“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with” - Michael Jackson
(Michael Jackson)
Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, USA. In 1964 Jackson joined his family band with his brothers.
(Jackson as a young child)
In 1965 Jackson began sharing lead vocals with his older brother Jermaine. The band was named the “Jackson 5”.
(The Jackson 5 in 1965)
In 1966 the group won a major local talent show. From 1966 to 1968 the band toured the Midwest, frequently performing at a string of black clubs known as the "chitlin' circuit" as the opening act for artists such as Sam & Dave, the O'Jays, Gladys Knight, and Etta James. In 1967 the Jackson 5 won a weekly amateur night concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. In 1969 the group signed with Motown records.
(The Jackson 5 in 1969)
They then moved to Los Angeles, CA. In 1969 the group’s song “I Want You Back” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1970 the songs “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
(The Jackson 5 in 1970)
In 1971 the Jackson family moved to Encino, CA. In 1972 Jackson released his 1st solo album “Got to be There”. He also released “Ben”.
(Jackson in 1972)
In 1973 he released “Music & Me”. In 1974 the group released “Dancing Machine”.
(The Jackson 5 in 1974)
In 1975 Jackson released “Forever, Michael”. In 1975 the group signed with Epic records and changed their name to “The Jacksons”. Randy Jackson joined the group while Jermaine Jackson stayed with Motown. In 1978 Jackson starred in the movie The Wiz.
(Jackson in The Wiz(1978))
While making the movie Quincy Jones agreed to produce Jackson’s next album. In 1979 the group released the single “Shake Your Body”.
(The Jacksons in 1979)
Also in 1979 Jackson released “Off the Wall” which sold 20 million copies worldwide. The singles “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
(Jackson in 1979)
In 1980 the group released the singles “This Place Hotel” and “Can You Feel It”. Also in 1980 Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". He also won Billboard Year End awards for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album, and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
(Jackson in 1980)
In 1981 Jackson was the American Music Awards winner for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.
(Jackson (Left) and Diana Ross (Right) in 1981)
In 1982 Jackson wrote a song for E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. Jackson then released the album “Thriller” which sold over 110 million albums worldwide which made it the best selling album of all time which still hasn't been beat.
(Jackson in 1982)
The singles “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1983 Jackson released the music video for “Thriller” which revolutionized how music videos are made by making it into a short film.
(Jackson in his music video “Thriller”)
Jackson became the 1st Black artist to appear on MTV. Also in 1983 Jackson and his brothers performed at “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” where he debuted his 1st Moonwalk and toe stand.
(Jackson performing at “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever”)
Also in 1983 the Jacksons signed a deal with Pepsi to star in their commercials. During a filming of a commercial Jackson's hair caught fire and caused 2nd degree burns.
(Jackson after the incident)
This event caused Jackson to become addicted to painkillers. In 1984 the Jacksons released “Victory”.
(The Jacksons in 1984)
Also in 1984 Jackson won the most Grammys in 1 night for the album Thriller and its singles.
(Jackson (Left) and Quincy Jones (Right) at the 1984 Grammys)
Also in 1984 Jackson was rewarded for his humanitarianism by being invited to the White house.
(Jackson at the White House)
He toured for the last time with his brothers in the “Victory Tour”. Jackson also was diagnosed with Vitiligo in 1984. In 1985 Jackson won a Grammy for best music video. Also in 1985 Jackson co wrote the song “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie.
(Jackson (Left) and Lionel Richie (Right))
The song earned $63 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. Also in 1985 Jackson bought the rights to most of the Beatles songs. In 1986 the tabloids ran a false story claiming that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow the aging process. Also in 1986 Jackson got a pet chimpanzee.
(Jackson and Bubbles the Chimpanzee)
The tabloids gave him the insulting name of “Wacko Jacko”. Also in 1986 Jackson got his own theme park ride at Disneyland, Epcot, and Tokyo Disneyland called “Captain EO”.
(Jackson in “Captain EO”)
In 1987 Jackson released “Bad”.
(Jackson in 1987)
The singles “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror” and “Dirty Diana” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. This was a record for most number singles from 1 album. The album sold 45 million copies worldwide.
(Jackson (Right) and Wesley Snipes (Left) in the music video “Bad”)
In 1988 “Bad” was the best selling album of both 1987 and 1988. Also in 1988 Jackson started the “Bad” world tour. Jackson broke a Guinness World Record when 504,000 people attended seven sold out shows at Wembley Stadium.
(Jackson performing in 1987)
Also in 1988 Jackson released his autobiography Moonwalk. He then released the movie Moonwalker the same year.
