Date of Birth
29 August 1958,
Gary, Indiana, USA
Date of Death
25 June 2009, Los Angeles, California, USA (homicide)
Birth Name
Michael Joseph Jackson
Nickname
The Gloved One
Wacko Jacko
Jacko
King Of Pop
MJ
Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)
Mini Biography
American superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958, and entertained audiences nearly his entire life. His father,
Joe Jackson, had been a guitarist but was forced to give up his musical ambitions following his marriage to Katherine (Scruse). Together they prodded their growing family's musical interests at home. By the early 1960s, the older boys Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964, Michael and Marlon had joined in.
A musical prodigy, Michael's singing and dancing talents were amazingly mature, and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of The
Jackson 5. An opening act for such soul groups as the O-Jays and
James Brown, it was
Gladys Knight (not
Diana Ross) who officially brought the group to
Berry Gordy's attention, and by 1969, the boys were producing back-to-back chart-busting hits as Motown artists ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Got to Be There," etc.). As a product of the 1970s, the boys emerged as one of the most accomplished black pop/soul vocal groups in music history, successfully evolving from a group like
The Temptations to a disco phenomenon.
Solo success for Michael was inevitable, and by the 1980s, he had become infinitely more popular than his brotherly group. Record sales consistently orbited, culminating in the biggest-selling album of all time, "Thriller" in 1982. A TV natural, he ventured rather uneasily into films, such as playing the Scarecrow in
The Wiz (1978), but had much better luck with elaborate music videos.
In the 1990s, the downside as an 1980s pop phenomenon began to rear itself. Michael grew terribly child-like and introverted by his peerless celebrity. A rather timorous, androgynous figure to begin with, his physical appearance began to change drastically, and his behavior grew alarmingly bizarre, making him a consistent target for scandal-making, despite his numerous charitable acts. Two brief marriages -- one to
Elvis Presley's daughter
Lisa Marie Presley -- were forged and two children produced by his second wife during that time, but the purposes behind them appeared image-oriented. Despite it all, Michael Jackson's passion and artistry as a singer, dancer, writer and businessman are unparalleled, and it is these prodigious talents that will ultimately prevail over the extremely negative aspects of his seriously troubled adult life.
For it all to end on June 25, 2009, with his sudden death at age 50 of a drug-induced cardiac arrest, just as he was coming out of a four-year reclusive period and rehearsing for a sold-out London concert "
comeback" in July, seems uncommonly cruel and tragic. Millions upon millions of dedicated fans will remember where they were "the day Michael died".
Spouse
Trade Mark
The Moonwalk.
Single sequined white glove.
He always wears white socks with black shoes.
Often wore a black hat and a jacket with a ribbon around one sleeve.
Trivia
Through his "Heal the World" Foundation, Jackson spearheaded airlifts of food and medical supplies to war-torn Sarajevo, instituted mentoring, immunization and drug-abuse education programs and paid for a Hungarian child's liver transplant.
Second child, with
Debbie Rowe, daughter Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, is born. [3 April 1998]
Wife,
Debbie Rowe, gave birth to a son in Beverly Hills, named Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. [13 February 1997]
Married
Lisa Marie Presley in La Vega, Dominican Republic, by Judge Hugo Francisco Alvarez Perez. Witnesses present were Thomas Keough and Eve Darling (Lisa Marie's ex-brother-in-law and his wife, ex-sister-in-law). [26 May 1994]
Shares with
Carlos Santana the record for most Grammys won in one year, with eight.
First solo artist to generate four top ten hits on the Billboard charts on one album with "Off the Wall."
First artist to generate seven top ten hits (USA) on one album with "Thriller."
Only artist in history to generate five #1 hits (USA) from one album with "Bad."
With
Lionel Richie, co-wrote the song "We Are the World," and was one of its performers.
His 1982 album "Thriller" is the biggest selling album of all time, with confirmed sales of over 47 million, and over an estimated 100 million copies worldwide.
His 1991 album "Dangerous" is second to "Thriller" as the biggest selling album of all time, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.
His 1987 album "BAD" is third to "Thriller" as the biggest selling album of all time, with 20 million copies sold worldwide.
