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The first single released from the album was "[[Scream/Childhood|Scream]]", which Jackon sang and performed with his youngest sister [[Janet Jackson|Janet]]. The single received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals".<ref name = "Ultimate booklet 48–50">George, p. 48–50</ref> "[[You Are Not Alone]]" was the second single released from ''HIStory''; it was the first song ever to debut at number one on the ''Billboard''&nbsp;Hot&nbsp;100 chart.<ref name="World Records"/> The song was seen as a major artistic and commercial success, receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".<ref name = "Ultimate booklet 48–50"/> In late 1995, Jackson was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance; the incident was caused by a stress related [[panic attack]].<ref>Taraborrelli, p. 576–577</ref> "[[Earth Song]]" was the third single released from ''HIStory'', and topped the UK singles chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995; it sold one&nbsp;million copies, making it Jackson's most successful single in the UK.<ref name = "Ultimate booklet 48–50"/>
The first single released from the album was "[[Scream/Childhood|Scream]]", sung and performed with Jackson's youngest sister [[Janet Jackson|Janet]]. The single had the highest debut on the ''Billboard''&nbsp;Hot&nbsp;100 at number five, and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals".<ref name = "Ultimate booklet 48–50">George, p. 48–50</ref> "[[You Are Not Alone]]" was the second single released from ''HIStory''; it holds the Guinness World Record for the first song ever to debut at number one on the ''Billboard''&nbsp;Hot&nbsp;100 chart.<ref name="World Records"/> It was seen as a major artistic and commercial success, receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".<ref name = "Ultimate booklet 48–50"/> In late 1995, Jackson was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance; the incident was caused by a stress related [[panic attack]].<ref>Taraborrelli, p. 576–577</ref> "[[Earth Song]]" was the third single released from ''HIStory'', and topped the UK singles chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995; it sold one&nbsp;million copies, making it Jackson's most successful single in the UK.<ref name = "Ultimate booklet 48–50"/>


The [[HIStory World Tour]] began on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. Jackson performed eighty-two concerts in fifty-eight cities to over 4.5&nbsp;million fans. The show, which visited five continents and thirty-five countries, became Jackson's most successful in terms of audience figures; he has not toured since.<ref name = "lewis 95-96">Lewis, p. 95–96</ref> During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse, [[Deborah Jeanne Rowe]], with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.<ref name = "tara 580–581"/><ref>Taraborrelli, p. 597</ref> Jackson and Rowe first met in the early 1980s, when Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo.<ref>Taraborrelli, p. 570</ref> Originally there were no plans to marry, but following Rowe's first pregnancy, Jackson's mother intervened and persuaded them to.<ref>Taraborrelli, p. 586</ref> The couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving full custody rights of the children to Jackson.<ref name="tara 599-600"/>
The [[HIStory World Tour]] began on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. Jackson performed eighty-two concerts in fifty-eight cities to over 4.5&nbsp;million fans. The show, which visited five continents and thirty-five countries, became Jackson's most successful in terms of audience figures; he has not toured since.<ref name = "lewis 95-96">Lewis, p. 95–96</ref> During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse, [[Deborah Jeanne Rowe]], with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.<ref name = "tara 580–581"/><ref>Taraborrelli, p. 597</ref> Jackson and Rowe first met in the early 1980s, when Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo.<ref>Taraborrelli, p. 570</ref> Originally there were no plans to marry, but following Rowe's first pregnancy, Jackson's mother intervened and persuaded them to.<ref>Taraborrelli, p. 586</ref> The couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving full custody rights of the children to Jackson.<ref name="tara 599-600"/>

Revision as of 11:23, 22 July 2008

For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation).
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an American musician and entertainer. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of eleven as a member of The Jackson 5. Jackson began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music as the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become some of the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and Thriller—credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool—helped bring the relatively young channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" kept Jackson a staple on MTV into the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced numerous hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.

Jackson has donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his Dangerous World Tour, charity singles and support of thirty-nine charities.[1] However, other aspects of his personal life—including his plastic surgery, his lightening skin, and his eccentric behavior—have generated significant controversy and have damaged his public image. He was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, although the matter was settled out of court. Jackson then married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and later acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. He has experienced financial difficulties and health concerns since the early 1990s.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for Thriller as the world's best-selling album—thirteen Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist after the creation of the Billboard Hot 100—and the sale of over 750 million units worldwide. Jackson's highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, has made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades.

