Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

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Who was Michael Jackson ?

'Dangerous' era

Early life

Solo career

End of life

Songs

Who was Michael Jackson?

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Nicknamed "The King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant figures of the 20th century. Through songs, stages, and fashion, he proliferated visual performance for artists in popular music; popularizing street dance moves including the moonwalk (which he named), the robot, and the anti-gravity lean. He had three children: Prince, Paris and Bigi.

Early life

Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958. He was the eighth of ten children in the Jackson family, a working-class African-American family living in a two-bedroom house on Jackson Street.

His mother, Katherine Esther Jackson, played clarinet and piano and worked part-time at Sears. She was a Jehovah's Witness. His father, Joseph "Joe" Jackson, a former boxer, played guitar with a local rhythm and blues band. Michael grew up with three sisters (Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet) and five brothers (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy). A sixth brother, Marlon's twin Brandon, died shortly after birth.

The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed when Michael was 8 years old, in 1964. The band was composed of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. They were managed by their father Joe Jackson, who was very strict and violent. The 5 brothers had to rehearse for 5 hours a day after school. Their father beat them with a belt if they made a mistake. Their greatest songs were "ABC", "I want you back" and "I'll be there".

Solo career

MJ began his solo career while simultaneously performing with the Jackson 5. He released his debut solo album at age 13 with Got to Be There (1971). He achieved his solo career breakthrough with Off the Wall (1979), his first album produced by Quincy Jones. Jackson achieved a huge success with the release of his album Thriller (1982), which is still recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling album of all time. The album generated seven Top 10 hits, including “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).”

MJ dance moves

Michael Jackson first Moonwalk

Top 10 signatures dance moves

'Dangerous' era

Neverland Ranch

Dangerous World Tour

MJ in the press

Neverland

In March 1988, Jackson purchased 11 km2 of land in California, to build a new home, Neverland Ranch, at a cost of $17 million. He installed a Ferris wheel, a carousel, a movie theater and a zoo.

'Dangerous' World Tour

Dangerous is the eighth studio album by Michael Jackson. It was released in 1991. It was certified eight times platinum in the US. "The Dangerous World Tour" was the second world concert tour by American singer Michael Jackson and promote his album Dangerous. The tour was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola.

All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's own "Heal the World Foundation". It began in Munich, Germany, on June 27, 1992, and concluded in Mexico City, Mexico, on November 11, 1993, playing 69 concerts in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Michael Jackson in the press

Tabloids openly criticised Michael Jackson through his career. First, as Michael Jackson had plastic surgery, they spoke about his appearance as he aged, telling him bleaching his own skin. Finally, they spread rumors about him being a pedophile.

Michael Jackson in the press

MJ talks about why his skin colour changed

End of Life

On June 25, 2009, less than three weeks before the debut of This Is It tour, Jackson died at age 50, having suffered cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. In early 2010, an official report revealed the cause of death as acute propofol intoxication. Propofol can be used for general anesthesia and sedation for medical procedures. Jackson had been administered the drug by his personal physician to help him sleep at night.

Influences

The Weeknd talking about MJ

Hip-hop Artists talking about MJ

Songs

The Jackson 5 "I want you back"

MJ "Black or white"

MJ "Smooth criminal"

MJ "Thriller"

MJ "Billie Jean"

MJ "Bad"

MJ "Don't stop til you get enough"