Copied his moon walk after mime
Marcel Marceau in "walk-against-the- wind" pantomime techniques.
Wrote and recorded a song called "On the Line", produced by 'Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds' , for the film
Get on the Bus (1996) that was not included on the soundtrack for the film.
The name of his 2700-acre ranch near Santa Ynez, California, is Neverland Valley Ranch. It contains Jackson's house, an amusement park co-designed by
Macaulay Culkin, a private theater and dance stage, and exotic animals.
He is being sued by two former financial advisors for $25 million over alleged unpaid expenses. Jackson denies owing them anything. [9 September 2001]
Had a skin disease called vitiligo.
Was a Jehovah's Witness.
His estate contains a child's mini coaster, Zipper, Bumper cars, Merry go round, octopus, Giant slide and rocking dragon.. There is also a full size basketball court, water wars section (for water gun fights) 2 Trains, (one steam train) and a zoo where he has various exotic animals including elephants, giraffes, alligators, a tiger and even an Anaconda.
He does not own the right to the entire Beatles catalogue. For example, the family of the late
George Harrison own songs he wrote, including "Something," and Sony music owns 50% of the catalogue after Jackson sold it to them because he needed the money.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 (as a solo artist).
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 (as a member of the
Jackson 5).
Jackson shocked his fans when he dangled his third child, infant
Prince Michael II, over a balcony on the fourth floor of a Berlin, Germany hotel for all hovering fans to see. He later stated that he made "a terrible mistake.". [November 2002]
Starting with
Black or White (1991) (V), Jackson and his record company refer to his music videos, before or since, as "short films," never "videos".
He and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, sued jet charter company XtraJet for invasion of privacy. The firm allegedly installed hidden cameras to tape the two's confidential attorney-client conversations. A California judge has barred the firm from releasing or selling any footage it may have obtained. [25 November 2003]
In 2002 had planned to produce and star in the movie "The Nightmares of Edgar Allan Poe", about the last years of writer
Edgar Allan Poe. He was to star as the famed 19th century author (who was Caucasian), and had written music for the film as well.
For a charity event held at the Neverland Ranch in September 2003, for the first time ever, he invited an artist from the outside to perform there. It was
Yannick Harrison, also known as Jay Kid, from Denmark that performed a number of his interpretations of Michael Jackson songs for the specially invited guests.
Has sold over 750 million albums worldwide.
Was present at the private funeral service for
Maurice Gibb.
He was voted the 35th Greatest Artist of all time in Rock 'n' Roll by Rolling Stone.
His favorite
The Beatles'' song is "Come Together" - his version of the song is on "History - Past, Present and Future.".
Was found not guilty on ten counts of child molestation on 13 June 2005 due to lack of evidence.
Ranked #11 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars" with his brothers as the
Jackson 5.
Tatum O'Neal, was Jackson's first girlfriend and allegedly his first real love. However, she denied this in her book, saying that he only kissed.
His hit song "Bad" from 1987 was initially supposed to be a duet with fellow 80's superstar Prince. Prince said in an interview that he did not wish to sing the line "Your butt is mine".
President
Ronald Reagan wanted to award a special White House medal to Jackson,
Bob Hope and the late
John Wayne in 1984. However, future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts advised against the proposal, saying the award was too much for a pop singer.
Received a Presidential Humanitarian Award from President
Ronald Reagan at the White House in May 1984, in recognition of Jackson's contribution to the government's campaign against drunk driving. "Beat It" was used in television advertisements.
Addressed the Oxford Union on the subject of child welfare and his new initiative "Heal the Kids". (6 March 2001)
Was asked to write and perform the songs for
Batman (1989), but had to turn it down due to his concert commitments.
In January 2000 Jackson announced he was considering retiring from the music industry, citing his weariness at publicity as a reason.
In 1997, Jackson released an album of new material coupled with remixes of hit singles from the "HIStory" album titled "Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix". He dedicated the album to his friend Sir
Elton John, who had helped him through his addiction to prescribed painkillers. It went on to sell 6 million copies worldwide, making it the biggest selling remix album of all time.
His album "HIStory: Past, Present and Future - Book I" has sold 16 million copies worldwide since its release in 1995, making it the biggest selling multiple-disc album of all time.