Biography

1958–1975: Early life and The Jackson 5

See also: The Jackson 5

Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana (an industrial suburb of Chicago, Illinois) to a working-class family on August 29, 1958.[2] The son of Joseph "Joe" Walter and Katherine Esther (née Scruse),[2] he is the seventh of nine children. His siblings are Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy, Janet, La Toya and Rebbie.[2] Joseph Jackson was a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band known as The Falcons with his brother Luther.[2] Joseph physically and mentally abused Jackson in his youth through incessant rehearsals, whippings and depreciative names such as "big nose". Jackson's abuse as a child has affected him throughout his life.[3] Katherine, a Jehovah's Witness, raised her children in that faith.[2]

Jackson showed musical talent early in his life, performing in front of his classmates and other audience members during a Christmas recital at the age of five.[2] In 1964, Jackson and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers—a band formed by brothers Jackie, Tito and Jermaine—as backup playing congas and tambourine, respectively. Jackson later began performing backup vocals and dancing; at the age of eight, he and Jermaine assumed lead vocals, and the group's name was changed to The Jackson 5.[2] The band toured the Chicago area and the Midwestern states extensively from 1965 to 1967. Many of these shows were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", where the band often opened for stripteases and other adult acts. In 1966, they won a major local talent show with renditions of Motown hits and James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)", led by Michael.[4]

The group recorded several songs for the local record label Steeltown in 1967, and signed with Motown Records in 1968.[2] Rolling Stone magazine described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts", noting that after Michael began to dance and sing with his brothers, "he quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer".[5] Though Michael sang with a "child's piping voice, he danced like a grown-up hoofer and sang with the R&B/gospel inflections of Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder".[5] The Jackson 5 set a record when its first four singles ("I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There") charted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] During the Jackson 5's early years, Motown's public relations team lowered Jackson's age from eleven to nine to make him appear cuter and more accessible to the mainstream audience.[6] Starting in 1972, Jackson released a total of four solo studio albums with Motown, among them Got to Be There and Ben. These were released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise, and produced successful singles such as "Got to Be There", "Ben" and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin". The group's sales began declining in 1973, and the band members chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow them creative control or input.[7] Although the group scored several top 40 hits, including the top five disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.[7]

1976–1981: Move to Epic and Off the Wall

The Jackson 5 signed a new contract with CBS Records in the summer of 1975, first joining the Philadelphia International Records division and then Epic Records.[7] As a result of legal proceedings, the group was renamed The Jacksons.[8] After the name change, the band continued to tour internationally, releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984. From 1976 to 1984, Michael Jackson was the lead songwriter of the group, writing hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "This Place Hotel" and "Can You Feel It".[4]

In 1978, Jackson starred as Scarecrow in the film musical The Wiz, with former label mate Diana Ross playing Dorothy.[9] The musical scores were arranged by Quincy Jones, who established a partnership with Jackson during the film's production and agreed to produce the singer's solo album, Off the Wall.[10] In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine. However, the rhinoplasty surgery was not a complete success, and Jackson complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career. He was referred to Dr. Steven Hoefflin, who performed Jackson's second rhinoplasty as well as more throughout his career.[11]

Jones and Jackson jointly produced Off the Wall. The lyrics and music were composed by Jackson, Heatwave's Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney, among others. Issued in 1979, Off the Wall was the first album to generate four US top-ten hits, including the number-one singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You".[12] Off the Wall reached number three on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified for seven million shipments in the US.[13] The album eventually sold over fifteen million copies worldwide.[14] In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts; these included Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Single (for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").[12] He also won two Billboard Awards later that month for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album. In 1980, Jackson won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".[12] Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt Off the Wall should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.[15]

1982–1985: Thriller

In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; the record won a Grammy for Best Album for Children.[16] That year Jackson issued his second Epic album, Thriller. Thriller was an enormous hit, making Jackson the seminal icon of American culture at the time. At the age of twenty-five, The New York Times called him a "musical phenomenon", saying that "in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else".[17] TIME magazine claimed that "the fallout from Thriller has given the [music] business its best years since the heady days of 1978".[18] The album remained in the top ten of the Billboard 200 for a full year, spending eighty consecutive weeks there and thirty-seven of those weeks at number one. It was the first of three albums to have seven Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles.[19] Thriller was certified for 27 million shipments by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond Award status in the US.[20][21] Though sales figures vary with different sources, the album is cited as selling between 47 million and over 100 million copies worldwide.[22][23]

Jackson at the White House South Portico with President Ronald Reagan at left, and first lady Nancy Reagan at right, 1984

On March 25, 1983, Jackson performed live on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special, both with The Jackson and on his own singing "Billie Jean", the second single from Thriller. Debuting his signature dance move—the moonwalk—his performances during the event were seen by 47 million viewers during its initial airing, and drew comparions to Elvis Presley's and the The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.[24] The New York Times said, "The moonwalk that he made famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style. How does he do it? As a technician, he is a great illusionist, a genuine mime. His ability to keep one leg straight as he glides while the other bends and seems to walk requires perfect timing".[25]

