Michael Jackson Biography, Photos and Posters

Michael Jackson

Biography

Born: August 29, 1958
City and Country of Origin: Gary, Indiana
Music Background: started singing at age 5 as lead singer of the Jackson 5
Awards: 1995 Grammy Best Music Video, Short Form, Scream; 1989 Grammy Best Music Video, Short Form, Leave Me Alone; 1985 Grammy Song of the Year, "We Are The World;" 1984 Grammy Best Video Album, Thriller; 1983 Grammy Record Of The Year, "Beat It;" 1983 Grammy Album Of The Year, Thriller; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, Thriller; Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male, "Beat It;" Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, "Billy Jean;" Best Rhythm & Blues Song, "Billy Jean; Best Recording For Children, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial; Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical); 1979 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"
Top Recordings: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There," "Got to Be There," "Rockin' Robin," "Ben," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You," "The Girl Is Mine," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Human Nature," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," "Say Say Say," "We Are the World," "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," "Dirty Diana," "Black or White," "Remember the Time," "In the Closet," "Jam," "Heal the World"
Michael Jackson Biography: Michael Jackson was to the 80s what Elvis was to the 50s and the Beatles to the 60s. Michael was the fifth son of Gary steelworker Joe Jackson who was married to a devout Jehovah's Witness who tried to shelter young Michael from the outside world. The Jackson 5, consisting of Michael and his older brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon, began their careers singing in local clubs around Gary, Indiana. Michael joined the group after they had been performing for about a year and proved to have both a gifted singing voice and a dynamic on stage presence as a performer. As the groups successes and confidence grew they began competing in competitions all around the midwest. They were signed to the Motown label by Berry Gordy. The group's first 4 single releases all topped the charts in the late 60s and early 70s like "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." It was at this time that Motown began preparing Micheal for his solo debut. In 1972 both "Got to Be There," and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin," made the top 5, but it was his ballad to the leader of a bunch of homocidal rats "Ben" that gave him his first solo number 1 hit. After that his solo career seemed to stall and he and his brothers, less Jermaine, signed on with Epic Records simply as The Jacksons. In 1977 he appeared with Diana Ross in the film version of the The Wiz where he first met Quincy Jones. After the success of the mostly self written album Destiny recorded with his brothers, Michael resumed his solo career. His personal management contract with his father expired and Michael hooked up with Quincy Jones who produced his first solo album Off The Wall. The album went platinum and produced 4 hit singles including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You."

Perhaps Michael's greatest fortune was that he came into the world at just the right time, for the music video was becoming a brand new art form and cable TV's MTV gave him the biggest showcase any performer had ever known and Michael took full advantage of it. His videos became legendary enabling Michael to display both his singing and dancing prowess. In 1982 Michael once again teamed up with Quincy Jones to produce what would become the biggest album in history Thriller. On the albumand videos Michael shared the spotlight with Paul McCartney, Eddie Van Halen and Vincent Price. The duet with the former Beatle "The Girl Is Mine" reached number 2 on the charts and "Billie Jean" and the Van Halen sound track "Beat It" both went to number 1. In May 1983 Michael debuted his famous "moonwalk" dance on a Motown's 25th anniversary TV special. The white sequined glove one was clearly on top of the music world. Three more offerings from Thriller hit the charts "Wanna BeStartin' Somethin'," the ballad "Human Nature," and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"; His medioric success landed him the role as TV spokesperson for Pepsi. In 1983 he once again hooked up with Paul McCartney on the number 1 single "Say Say Say." In 1984 he rejoined his brothers on the album Victory. The following year he teamed up with Lionel Richie co-write the all star anthem "We Are the World." His follow up album to Thriller, Bad, which he supported with a world tour, debuted at number 1 in 1987. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," a collaboration with Siedah Garrett was the first single from the album also rose to tthe top of the charts. Much like Thriller it produced numerous hit records including "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," and "Dirty Diana." Michael was now an international star of enormous proportions. After this he decided to take a break and restart his career in a new direction. His next album Dangerous released in 1991 was produced by Teddy Riley and not Jones. The album debuted at number 1 as did its lead single "Black or White." However, controversy about Michael and his strange eccentric lifestyle began catching up with the pop star and there was a public outcry towards the album's video which depicted Michael moonwalking across the stage grabbing his crotch several times and the video's violent ending. This brings us to 1993 and the infamous Neverland Ranch child molestation charge. Although he claimed extortion, he and his attorneys settled the case out of court. Michale's career in the states would never be the same, but his popularity abroad remained mostly intact. His continued record sales as well as his shrewd investment of buying the rights to both the Beatles' and Elvis' record collections have maintained him over the years.

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