His 2001 album "Invincible" sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
In January 1993 Jackson performed during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII. It drew the largest viewing audience in the history of American television.
In a move named by Jackson's advisers as "refinancing," it was announced in April 2006 that Jackson had struck a deal with Sony and Fortress investments. In the deal Sony may be allowed to take control of half of Jackson's 50% stake in Sony/ ATV Music Publishing (worth an estimated $1 billion) which Jackson co-owns. Jackson would be left with 25% of the catalog, with the rest belonging to Sony. In exchange, Sony negotiated with a loans company on behalf of Jackson. Jackson's $200m in loans were due in December 2005 and were secured on the catalog. Jackson failed to pay and the Bank of America sold them to Fortress investments, a company dealing in distressed loans. However, Jackson hasn't as yet sold any of the remainder of his stake. The possible purchase by Sony of 25% of Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a conditional option; it is assumed the singer will try to avoid having to sell part of the catalog of songs including material by other artists such as 'Bob Dylan' and
Destiny's Child. As another part of the deal Jackson was given a new $300 million loan, and a lower interest rate on the old loan to match the original Bank of America rate. When the loan was sold to Fortress investments they increased the interest rate to 20%.
Winner of the Brit Award for International Male in 1989.
Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for International Solo Artist in 1988.
Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for International Solo Artist in 1984.
Was a frequent guest at the infamous "Studio 54"
On 27 May 2006, Jackson accepted a Legend Award at MTV Japan's VMA Awards in Tokyo. It was his first public appearance since being found not guilty in his child molestation trial almost a year earlier. The award was honoring his influence and impact in music videos over the past 25 years.
Despite a number of surgeons' claims that Jackson has undergone multiple nasal surgeries as well as a forehead lift, thinned lips and cheekbone surgery, Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography "Moon Walk" that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin, while attributing puberty and diet to the noticeable change in the structure of his face.
Jackson hired film director
Martin Scorsese to direct the video for the "Bad" album's title track. When the 18-minute music video debuted on television, it sparked a great deal of controversy as it was apparent that Jackson's appearance had changed dramatically. Although Jackson's skin color had been a medium- brown color for the entire duration of his youth, his skin had gradually become paler since 1982, and had now become a light brown color. This was now so noticeable that the entire press took out widespread coverage on it and claimed that Jackson had bleached his own skin. In 1993 Jackson claimed that his changing skin color is due to a skin disorder vitiligo whilst on
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986).
Performed at the ball for President
Bill Clinton's first inauguration on 20 January 1993.
"Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection", his third greatest hits package in less than ten years, sold 250,000 copies worldwide following its release in October 2004.
"The Essential Michael Jackson", another greatest hits package, debuted at a surprisingly high Number 2 on the UK charts and sold 200,000 copies within five months. In the United States it only reached Number 96 and soon disappeared.
Recorded an anti-war song about the US invasion of Iraq, "We've Had Enough", which was included on his greatest hits package "Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection".
His greatest hits compilation "Michael Jackson: Number Ones" sold 6 million copies worldwide following its release in November 2003, peaking at Number 1 in most countries except the United States. It had been planned at the last minute after "Resurrection", a follow-up to his 2001 album "Invincible", was canceled.
Fortress Investment Group foreclosed and took possession of Jackson's half- interest in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing company, estimated to be worth $1 billion, as well as the entire MiJac Music Publishing company. (December 2005)
Promotional videos of his songs directed by, among others,
John Landis and
John Singleton have cost more than some motion pictures.
Announced his intention to record a charity single dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina entitled, "I Have This Dream".
Ciara,
Snoop Dogg,
R. Kelly,
Keyshia Cole,
James Ingram, Michael Jackson's brother
Jermaine Jackson,
Shanice, the
Shirley Caesar and
The O'Jays all supposedly lent their voices to the charity song. At the time, Jackson's spokesperson, Raymone K. Bain, said the list of performers included
Mary J. Blige,
Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott,
Jay-Z,
James Brown and
Lenny Kravitz. All of these artists later appeared to be no longer participating. The Katrina Charity Single remains unreleased.
He was a close friend of the former child star
Mark Lester. Lester is godfather to Jackson's children. Although the two had not spoken for several years before his death.