Jackson suffered a setback on January 27, 1984. While filming a Pepsi Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Jackson suffered second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire. Happening in front of a full house of fans during a simulated concert, the incident was the subject of heavy media scrutiny and elicited an outpouring of sympathy.[26] PepsiCo settled a lawsuit out of court, and Jackson gave his $1.5 million settlement to the Michael Jackson Burn Center.[26] Jackson had his third rhinoplasty shortly afterward and grew self conscious about his appearance.[11]

On May 14, 1984, Jackson was invited to the White House to receive an award presented by American President Ronald Reagan. The event, notable because an African-American met a Republican president at the White House in the 1980s (a time of racial tension), was seen as a positive move forward in social views towards race.[27] Thriller put black music on US radio for the first time in years, paving the way for other acts such as Prince.[28] Jackson won eight awards during the 1984 Grammys. Unlike later albums, Thriller did not have an official tour to promote it, but the 1984 Victory Tour, headlined by The Jacksons, showcased much of Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans.[29] He donated his five million dollar share from the Victory Tour to charity.[30]

With help from Lionel Richie, Jackson co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World", released worldwide to aid people in Africa and the US. Jackons was one of many music celebrities who performed on the record. Released in March 1985, the single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly twenty million copies sold and millions of dollars raised for charity. It was the first time Jackson was seen as a humanitarian.[31] The singer purchased Northern Songs, a music catalog holding thousands of songs. The catalog includes The Beatles' back catalog and songs by Elvis Presley.[32] Jackson outbid Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono at a cost of $47.5 million.[33]

1986–1990: Bad, autobiography and films

In 1986 Jackson had a fourth rhinoplasty and, wanting masculine features, had a cleft put in his chin.[11] That same year he starred in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed 3-D film Captain EO. It was the most expensive film produced on a per-minute basis at the time, and was later hosted in Disney theme parks. Disneyland featured the film in its Tomorrowland area for nearly eleven years, while Walt Disney World screened the film in its Epcot theme park from 1986 to 1994.[34] Around the same time, stories of Jackson sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to stall the human process of aging, as well as allegations that Jackson attempted to purchase the bones of the Elephant Man, began surfacing in tabloids. These stories inspired the pejorative nickname "Wacko Jacko", which Jackson acquired the following year. He would eventually come to despise the nickname.[35]

Jackson two years after he was diagnosed with vitiligo, pictured in the early stages of the disease [36]

Jackson's skin was a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his youth, but starting in the early 1980s, his skin gradually grew paler. This change gained widespread media coverage, including rumors that Jackson was bleaching his skin.[37] In the mid-1980s, Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus. The treatments he uses for his condition further lighten his skin tone, and with the application of pancake makeup to even out his skin tone, he can appear very pale.[38] The structure of his face has changed as well; several surgeons have speculated that Jackson had undergone multiple nasal surgeries, a forehead lift, thinned lips and a cheekbone surgery.[39] Changes to his face were, in part, due to periods of significant weight loss.[8] Jackson became slimmer in the early 1980s because of a change in diet and a desire for "a dancer's body".[11] Witnesses reported that Jackson was often dizzy and speculated that he was suffering from anorexia nervosa; periods of weight loss would became a recurring problem for the singer later in life.[40]

With the industry expecting another major hit, Jackson's first album in five years, Bad (1987), was highly anticipated.[41] Bad had lower sales than Thriller, but was still a significant commercial success. In the US, it spawned seven hit singles, five of which ("I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror" and "Dirty Diana") went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, more than any other album[42] The album sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and shipped eight million units in the US.[43][14]

The Bad World Tour began on September 12, 1987, and finished on January 14, 1989.[44] In Japan alone, the tour had fourteen sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record of 200,000 in a single tour.[45] Jackson broke a Guinness World Record when 504,000 people attended seven sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium. He performed a total of 123 concerts to a total audience of 4.4 million people, and gained a further Guinness World Record when the tour grossed him $125 million. During the trip he invited underprivileged children to watch for free and gave donations to hospitals, orphanages and other charities.[44]

In 1988 Jackson released his first autobiography, Moonwalk, which took four years to complete. Jackson told of his childhood, his experience in The Jackson 5 and the abuse he suffered as a child. He also spoke of his plastic surgery, saying he had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin. In the book, he attributed the change in the structure of his face to puberty and a strict vegetarian diet.[11] Moonwalk reached the top position on The New York Times best sellers' list.[46] The musician then released a film called Moonwalker, which featured live footage, music videos, and a feature film that starred Jackson and Joe Pesci. Moonwalker debuted atop the Billboard Top Music Video Cassette chart, staying there for twenty-two weeks. It was eventually knocked off the top spot by Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues.[47]