(Jackson in Moonwalker(1988))
He also built Neverland ranch in 1988. That year Jackson was also dubbed the “King of Pop”. In 1989 Jackson won a grammy for best music video for the song “Leave Me Alone”.
(Jackson in the “Leave Me Alone” music video)
Also in 1989 he became the first Westerner to appear in a television ad in the Soviet Union. President George H. W. Bush designated him the White House's "Artist of the Decade. In 1990 Jackson donated a total of $455,000 to the United Negro College Fund. All profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity. In 1991 he released “Dangerous”.
(Jackson in 1991)
It sold 30 million copies. The single “Black or White” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Dangerous” was awarded best album of the year.
(Jackson in the “Black or White” music video)
In 1992 the Captain EO ride opened in Euro Disneyland. Also in 1992 Jackson founded the Heal the World Foundation. The “Dangerous” tour began in 1992. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in 70 concerts.
(Jackson in 1992)
In a trip to the Ivory Coast Jackson was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief.
(Jackson (Center) in the Ivory Coast)
In 1993 he performed the song “Remember the Time” at the Soul Train Music Awards in a chair, saying he had suffered an injury in rehearsals. Also in 1993 Jackson performed at the halftime show at Superbowl XXVII. It was the first Super Bowl whose half time performance drew greater audience figures than the game itself.
(Jackson at Superbowl XXVII)
Also in 1993 Jackson was given the "Living Legend Award" at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards. Also in 1993 in a plot to get money from Jackson a man and his 13 year old son accused Jackson of child molestation. The case against Jackson was thrown out due to no evidence against Jackson. In 1994 Jackson produced the soundtrack to the video game “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”. Also in 1994 Jackson got married to Lisa Marie Presley in the Dominican Republic. In 1995 Jackson owned half of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
(Jackson in 1995)
He then released “History: Past, Present, Future”. It sold 40 million copies. The single “You Are Not Alone” holds the Guinness World Record for the first song ever to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
(Jackson in the “You Are Not Alone” music video)
The single “They Don’t Care About Us” became controversial when the Anti Defamation League and other groups criticized its allegedly anti semitic lyrics.
(Jackson in the “They Don’t Care About Us” music video)
In 1996 Jackson won a Grammy for Best Music Video Short Form for "Scream".
(Jackson (Right) and his sister Janet Jackson (Left) in the “Scream” music video)
Also in 1996 Jackson began the “History” tour. It became Jackson's most successful tour in terms of audience figures. In 1997 he released “Blood on the Dancefloor”. It sold 6 million copies.
(Jackson in 1997)
In 1999 Jackson was involved in a number of charitable events. In 2000 Jackson won an American Music Award as Artist of the 1980s. In 2001 he released “Invincible”. It sold 13 million copies.
(Jackson in 2001)
Also in 2001 two 30th Anniversary concerts were held at Madison Square Garden to mark Jackson's 30th year as a solo artist.
(Jackson performing in 2001)
In 2002 Jackson accused Sony’s chairman as a racist who did not support his African American artists, using them merely for his own personal gain. Also in 2002 Michael Jackson won his 22nd American Music Award for Artist of the Century. In 2003 Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation.
(Jackson being summoned to court)
The trial began in 2005. Jackson was acquitted of all charges.
(Jackson in 2005 after being acquitted of all charges)
In 2006 Jackson closed down Neverland ranch. Also in 2006 Jackson accepted a Diamond Award for selling over 100 million records. He then attended James Brown’s funeral and read the eulogy.
(Jackson (Front), Jesse Jackson (Left) and Rev. Al Sharpton (Right) at James Brown’s funeral)
In 2009 Jackson held a press conference at London's O2 Arena to announce a series of comeback tour titled “This Is It”.
(Jackson in 2009)
On June 25th, 2009 Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest due to being given too much of a prescription drug by his doctor while in a hospital in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was 50 years old.
(Jackson’s funeral)
Today is his 58th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Michael Jackson.
Albums by Michael Jackson
“Got to be There” (1972)
“Ben” (1972)
“Music & Me” (1973)
“Forever, Michael” (1975)
“Off the Wall” (1979)
“Thriller” (1982)
“Bad” (1987)
“Dangerous” (1991)
“History: Past, Present, Future” (1995)
“Blood on the Dancefloor” (1997)
“Invincible” (2001)
Films starring Michael Jackson
The Wiz (1978) as Scarecrow
Moonwalker (1988) as himself
Men in Black 2 (2002) as Agent M
Miss Castaway and the Island Girls (2004) as Agent M.J.
Videos of Michael Jackson
(Fred Hampton)
(Hampton in 1967)
(Hampton in 1968)
(Hampton in 1969)
(Hampton’s Funeral)