He was never related to
Elvis Presley by marriage since Presley died many years before his marriage to Lisa Marie.
Is spoofed in
Eminem's music video "Just Lose It".
Jackson was fired from Two Seas Records, with whom he had signed a recording contract in April 2006 for one album. The album had been set for a fall 2007 release. (September 2006)
California state authorities ordered Jackson to close the Neverland Ranch and fined him more than $100,000 for failing to pay the staff there or maintain proper insurance. (March 2006).
When Jackson performed in England in 1982, he asked to meet former actor
Mark Lester. "He wanted to meet someone who had a similar background, a child star," Lester said. The result was a lifelong friendship.
Presented with an "Artist of the decade" award by
Elizabeth Taylor in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul".
Ordered to pay
Debbie Rowe $60,000 for legal fees in their battle for custody over of their two children. Los Angeles Judge Robert Schnider gave Jackson until 28 September to obey the order. Rowe had asked for $195,000, but the judge noted that she had received eight million dollars in the divorce. (6 September 2006).
In October 2002 it was revealed by various international banks that Jackson was in financial debt into the tens of millions of dollars due to various unpaid loans.
Some of his favorite pastimes were water balloon fights and climbing trees. He wrote several songs sitting in his favorite tree at Neverland, which he called Giving Tree, because it was so inspiring.
Did not tour America after the BAD tour in 1987.
Received a Special Award for a Generation at the Brit Awards in 1996.
Received the World Music Award for world's best-selling album of all time, "Thriller", at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, on 8 May 1996.
Received the Diamond Award for selling more than 100 million albums at the World Music Awards in London on 15 November 2006.
Ended more than a year of speculation by buying the British music publishing company ATV Music for a reported £34 million ($50 million) in August 1985. The company owned 40,000 songs, including the Northern Songs catalog which contained all The Beatles songs up to their Apple Days. Jackson outbid Coca-Cola, EMI, CBS (who thereafter looked after the catalog for Jackson) and a very disappointed
Paul McCartney, who had originally tried to buy Northern Songs for £21 million ($35 million) in 1981 and then later - again unsuccessfully - in conjunction with
Yoko Ono.
1st May 2001: His video for "Thriller" was voted at #1 by VH1 on their countdown of the Top 100 Greatest Videos Of All Time. At #2 was "Like A Prayer" by
Madonna.
Won a poll of superstars to have his image on a stamp issued by the Virgin Islands in July 1985. He asked that the Virgin Islands donated all revenue (the stamps were priced between 60 cents and $1.50) to welfare and education.
Disappointed his fans by singing a few lines from "We Are the World", accompanied by a children's choir, after he had been rumored to perform his 1982 hit "Thriller" as a triumphant comeback at the World Music Awards at Earls Court, London. Jackson left the stage to audible boos from the audience - some of his fans had paid up to £500 a ticket to see him perform. (15 November 2006).
Held his first live concert in four years at Madison Square Garden, New York, in early September 2001. He was paid £10 million for two concerts.
Originally intended to begin his solo career when he turned eighteen in 1976, but financial problems forced him to remain with the Jackson Five, renaming themselves The Jacksons for legals reasons, until 1979.
While Jackson has claimed 104 million sales for his 1982 album "Thriller", the Guinness Book of World Records has put the figure at 51 million copies sold as of 2006.
A $10 million lawsuit filed by Jackson was dismissed by a US judge. The lawsuit was filed against a man from New Jersey who was allegedly in possession of items and memorabilia that Jackson claims were stolen. (14 January 2006).
It is clear in the opinion of a number of plastic surgeons that Jackson has undergone extensive plastic surgery and it may be said that he is hardly recognizable as the same person he was as an adolescent, but the effectiveness of his cosmetic surgery has been hotly debated.
He was the highest earning singer of 1988-1989, with $125 million from his worldwide "BAD" album tour.
Honored by CBS as the "top selling act of the Eighties" in March 1990.
Jackson was seen by a record 500,000 people during his seven day stand at Wembley Stadium in July 1988.
Moonwalker (1988) was certified as the all-time top selling music video in March 1989.
Attended
James Brown's funeral in Augusta, Georgia. (30 December 2006).
Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. [11 November 2004]
He returned to live in the United States on 24 December 2006, setting up residence in Las Vegas.
On 13 June 2003, the day after his neighbor and friend of 25 years
Gregory Peck died, Jackson went to Peck's house to help his widow plan the memorial service. Peck had once publicly praised the singer as a model parent.
The music video for his song "Thriller" was with 13 minutes the longest music video ever, until this record was broken by
Mike Skinner with the video for the song "When You Wasn't Famous".
Jackson greeted thousands of US troops in a US army base south of Tokyo on 10 March 2007. About 3,000 troops and their family members gathered in a fitness center at Camp Zama. Jackson, after shaking hands with and thanking the troops personally for their service, spoke to the crowd gathered, saying, "Those of you in here today are some of the most special people in the world. It is because of you in here today, and others who so valiantly have given their lives to protect us, that we enjoy our freedom." Jackson also attended a ceremony at the camp for an army member being promoted and put a pin on his uniform.
At his peak, Jackson was reportedly worth around $1 Billion.
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
His 1979 debut solo album "Off the Wall" has sold around 20 million copies worldwide.
His 2001 album "Invincible" was his first full album of new material for ten years, since 1991's "Dangerous".
Fell out with
Quincy Jones after the producer cut half the songs from his 1987 album "BAD". In a 2006 interview with "The Daily Telegraph" newspaper, Jones admitted he had not spoken to Jackson for years.
Diagnosed with lupus in 1984.
Claimed to have given $300 million to charity, more than any other celebrity apart from
Oprah Winfrey.
Attended the funeral of his close friend
Ryan White in April 1990.
Longtime supporter of AIDS research,and over 32 more charities.
In the early 1970s while still very young and a member of the
Jackson 5, appeared on
"The Dating Game" (1965). Roles were reversed; Michael asked questions and picked a date from three eligible "bachelorettes".
Is a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
A special 25th anniversary edition of his 1982 album "Thriller", entitled "Thriller 25", sold an estimated 3 million copies worldwide.
Upon his death, many fans left remembrances at the Hollywood star, located at 1541 Vine Street, awarded to a long time radio talk show host also named Michael Jackson. Upon hearing of this, the radio commentator said, "I am willingly loan it to him and, if it would bring him back, he can have it. He was a real star. Sinatra, Presley, The Beatles and Michael Jackson.".
The Jacksons were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
Made an out-of-court settlement with the family of 13-year-old
Jordie Chandler for an estimated $25 million in January 1994 following allegations of sexual abuse against children.
Owed an estimated $435 million in debts at the time of his death.
At the time of his death Jackson was living in a rented mansion once owned by the actor Sir
Sean Connery in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.
His favorite movie as a child and teenager was
Oliver! (1968).
Celebrities provided varied comments after Jackson's sudden death.
Madonna and
Diana Ross released statements saying they could not stop crying. Jackson's former wife,
Lisa Marie Presley, said the singer had told her he was afraid he would end up like
Elvis Presley, her father.
Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, "can't imagine life without him."
Liza Minnelli told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now."
Jamie Foxx, stated: "We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everybody else.".
Following his death, U.S. President
Barack Obama sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family, and during a press conference the Press Secretary
Robert Gibbs said that President Obama viewed Jackson as a "spectacular performer, and a music icon". In Congress, Representatives
Diane Watson and
Jesse Jackson Jr. asked members to observe a moment of silence.
MTV and BET began airing his music videos, and ran two news specials, until 8 p.m. EDT the following day of his death.
The news of his death spread quickly online, causing websites to crash and slow down from user overload. Both TMZ and the Los Angeles Times, two websites that were the first to confirm the news, suffered outages.
His death triggered an outpouring of grief. Fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center, his Holmby Hills home, the Apollo Theater in New York, and at Hitsville U.S.A., the old Motown headquarters in Detroit where his career began, now the Motown Museum. Streets around the hospital were blocked off, and across America people left offices and factories to watch the breaking news on television.
An Amazon spokesperson said that the website sold out of all of his CDs, and those of the
Jackson 5, within minutes of the news of his death breaking.