When Jackson moved away from home, he purchased property near Santa Ynez, California to build Neverland Ranch at a cost of seventeen million dollars. The property was valued at approximately $100 million in 2003. In 1989, his annual earnings from album sales, endorsements and concerts was estimated at $125 million for that year alone.[48][49] Jackson's success resulted in him being dubbed the "King of Pop", a nickname conceived by actress and friend Elizabeth Taylor when she presented Jackson with an "Artist of the Decade" award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul".[50][51] President George H. W. Bush presented the singer with The White House's special "Artist of the Decade" award in recognition of Jackson's musical influence in the 1980s; Bush commended Jackson for acquiring a "tremendous following" among other achievements.[52] From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $ 500,000 to the United Negro College Fund, and all of the profits from his 1988 hit single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.[53][54]

1991–1992: Dangerous

Jackson renewed his contract for $65 million; a record breaking deal at the time.[48] Jackson released his eighth album Dangerous in 1991. The Dangerous album had seven million shipments in the US and sold 27 million copies worldwide; its sales were slightly higher than Bad's.[14][43] In the US, the album's first single "Black or White" was the album's biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for seven weeks, with similar chart performances worldwide.[55] The album's second single "Remember the Time" spent eight weeks in the top five in the US, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[56] In 1993, Jackson performed the song at the Soul Train Awards in a wheelchair, saying he had suffered an injury in rehearsals.[57] At the ceremony, he was given three awards: "Best Male Single" of the year for "Remember The Time", "Best R&B Album" for Dangerous and a humanitarian award for his charitable contributions to date.[56] In the UK and other parts of Europe, "Heal the World" was the biggest hit from the album; it sold 450,000 copies alone and spent five weeks at number two in 1992.[56]

Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's Neverland Ranch, located outside Santa Ynez, California, to go on theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it in 1988. The foundation also sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war and disease. The Dangerous World Tour began on June 27, 1992, and finished on November 11, 1993. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in sixty-seven concerts. All profits from the concerts went to the "Heal the World Foundation", raising million of dollars in relief.[56] He sold the broadcast rights to his Dangerous world tour to HBO for twenty million dollars, a record-breaking deal that still stands.[1]

In a high-profile visit to Africa, Jackson visited several countries, among them Gabon and Egypt.[58] His first stop to Gabon was greeted with a sizable reception of more than 100,000 people in "spiritual bedlam", some of them carrying signs that read, "Welcome Home Michael".[58] In his trip to the Ivory Coast, Jackson was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief.[58] He then thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed official documents formalizing his kingship and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.[58]

One of Jackson's most acclaimed performances came during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII. As the performances began, Jackson was catapulted onto the stage as fireworks went off behind him. As he landed on the canvass, he maintained a motionless "clenched fist, standing statue stance", dressed in a gold and black military outfit and sunglasses; he remained completely motionless for several minutes while the crowd cheered. He then slowly removed his sunglasses, threw them away and began to sing and dance. His routine included four songs: "Jam", "Billie Jean", "Black or White" and "Heal the World". It was the first Super Bowl where the audience figures increased during the half-time show, and was viewed by 135 million Americans alone; Jackson's Dangerous album rose ninety places up the album chart.[37] Jackson was given the "Living Legend Award" at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.[56]

An unusually candid ninety-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey occurred in February 1993; Jackson's first television interview since 1979. He grimaced when speaking of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood years, admitting that he often cried from loneliness. He denied previous tabloid rumors that he bought the bones of the Elephant Man or slept in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The entertainer went on to dispel suggestions that he bleached his skin, admitting for the first time that he had vitiligo. The interview was watched by ninety million Americans, becoming the fourth most-viewed non-sport program in US history. It also started a public debate on the topic of vitiligo, a relatively unknown condition before then. Dangerous re-entered the album chart top ten, more than a year after its original release.[59][37][56]

1993–1994: Sexual abuse accusations and marriage

Main article: 1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson

In 1993, Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by a thirteen-year-old child named Jordan Chandler and his father Evan Chandler.[60] The friendship between Jackson and Evan Chandler broke down. Sometime afterward, Evan Chandler was tape-recorded saying amongst other things, "If I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever...Michael's career will be over".[61] A year after they had met, under the influence of a controversial sedative, Jordan Chandler told his father that Jackson had touched his penis.[62] Evan Chandler and Jackson, represented by their legal teams, then engaged in unsuccessful negotiations to resolve the issue in a financial settlement; the negotiations were initiated by Chandler but Jackson did make several counter offers. Jordan Chandler then told a psychiatrist and later police that he and Jackson had engaged in acts of kissing, masturbation and oral sex, as well as giving a detailed description of what he alleged were the singer's genitals.[63]

