture juggernaut, selling over 50 million copies and spawning world-wide Michael-mania and mass-merchandising. Following the success of Thriller, a number of stories about Jackson began to appear in the tabloids, some of which he is rumored to have planted himself to enhance his enigmatic image. Among the most memorable are that he purchased the Elephant Man’s bones; that he slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber; and that he and sister, La Toya Jackson, were the same person.
Against Jackson’s hopes, his next album, Bad in 1987, did not surpass Thriller’s sales. By this time, the controversy surrounding Jackson’s eccentric behavior and ever-changing appearance had escalated, and was best summed-up in the headline of People magazine’s September 1987 cover: “He's Back. He's Bad. Is this Guy Weird or What?” Jackson’s next studio albums, HIStory in 1995 and Invincible in 2001 sold respectably; however, the sales standard set by Thriller continues to elude all of his subsequent releases.
In 1993, Jackson consented to a rare interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez, California. He revealed that he had been physically abused as a child by his father, and that he suffered a skin condition known as vitiligo, which causes skin to lose its pigmentation. The interview regenerated public interest in Jackson and elicited some empathy which would prove to be short-lived.
In the summer of 1993, news broke that Jackson had been accused of molesting a thirteen year old boy. No charges were pressed and Jackson agreed to a settlement which many felt was the most dangerous move of his career. In the aftermath of an apparent pay-off and with no formal trial, Jackson ’s image permanently suffered. His marriage to Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 was widely regarded as reputation damage control; however, Presley maintains today that she did love Jackson until their divorce in 1996.
In 1996, Jackson wed dermatological nurse, Debbie Rowe. The couple divorced in 1999, and Jackson retained sole custody of their two children, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., born February 13, 1997; and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, born April 3, 1998. To date is unkown where Jackson's third child, Prince Michael II. nick named, Blanket came from. The child is best known for having been dangled over the balcony at a Berlin hotel by Jackson himself.
During a 2003 interview with Martin Bashir, Jackson introduced cameras to his new baby, Prince Michael Jackson II, nicknamed “Blanket.” Jackson elicited a firestorm of controversy that same year when he held the baby over the balcony, to show fans below. Also during the Bashir interview, Jackson’s appearance holding hands with a young teen prompted a child abuse investigation and led to a high profile trial. In June 2005, Jackson was cleared of all charges and retreated to the Middle East, spending most of his time in Bahrain.
In addition to breaking records in terms of music, Jackson has also broken records in terms of charity. The Millennium Issue of the Guinness Book of Records names Jackson as the pop star who supports the most charity organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, and over thirty others.
In March 2009 a frenzy erupted when Michael Jackson flew to London, England, among rumours and speculation that he was about to announce a comeback tour.
By March 5th the self professed King of Pop was driven by a massive cavalcade to the O2 Arena in London to announce his This Is It come back concert dates, to a crowd of die-hard fans.
In a rare public appearance Jackson told the press conference that he will return to the stage for a 10-show run of concerts at the city’s O2 Arena. The performances will begin on July 8th 2009. Jackson told the London crowd that the shows will be his last ever in the British city, saying, ‘These will be my final shows in London. This is it and when I say this is it, I mean this is it. I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear. This is the final curtain call. I’ll see you in July. This is it."
Following an instant sell out of the 10 dates, the Jackson camp went on to announce the extension of the concert dates reaching into February 2010. The 10 dates alone were estimated to make the frail singer, approximately £50 million although several sources reported that Jackson’s health could be a problem for him and may cause cancellations.
Throughout the following months, several medical problems were reported relating to Michael's health including skin cancer and breathing problems.
But it was on June 25th 2009 that the most devistating news of all was flashed around the world. Michael Jackson had died.
At just 50 years of age Michael was found at his home in Los Angeles with a suspected heart attack and after an hour of attempted resuscitation, it was confirmed that the King of Pop had died.
With a relentless stream of news that followed, some false and some true accounts, the world waited as the Man in the Mirror went through an autopsy and funeral arrangements that would eventually result in the day his family would finally lay him to rest.
That day arrived more than two months later when the Jackson family held what they termed, 'a private' funeral for Michael. But as usual the world's press were in attendance.
With Elizabeth Taylor, MaCauley Culkin, Mila Kunis, Lisa Marie Presley, Rev Al Sharpton, Chris Tucker, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones in attendance, Jackson's parents, his three children and his siblings, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy and sisters LaToya and Janet Jackson all arrived more than an hour late.
Other stars not pictured at the cemetery were his close friends David Gest, his ex-wife Liza Minnelli, childhood friend and actress Brooke Shields, illusionist Uri Geller and the godfather of his children and Oliver star Mark Lester.
Michael's body was then entombed in Glendale, California at the Forest Lawns Cemetery, where his body was temporarily stored for the preceeding month. His death was officially ruled a homicide, caused by acute propofol intoxication which is alleged to have been administered by his personal doctor at the time of his death, Doctor Conrad Murray.
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