He had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010, which he implied during a press conference would have been the final concerts of his career. Unfortunately he passed away before he could perform any of these shows. His rehearsals for the tour were documented in
This Is It (2009).
On the day of Jackson's death, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics received a 911 call at 12:21 pm (19:21 UTC), and arrived three minutes and seventeen seconds later, at which point Jackson was reportedly not breathing. The recording of the emergency call was released by the LAFD on June 27, 2009. Paramedics are reported to have wanted to pronounce him dead at the scene, but a doctor insisted he be taken to a hospital. CPR was performed on the way to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where they arrived at 1:14 pm (20:14 UTC), and continued for an hour. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm (21:26 UTC).
Following the week of his death, his album sales collectively spiked over 2000%.
The Staples Center Michael Jackson memorial service non-performing VIP attendees included
Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs,
Larry King,
Barbara Walters,
Jaleel White, 'Kimberly 'Lil' Kim' Jones' ,
Spike Lee,
Don King,
Vicki Roberts,
Nicole Richie,
Dionne Warwick,
Kim Kardashian, and
Kris Jenner.
Music website Amazon sold as many Jackson albums in the 24 hours after his death as in the previous 11 years.
His gold coffin seen at his memorial is a rare design called the Promethean. It cost $25,000 and is made of solid bronze but is 14-carat gold-plated with a hand-polished mirror finish and lined with velvet. It is identical to the coffin used to bury
James Brown in 2006 - which may have inspired Jackson after he saw it when Brown lay in state.
His memorial service from the Staples Center on Tuesday, July 7th 2009 brought the Internet's second largest day ever in terms of total traffic.
In the 1980s, Jackson and
Queen lead singer
Freddie Mercury became close friends and recorded three songs together - "Victory", "State of Shock" (later recorded by
Mick Jagger) and "There Must Be More To Life Than This". All are demos and have never been officially released.
Spent his last days at a rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles. The property was once owned by
Sean Connery.
An
Andy Warhol head-and-shoulders portrait of Jackson made the cover of Time magazine on March 19, 1984.
He died on the same day as
Farrah Fawcett. Both were in California at the time. She died at 9:28 a.m PDT, he was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. after hours of unsuccessful resuscitation.
It is estimated that
Michael Jackson's earnings in the six months following his death on June 25 2009 will top the entire $149 million (£90 million) made by
Jimi Hendrix since he passed away in 1970.
Two months after his death, just before what would be his 51st birthday, and the day of his burial, his Number Ones album surpassed Taylor Swift's highly successful album Fearless as the best selling album of 2009 at that point.
He had a long standing relationship with Cherokee Studios, reaching back to his days with the Jackson 5. It was during an early Jackson 5 recording session at Cherokee that Shelley Berger, longtime Motown Manager, first realized his talent, telling Rolling Stone Magazine he would be "the new Sammy Davis." Later, he came back to Cherokee to record his multi platinum breakout solo Album Off the Wall. His relationship with Cherokee continued throughout his solo career, culminating in the recording of what went on to become the best selling album of all time, Thriller (109 million albums sold worldwide).
Holds 10 different Guinness World Records.
In 1991, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a top secret film project called "MidKnight" which would star Jackson as meek young man by day, who secretly changes into a heroic singing and dancing knight at the stroke of midnight. The film was part of Jackson's $1 billion re-up with Sony Music. But the project fell apart due to contractual issues as well as the 1993 child molestation allegations.
Jackson received his very first screen kiss in the
John Singleton-directed music video, "Remember the Time" (1992), when he kissed
Iman(playing Queen Nefertiti to
Eddie Murphy's Pharaoh).
Achieved the dubious distinction in 2009 of meriting the number three position on Forbes magazine's list of "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Jackson's posthumous earnings of $90 million were surpassed only by
Yves Saint-Laurent and
Richard Rodgers and 'Oscar Hammerstein (II)' (as Rodgers & Hammerstein).