An official investigation began, with Jordan Chandler's mother adamant that there was no wrongdoing on Jackson's part. Jackson's home, Neverland Ranch was searched; multiple children and family members strongly denied that he was a pedophile.[63] Jackson's image took a further turn for the worse when his older sister La Toya Jackson accused him of being a pedophile, a statement she later retracted.[64] Jackson agreed to a twenty-five-minute strip search, conducted at his ranch. The search was required to see if a description provided by Jordan Chandler was accurate. Doctors concluded that there were some strong similarities, but it was not a definitive match.[64] Jackson made an emotional public statement on the events; he proclaimed his innocence, criticized what he perceived as biased media coverage and told of his strip search.[60]

Jackson began taking painkillers, Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the allegations made against him. By the fall of 1993, Jackson was addicted to the drugs.[65] Jackson's health deteriorated to the extent that he canceled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation for a few months.[66] The stress of the allegations also caused Jackson to stop eating, losing a large amount of weight.[67] With his health in decline, Jackson's friends and legal advisers took over his defense and finances; they called on him to settle the allegations out of court, believing that he could not endure a lengthy trial.[66][67]

Tabloid reaction to the allegations put Jackson in an unfavorable light.[68] Complaints about the coverage and media included everything from bias against Jackson, accepting stories of alleged criminal activity for money to engaging in illegal activity themselves.[69] On January 1, 1994, Jackson settled with the Chandler family and their legal team out of court, in a civil lawsuit for $22 million. After the settlement Jordan Chandler refused to continue with Police criminal proceedings. Jackson was never charged, and the state closed its criminal investigation, citing lack of evidence.[70]

Later that year, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. They had first met in 1974 during one of Jackson's family engagements at the MGM Grand, and were reconnected through a mutual friend in early 1993.[68] They stayed in contact every day over the telephone. As child molestation accusations became public, Jackson became dependent on Lisa Marie for emotional support; she was concerned about his faltering health and addiction to drugs.[65] Lisa Marie explained, "I believed he didn't do anything wrong and that he was wrongly accused and yes I started falling for him. I wanted to save him. I felt that I could do it."[71] In a phone call he made to her, she described him as high, incoherent and delusional.[65] Shortly afterward, she tried to persuade Jackson to settle the allegations out of court and go into rehabilitation to recover—he subsequently did both.[65] Jackson proposed to Lisa Marie over the telephone towards the fall of 1993, saying, "If I asked you to marry me, would you do it?".[65] The marriage was, in her words, "a married couple's life ... that was sexually active".[72] They divorced less than two years later, remaining friendly.[73]

1995–1999: HIStory, second marriage and fatherhood

In 1995, Jackson merged the catalog with Sony's publishing division a decade later, retained half-ownership and earning $95 million in the deal as well as the rights to even more songs.[74][32] He then released the double album HIStory. The first disc, HIStory Begins, was a fifteen-track greatest hits album, and was later released as Greatest Hits — HIStory Vol. I in 2001, the second disc, HIStory Continues, contained fifteen new songs. The album debuted at number one on the charts and has been certified for seven million shipments in the US.[75] It is the best-selling multiple-disc album of all-time, with eighteen million copies (36 million units) sold worldwide.[55] The album won a Grammy Award for "Best Video of the Year".[76]

The first single released from the album was "Scream", sung and performed with Jackson's youngest sister Janet. The single had the highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at number five, and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals".[77] "You Are Not Alone" was the second single released from HIStory; it holds the Guinness World Record for the first song ever to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[49] It was seen as a major artistic and commercial success, receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".[77] In late 1995, Jackson was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance; the incident was caused by a stress related panic attack.[78] "Earth Song" was the third single released from HIStory, and topped the UK singles chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995; it sold one million copies, making it Jackson's most successful single in the UK.[77]

The HIStory World Tour began on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. Jackson performed eighty-two concerts in fifty-eight cities to over 4.5 million fans. The show, which visited five continents and thirty-five countries, became Jackson's most successful in terms of audience figures; he has not toured since.[44] During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse, Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.[73][79] Jackson and Rowe first met in the early 1980s, when Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo.[80] Originally there were no plans to marry, but following Rowe's first pregnancy, Jackson's mother intervened and persuaded them to.[81] The couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving full custody rights of the children to Jackson.[82]

