JACKSON, MICHAEL - THRILLER

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Commonly known as the "King of Pop", he was one of the most commercially successful and influential entertainers in popular music. His career spanned more than four decades, during which he achieved success both as a member of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist. He contributed to the development of music videos as a prominent form of artistic and commercial expression and became associated with dance techniques including the moonwalk, the robot, and the anti-gravity lean. Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, as the eighth of ten children in the Jackson family. He began performing at an early age and became the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a group formed with several of his brothers. The group signed with Motown Records and achieved commercial success with songs including "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There". During the 1970s, Jackson also released several solo albums through Motown, including "Got to Be There" (1972), "Ben" (1972), "Music & Me" (1973), and "Forever, Michael" (1975). After the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975 and became the Jacksons, Jackson continued performing with the group while pursuing a solo career. His appearance in the musical film "The Wiz" (1978) led to a professional relationship with producer Quincy Jones. Their collaboration resulted in the album "Off the Wall" (1979), which established Jackson as a successful solo performer and produced the hit singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You". Jackson's sixth studio album, "Thriller" (1982), became the best-selling album in history. It produced several successful singles, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It", and "Thriller". The accompanying music videos received extensive television exposure and played a significant role in the growing popularity of music video broadcasting. In 1983, Jackson performed the moonwalk during the television special "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever", bringing widespread public attention to the dance move. During the 1980s, Jackson became one of the most prominent figures in international popular music. He received numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards and American Music Awards. In 1984, he sustained scalp burns during the filming of a Pepsi commercial and later donated part of a legal settlement related to the incident to medical causes. The same year, he participated in the Jacksons' "Victory Tour", his final concert tour with the group. In 1985, Jackson and Lionel Richie co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World", which raised funds for humanitarian relief efforts. That year, Jackson acquired ATV Music Publishing, obtaining rights to a catalog that included much of the Beatles' publishing portfolio. He also became known for his support of charitable causes and donations to a wide range of organizations. From the mid-1980s onward, Jackson's appearance attracted considerable media attention. He was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus, conditions that affected his skin pigmentation and health. Jackson stated that changes in his appearance were related to these medical conditions, weight loss, and cosmetic procedures. Media coverage also focused on aspects of his private life, including his ownership of a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles and his residence at Neverland Ranch in California. Jackson released "Bad" in 1987. The album became the first to produce five number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", and "Dirty Diana". The accompanying "Bad World Tour" attracted large audiences internationally. In 1988, he published the autobiography "Moonwalk" and released the film "Moonwalker". In 1991, Jackson signed a record contract with Sony Music that was reported at the time to be among the largest in the music industry. He released the album "Dangerous" later that year. The album included the successful singles "Black or White", "Remember the Time", and "Heal the World". In 1992, he founded the Heal the World Foundation and began the "Dangerous World Tour", portions of whose proceeds supported charitable activities. In 1993, his performance at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show became one of the most-watched halftime performances in the event's history. In 1993, Jackson faced allegations of child sexual abuse involving a minor. A civil lawsuit was settled in 1994 without an admission of wrongdoing. Criminal charges were not filed in connection with the allegations, and investigations concluded without prosecution. During this period, Jackson experienced health problems and dependence on prescription pain medication. Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, in 1994. The marriage ended in divorce in 1996. In 1995, he released the double album "HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I", which combined a greatest-hits collection with new material. The album included the singles "Scream", a duet with Janet Jackson, "You Are Not Alone", "Earth Song", and "They Don't Care About Us". The accompanying "HIStory World Tour" became the most-attended tour of his career. In 1996, Jackson married Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, before divorcing in 2000. A third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, was born in 2002 through surrogacy. In 1997, Jackson released "Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix", a remix album that also included new material. He later worked on "Invincible" (2001), which was reported to have one of the highest production costs of any album at the time. Its release was followed by a public dispute with Sony Music regarding promotion and contractual matters. In the early 2000s, Jackson participated in several charitable events, including benefit concerts following the September 11 attacks. He also marked the thirtieth anniversary of his solo career with a series of concerts in New York City featuring numerous guest performers. In 2003, the documentary "Living with Michael Jackson" generated controversy due to Jackson's comments about sharing sleeping accommodations with children. Later that year, he was charged with child molestation and related offenses involving another minor. The trial took place in 2005, and Jackson was acquitted on all counts. Following the trial, Jackson spent periods of time living outside the United States, including in Bahrain and Ireland. He faced financial difficulties related to debt and legal obligations but retained substantial music publishing assets. In 2008, he released "Thriller 25", a commemorative edition of "Thriller" marking the album's twenty-fifth anniversary. In March 2009, Jackson announced "This Is It", a planned series of comeback concerts in London. Demand for tickets led to a significant expansion of the schedule. While preparing for the performances, Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50 after receiving a fatal dose of propofol administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray. Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists in history, with estimated record sales exceeding 500 million worldwide. He achieved 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles as a solo artist and received numerous honors, including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Brit Awards, and inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Dance Hall of Fame. His influence on popular music, music videos, dance, fashion, and entertainment has been widely documented, and his charitable activities included support for numerous humanitarian causes. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Studio albums 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 and Future, Book I (1995) Invincible (2001) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.