Jackson's music video "Liberian Girl" (1989) comprises what is arguably the most star-studded ensemble of cameos in pop music history. In order of appearance are:
Beverly Johnson,
Malcolm-Jamal Warner,
Sherman Hemsley,
Brigitte Nielsen,
Paula Abdul,
Carl Weathers,
Whoopi Goldberg,
Quincy Jones,
Jackie Collins,
Amy Irving,
Jasmine Guy,
Rosanna Arquette,
Billy Dee Williams,
Lou Diamond Phillips,
Olivia Newton-John,
John Travolta,
Corey Feldman,
Steven Spielberg,
Deborah Gibson,
Rick Schroder,
Blair Underwood,
'Weird Al' Yankovic,
Bubbles,
Suzanne Somers,
Lou Ferrigno,
Don King (and "Son"),
Mayim Bialik,
Virginia Madsen,
David Copperfield, Emily and
Richard Dreyfuss,
Danny Glover,
Olivia Hussey,
Dan Aykroyd and
Steve Guttenberg. Jackson appears only at the very end manning a camera on a crane. Directed by
James Yukich.
Personal Quotes
I can't think of a better way to spread the message of world peace than by working with the NFL and being part of Super Bowl XXVII.
I don't like pop music.
I'll always be Peter Pan in my heart.
People think they know me, but they don't. Not really. Actually, I am one of the loneliest people on this earth. I cry sometimes, because it hurts. It does. To be honest, I guess you could say that it hurts to be me.
"Just because you read it in a magazine or see it on a TV screen doesn't make it factual. To buy it is to feed it." - about tabloid magazines.
I made a terrible mistake. I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children.
"You ain't seen nothing yet, and the best is yet to come." (1999)
There is a lot of sadness in my past life. My father beat me. It was difficult to take being beaten and then going on stage. He was strict; very hard and stern.
Elizabeth Taylor used to feed me, to hand-feed me, at times. Please, I don't want anybody to think I'm starving, I'm not. My health is perfect, actually.
I just want to say to fans in every corner of the earth, every nationality, every race, every language: I love you from the bottom of my heart. I would love your prayers and your goodwill, and please be patient and be with me and believe in me because I am completely, completely innocent. But please know a lot of conspiracy is going on as we speak.
"
Marlon Brando has been pushing. He's a wonderful man. He's a god. He wants a lot of money. He wants to get things done right now." - On a video about acting which he was planning to make with Brando in 2001
I trusted
Martin Bashir to come into my life and that of my family because I wanted the truth to be told. Martin Bashir persuaded me to trust him that his would be an honest and fair portrayal of my life and told me that he was the man that turned Diana's life around. I am surprised that a professional journalist would compromise his integrity by deceiving me in this way. Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before; that someone, who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair programme. Everyone who knows me will know the truth which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child. I also want to thank my fans around the world for the overwhelming number of messages of support that I have received, particularly from Great Britain, where people have e-mailed me and said how appalled they were by the Bashir film. Their love and support has touched me greatly.
I was coming out of the shower and I fell and all my body weight - I'm pretty fragile - all my body weight fell against my rib cage. And I bruised my lung very badly.
I love my children. I was holding my son tight. Why would I throw a baby off the balcony? That's the dumbest, stupidest story I ever heard.
I think that it's demeaning and disrespectful but I also want to make it clear it's not just about me but a pattern of disrespect that he has shown to our community. He needs to stop it and he needs to stop it now." - On
Eminem's video for "Just Lose It
I have spent my entire life helping millions of children across the world. I would never harm a child. It is unfortunate that some individuals have seen fit to come forward and make a complaint that is completely false. Years ago, I settled with certain individuals because I was concerned about my family and the media scrutiny that would have ensued if I fought the matter in court. These people wanted to exploit my concern for children by threatening to destroy what I believe in and what I do. I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money.
I am always writing a potpourri of music. I want to give the world escapism through the wonder of great music and to reach the masses.
I'm a visionary and a creative person. God blessed me with certain talents. I hate to use an analogy, but
Walt Disney was creative but not good with business. His brother Roy handled the books. He loved creating family-oriented entertainment and so do I. I feel that was a gift and I have that gift also. I'm very honored to have been chosen.
"When I saw him move I was mesmerized. I've never seen a performer perform like
James Brown and right then and there I knew that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Success definitely brings on loneliness. People think you're lucky, that you have everything. They think you can go anywhere and do anything, but that's not the point. One hungers for the basic stuff.
My father was a management genius. But what I really wanted was a dad.