In 1997, Jackson released Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, which contained re-mixes of hit singles from HIStory and five new songs. The record sold six million copies worldwide, becoming a best-selling remix album. It reached number one in the UK, as did the title track.[14] In the US, the album was certified platinum, but only reached number twenty-four.[43][77] Of the new songs in the album, three were released globally: the title track and the double A-side "HIStory/Ghosts". Forbes placed his annual income at $35 million in 1996 and twenty million dollars in 1997, despite his commercial peak ending several years prior.[48]

Throughout June 1999, Jackson was involved in a number of charitable events. He joined Luciano Pavarotti for a benefit concert in Modena, Italy. The show was in support of the non-profit organization Warchild, and raised approximately one million dollars for the refugees of Kosovo, as well as additional funds for the children of Guatemala.[83] Later that month, Jackson organized a set of "Michael Jackson & Friends" benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. Other artists involved included Slash, The Scorpions, Boys II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti. The proceeds went to the "Nelson Mandela Children's Fund", the Red Cross and UNESCO.[84]

2001–2002: Invincible, label dispute and third child

In 2001, Jackson released Invincible; it debuted at number one in thirteen countries and went on to sell approximately ten million copies worldwide. It received double-platinum certification in the US.[43][55][85] The album spawned three singles: "You Rock My World", "Cry" and "Butterflies". The sales for Invincible were low compared to his previous releases, due in part to the lack of a supporting world tour and because only one music video was released to promote the album. While most reviewers felt that the album was one of Jackson's least impressive, negative reviewers often discussed the singer's perceived eccentric image rather than the music.[85][86][87]

Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was not going to renew his contract; the contract was on the verge of expiration in terms of supplying the label with albums of new material for release through Epic Records/SME.[14] As a result, all singles releases, video shootings and promotions concerning the Invincible album were canceled. Subsequently, Jackson made allegations that Mottola was a "devil" and a "racist" who did not support his African-American artists, using them merely for his own personal gain.[14] He charged that Mottola had called his colleague Irv Gotti a "fat nigger".[88] Regardless, Jackson and Sony have continued to work together artistically and financially on multiple projects.

A special 30th Anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden was organized for the singer's thirtieth year as a solo artist. The show featured performances by Mýa, Usher, Whitney Houston, 'N Sync, The Jacksons and Slash, among other artists.[22] In wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson helped organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The concert was aired on October 21, 2001, and included performances from dozens of major artists, including Jackson, who performed his song "What More Can I Give" as the finale.[85]

Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as Blanket) was born in 2002.[89] The mother's identity has not been released by Jackson, but he has said the child was the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells.[82] In November of that year, Jackson brought his new born son onto the balcony of his hotel room. Holding him in his right arm, with a cloth loosely draped over the baby's face, Jackson briefly extended the baby over the railing of the balcony, causing widespread criticism.[90]

2003–2007: Documentary, trial and business ventures

File:Michael Jackson fans waving posters in support of MJ.jpg
As further allegations are made fans show their support for the entertainer

In 2003, Sony put out a compilation of Jackson's number-one hits on CD and DVD, titled Number Ones, which sold over six million copies worldwide.[91] In the US it peaked at number thirteen and was certified platinum by the RIAA.[43]

Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to commit that felony; all charges regarded the same boy, Gavin Arvizo, who was under fourteen at the time of the alleged crime. Earlier that year, a Granada Television documentary featuring Jackson showed him holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with Arvizo, who would later accuse him of child sexual abuse.[92] In the same documentary Jackson was observed spending large amounts of money in an apparently frivolous manner, when he spent six million in a single store.[48] Jackson denied these allegations, saying that the sleepovers were in no way sexual in nature. Jackson's friend Elizabeth Taylor defended him on Larry King Live, saying that she had been there when they "were in the bed, watching television. There was nothing abnormal about it. There was no touchy-feely going on. We laughed like children and we watched a lot of Walt Disney. There was nothing odd about it."[93] The People v. Jackson trial began in Santa Maria, California, two years after Jackson was originally charged. The trial lasted five months, until the end of May 2005. In June Jackson was acquitted on all counts.[94] Following the trial, Jackson relocated to the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain.[95] In January 2004, following his upcoming trial, Jackson was dependent on morphine and Demerol, which he overcame.[96] During the trial, the singer again suffered from stress-related illnesses and severe weight loss, that would alter his appearance.[97]

Sony BMG released Visionary: The Video Singles to the European market: a series of twenty of his biggest hit singles of the 1980s and 1990s. Each single was issued weekly over a five-month period in Dual Disc format (DVD video on one side, CD audio on the other), and the whole group of discs was made available as a boxed set afterwards.[98] The box set was released in the US on November 14, 2006.[99]

