Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was one of the most influential and popular artists of all time. He was a singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist who revolutionized the music industry with his groundbreaking albums, videos, and performances. He was also a humanitarian who supported many causes and charities throughout his life. In this blog post, I will give a brief overview of his life, career, and legacy.

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. He was the eighth of ten children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, who were both musicians. He began his musical career at the age of five, as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a group that included his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. The Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records in 1969 and became one of the most successful acts of the 1970s, with hits such as "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There". Michael Jackson also launched his solo career in 1971, with songs such as "Got to Be There", "Ben", and "Rockin' Robin".

In 1978, Michael Jackson starred in the musical film The Wiz, where he met Quincy Jones, who would become his producer and mentor. In 1979, he released his breakthrough album Off the Wall, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide and spawned four top-ten singles: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", "Rock with You", "Off the Wall", and "She's Out of My Life". In 1982, he released his best-selling album Thriller, which sold over 66 million copies worldwide and won eight Grammy Awards.

Thriller featured nine songs, seven of which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100: "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney), "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Human Nature", "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", and "Thriller". Thriller also showcased Michael Jackson's innovative music videos, such as the 14-minute horror-themed short film for "Thriller", which is considered one of the most influential videos of all time¹.

In 1985, Michael Jackson co-wrote and co-produced the charity single "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, which raised over $60 million for famine relief in Africa. He also performed at the historic Live Aid concert in London with his brothers. In 1987, he released his third solo album Bad, which sold over 45 million copies worldwide and produced five number-one singles: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with Siedah Garrett), "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", and "Dirty Diana". Bad also featured some of Michael Jackson's most iconic music videos, such as the gangster-themed short film for "Bad", directed by Martin Scorsese², and the anti-racism anthem for "Black or White", which featured groundbreaking special effects³.

In 1991, Michael Jackson signed a record-breaking contract with Sony Music for $65 million. He released his fourth solo album Dangerous, which sold over 32 million copies worldwide and spawned nine singles: "Black or White", "Remember the Time", "In the Closet", "Jam", "Who Is It", "Heal the World", "Give in to Me", "Will You Be There", and "Gone Too Soon". Dangerous also featured some of Michael Jackson's most innovative music videos, such as the ancient Egyptian-themed short film for "Remember the Time", directed by John Singleton⁴, and the futuristic sci-fi short film for "Jam", featuring Michael Jordan.

In1993, Michael Jackson performed at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show, which was watched by over 135 million viewers worldwide. He also received the Grammy Legend Award and the MTV Video Vanguard Award for his contributions to music. However, he also faced allegations of child sexual abuse by a family friend, which he denied and settled out of court. The scandal damaged his reputation and affected his career.

In1995, Michael Jackson released his fifth solo album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, which was a double-disc project that included a disc of his greatest hits and a disc of new material. The album sold over 40 million copies worldwide and produced six singles: "Scream" (with Janet Jackson), "You Are Not Alone", "Earth Song", "They Don't Care About Us", "Stranger in Moscow", and "Blood on the Dance Floor".

HIStory also featured some of Michael Jackson's most controversial music videos, such as the anti-media protest for "Scream", which was the most expensive video ever made at that time, and the anti-oppression anthem for "They Don't Care About Us", which was banned in some countries

for its violent imagery.

In1997, Michael Jackson released his sixth solo album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix,

which was a remix album that included five new songs. The album sold over 6 million copies worldwide and produced two singles:

"Blood on the Dance Floor" and"Ghosts".

The latter was accompanied by a 40-minute short film that featured Michael Jackson playing multiple roles in a haunted house.

In 2001, Michael Jackson released his seventh and final solo album Invincible, which sold over 6 million copies worldwide and produced three singles: "You Rock My World", "Cry", and "Butterflies". The album received mixed reviews from critics and was overshadowed by Michael Jackson's disputes with his record label Sony Music.

In 2003, Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation by a young cancer patient, who had appeared in a documentary called Living with Michael Jackson, in which Michael Jackson admitted to sharing his bed with children. He was arrested and charged with several counts of child sexual abuse and other crimes. He pleaded not guilty and went on trial in 2005. He was acquitted of all charges after a four-month trial.

In 2006, Michael Jackson moved to Bahrain,

where he lived as a guest of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of the king of Bahrain.

He also worked on new music projects with various collaborators, such as will.i.am, Akon, and Ne-Yo.

In 2008, Michael Jackson returned to the United States and settled in Las Vegas, where he planned to stage a comeback concert series called This Is It.

He announced the concerts in March 2009, saying that they would be his final performances. He sold out 50 shows at the O2 Arena in London, scheduled to start in July 2009. However, on June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died at his rented mansion in Los Angeles, at the age of 50. The cause of death was later ruled as acute propofol intoxication, administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.

Michael Jackson's death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans, friends, and fellow artists around the world. His memorial service, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009, was watched by over one billion people worldwide. His funeral, held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, on September 3, 2009, was attended by his family and close friends.

Michael Jackson's legacy lives on through his music, videos, and humanitarian work. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers of all time, and one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He holds several Guinness World Records, including the most successful entertainer of all time, the best-selling music artist of all time, and the most Grammy Awards won by a male artist in a single year. He is also one of the few artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1997 and as a solo artist in 2001. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame.

Michael Jackson's music continues to inspire and entertain millions of people around the world. His albums have sold over 750 million copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in history. His songs have been covered by numerous artists from various genres and generations. His videos have been praised for their innovation and artistry. His performances have been admired for their energy and charisma. His humanitarian work has been recognized for its generosity and compassion.

Michael Jackson was a musical genius and a cultural icon who touched the lives of many people with his talent and spirit. He was a legend who will never be forgotten. He was Michael Jackson, the King of Pop..

(1) Michael Jackson - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson.

(2) Michael Jackson | Biography, Albums, Songs, Thriller, Beat It, & Facts .... https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Jackson.

(3) Michael Jackson Biography | Biography Online. https://www.biographyonline.net/music/michael-jackson.html.

(4) Michael Jackson | Michael Jackson Wiki | Fandom. https://michael-jackson.fandom.com/wiki/Michael_Jackson.