I've been in the entertainment industry since I was six-years-old ... As Charles Dickens says, 'It's been the best of times, the worst of times.' But I would not change my career ... While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me. (2007)
[on his career] It all went by so fast, didn't it? I wish I could do it all over again, I really do.
[on refuting persistent rumors of skin surgery or bleaching] If I had a chance to talk to Michelangelo, I would ask him what inspired him to become who he is, the anatomy of his craftsmanship, not about who he dated last night or why he decided to sit out in the sun so long.
When I was 16, we were doing Las Vegas every night, and
Elvis Presley and
Sammy Davis Jr. would sit me and my brothers in a row and lecture us. 'Don't ever do
drugs,' they told us. I never forgot it.
Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever.
You have to have that tragedy, that pain to pull from. That's what makes a clown great. You can see he's hurting behind the masquerade. He's something else externally.
Charles Chaplin did that so beautifully, better than anyone. I can play off those moments, too. I've been through the fire many times.
I never had the chance to do the fun things kids do: sleepovers, parties, trick-or-treat. There was no Christmas, no holiday celebrating. So now you try to compensate for some of that loss.
My father is a much nicer person now. I think he realizes his children are everything. Without your family, you have nothing. He's a nice human being. At one time, we'd be horrified if he just showed up. We were scared to death. He turned out really well. I wish it wasn't so late.
I'm still fascinated by clouds and the sunset. I was making wishes on the rainbow yesterday. I saw the meteor shower. I made a wish every time I saw a shooting star.
I have confidence in my abilities. I have real perseverance. Nothing can stop me when I put my mind to it.
I never think about themes. I let the music create itself. I like it to be a potpourri of all kinds of sounds, all kinds of colors, something for everybody, from the farmer in Ireland to the lady who scrubs toilets in Harlem.
I've had people come to me, and after meeting me, they start crying. I say, "Why are you crying?" They say, "Because I thought you would be stuck up, but you're the nicest person." I say, "Who gave you this judgment?" They tell me they read it. I tell them, "Don't you believe what you read."
When I'm on stage, it's like a two-hour marathon. I weigh myself before and after each show, and I lose a good 10 pounds. Sweat is all over the stage. Then you get to your hotel and your adrenaline is at its zenith and you can't fall asleep. And you've got a show the next day. It's tough.
[on calling himself the 'King of Pop'] I never self-proclaimed myself to be anything. If I called up Elizabeth Taylor right now, she would tell you that she coined the phrase. She was introducing me, I think at the American Music
Awards, and said in her own words - it wasn't in the script - "I'm a personal fan, and in my opinion he is the king of pop, rock and soul." Then the press started saying "King of Pop" and the fans started. This self-proclaimed garbage, I don't know who said that.
I sit in my room at home and sometimes cry. It's so hard to make friends. Sometimes I walk around the neighbourhood at night, just hoping to find someone to talk to. But I just end up coming home.
[on being asked what he thought his funeral would be like in 2002] It's going to be the greatest show on Earth. That's what I want. Fireworks and everything.
[on recording in Ireland in 2006] I've never given up on making music. Ireland has inspired me to make a great new album.
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.
I am the captain of my ship. I take suggestions and listen to what everyone has to say, but the final decision is mine.
[On his father] He is a very jealous father. He isn't gonna show you love, but anybody that gets closer to us than him he would tell them, 'Leave my boys alone!' To tell you the truth, I never have felt close to him. He has always been like a mystery man.
I would like some way to disappear where people don't see me anymore at some point. I don't want to grow old. I never want to look in the mirror and see that.
The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.
In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.
Where Are They Now
(November 2003) Greatest hits compilation released on 17th November 2003, entitled "Michael Jackson: Number Ones", with one new song entitled "One More Chance".
(November 2003) Arrested and charged with sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy.
(February 2005) Trial for charges including molestation and intoxication of a minor begin. Expected to last at least 6 months.
(June 2005) Acquitted on all charges in the child molestation and intoxication of a minor trial.
(September 2005) Resides in Bahrain, a Muslim country that is located on the Southern part of Persian Gulf.
(November 2006) Accepted Guinness World Record award for Greatest Album of all time, at London's Earls Court.