Reports of financial problems for Jackson became more frequent in 2006 after the closure of the main house on the Neverland Ranch as a cost-cutting measure.[100] One prominent financial issue for him concerned a $270 million loan secured against his music publishing holdings. After delayed repayments on the loan, a refinancing package shifted the loans from Bank of America to debt specialists Fortress Investments. A new package proposed by Sony would have had Jackson borrow an additional $300 million and reduce the interest rate payable on the loan, while giving Sony the future option to buy half of Jackson's stake in their jointly-owned publishing company (leaving Jackson with a 25% stake).[74] Jackson agreed to a Sony-backed refinancing deal, although details were not made public.[101]

Jackson's first documented public appearance since his trial was in November 2006, when he visited the London office of the Guinness World Records. He received eight records, among them "First Entertainer to Earn More Than 100 Million Dollars in a Year" and "First Entertainer to Sell More Than 100 Million Albums Outside the United States".[49] Jackson was awarded the Diamond Award on November 15, 2006, for selling over 100 million albums, at the World Music Awards.[55] Following the death of James Brown, Jackson returned to the US to pay his respects. He, along with more than eight thousand people, paid tribute during Brown's public funeral on December 30, 2006.[102][103] In late 2006, Jackson agreed to share joint custody of his first two children with his second ex-wife.[104] Jackson and Sony bought Famous Music LLC from Viacom in 2007. This deal gave him the rights to songs by Eminem, Shakira and Beck, among others.[105]

2008–present: Thriller 25 and King of Pop

File:Wj46nxya.jpg
Michael Jackson makes a rare public appearance in 2008

Jackson issued the double-disc album Thriller 25, a 25th anniversary edition of Thriller. Disc one contained the original nine tracks from Thriller, re-mixes and a new song called "For All Time". Jackson worked with will.i.am, Fergie, Kanye West and Akon on the recording. Disc two was a DVD that contained the three music videos from Thriller and Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean" at Motown 25.[106] Two singles were released to moderate success: "The Girl Is Mine 2008" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008".

Thriller 25 was a commercial success, having done particularly well as a re-issue, peaking at number one in eight countries and Europe. It reached number two in the US, number three in the UK and top ten on over thirty national charts.[107][108][109] In the US, Thriller 25 was just fourteen thousand copies short of reaching the number one position, selling 166,000 copies. It was ineligible for the Billboard 200 chart as a re-release, but entered the Pop Catalog chart at number one, where it stayed for ten non-consecutive weeks and had the best sales on that chart since December 1996.[110][111][112][113] In twelve weeks, the album had sold 556,000 copies in the US and three million copies worldwide.[110][114]

To celebrate Jackson's fiftieth birthday, Sony BMG will release a double disc compilation album called King of Pop in various countries. It will include thirty tracks from Jackson's group and solo career, all voted for by fans. Sony will then add rare tracks, previously unreleased material and a "MegaMix" by Jason Nevins. The album will be available in two versions and each country will have a different tracklist, according to how the fans of that nation voted.[115][116]

Fortress considered a foreclosure sale of Neverland Ranch to service the loan, but ultimately sold the debt to Colony Capital LLC in May of that year.[51] His total lifetime earnings from royalties on his solo recordings and music videos, revenue from concerts and endorsements have been estimated at $500 million; some analysts have speculated that his music catalog holdings could be worth billions of dollars.[48][117]

Musical style

Themes and genres

Steve Huey of Allmusic asserts that throughout his solo career, Jackson's versatility has allowed him to experiment with various themes and genres.[118] As a musician, he has ranged from Motown's dance fare and ballads to techno-edged new jack swing to work that incorporates both funk rhythms and hard rock guitar.[5] Unlike many artists, Jackson did not write his songs on paper. Instead he would dictate into a sound recorder; when recording he would sing from memory.[11][119] Several critics observed Off the Wall was crafted from funk, disco-pop, soul, soft rock, jazz and pop ballads.[118][120][121] Prominent examples include the ballad "She's out of My Life", and the two disco tunes "Workin' Day and Night" and "Get on the Floor".[120]

According to Huey, Thriller refined the strengths of Off the Wall; the dance and rock tracks were more aggressive, while the pop tunes and ballads were softer and more soulful.[118] Notable tracks included the ballads "The Lady in My Life", "Human Nature" and "The Girl Is Mine"; the funk pieces "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"; and the disco set "Baby Be Mine" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)".[118][122][123][124] With Thriller, Christoper Connelly of Rolling Stone commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery.[124] Allmusic's Stephen Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".[123] In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers.[118] In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media.[124] The anti-gang-violence rock song "Beat It" became a homage to West Side Story, and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey.[5][118] He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years.[118] In 1985, Jackson wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a central component of his life and music.[118] Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end In Bad, Jackson's concept of the predatory lover can be seen on the rock song "Dirty Diana".[125] The lead single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was a traditional love ballad, while "Man in the Mirror", an anthemic ballad of confession and resolution, improved on his earlier "We Are the World".[41] "Smooth Criminal" was an evocation of bloody assault, rape and likely murder.[41] Allmusic's Stephen Erlewine states that Dangerous presents Jackson as a stark paradoxal individual.[126] He comments the album is more diverse than his previous Bad, as it appeals to an urban audience while also attracting the middle class with anthems like "Heal the World".[126] The first half of the record is dedicated to new jack swing, including songs like "Jam" and "Remember the Time".[127] The album is Jackson's first where social ills become a primary theme; "Why You Wanna Trip on Me", for example, protests against world hunger, AIDS, homelessness and drugs.[127] Dangerous contains sexually-charged efforts like "In the Closet", a love song about desire and denial, risk and repression, solitude and connection, privacy and revelation.[127] The title track continues the theme of the predatory lover and compulsive desire.[127] The second half includes introspective, pop-gospel anthems such as "Will You Be There", "Heal the World" and "Keep the Faith"; these songs show Jackson finally opening up about various personal struggles and worries.[127] In the ballad "Gone Too Soon", Jackson gives tribute to his friend Ryan White and the plight of those with AIDS.[128] The album also contained one of his first power ballads, "Give in to Me".[127]

HIStory creates an atmosphere of paranoia.[129] Its content focuses on the hardships and public struggles Jackson went through just prior to its production. In the new jack swing-funk-rock efforts "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie", along with the R&B ballad "You Are Not Alone", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs much of his anger at the media.[130] In the introspective ballad "Stranger in Moscow", Jackson laments over his "fall from grace", while songs like "Earth Song", "Childhood", "Little Susie" and "Smile" are all operatic pop pieces.[129][130] In the track "D.S.", Jackson launched a verbal attack against Tom Sneddon. He describes Sneddon as an antisocial, white supremacist who wanted to "get my ass, dead or alive". Of the song, Sneddon said, "I have not—shall we say—done him the honor of listening to it, but I’ve been told that it ends with the sound of a gunshot".[131] Invincible found Jackson working heavily with production Rodney Jerkins.[118] It is a record made up of urban soul like "Cry" and "The Lost Children", ballads such as "Speechless", "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies"[86][87] and mixes hip hop, pop and rap in "2000 Watts", "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible".[87]

Vocal style

Jackson has been singing since a child, over time his voice and vocal style have notably changed; be it through puberty or a personal preference to align his vocal interpretation to the themes and genres he choices to express. Between 1971 and 1975, Jackson's voice "descended ever so slightly from boy soprano to his current androgynous high tenor".[5] In the mid 1970s, the singer adopted a "vocal hiccup" as seen in "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)". The purpose of the hiccup—somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping—is to help promote a certain emotion; be it excitement, sadness or fear.[7] With the arrival of Off the Wall in the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded; Allmusic described him as a "blindingly gifted vocalist".[120] At the time, Rolling Stone compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. They also reached the analysis that, "Jackson's feathery-timbered tenor is extraordinary beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly".[121] 1982 saw the released of Thriller, Rolling stone were of the opinion that Jackson was then singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".[124]

The release of "Bad" in 1987 displayed gritty lead vocals on the verse and lighter tones employed on the chorus.[10] The turn of the 1990s saw the release of the paradoxical, introspective album Dangerous, here Jackson used his vocals to intensify the split themes and genres described earlier. The New York Times noted that on some tracks, "he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth" and he had a "wretched tone".[127] When singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to "smooth" vocals.[127] "In the Closet" contained heavy breathing and a loop of five scat-sung syllables, whereas in the albums title track, Jackson performs a spoken rap.[127][132] When commenting on Invincible, Rolling Stone were of the opinion that—at the age of fourty-three—Jackson still performed, "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies".[133] Nelson George summed by Jackson's vocals as, "The grace, the aggression, the growling, the natural boyishness, the falsetto, the smoothness—that combination of elements mark him as a major vocalist".[132]

Music videos

Steve Huey of Allmusic observes the fact that Jackson transformed the music video into an art form and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameo appearances; simultaneously breaking down racial barriers.[118] Before the success of the Thriller album, Jackson struggled to receive coverage on MTV because he was African American.[134] Pressure from CBS Records persuaded MTV to start showing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", leading to a lengthy partnership with Jackson that helped other black music artists gain recognition.[135] The popularity of his video on MTV helped to put the relatively young channel "on the map"; MTV's focus shifted in favor of pop and R&B.[136][135] Short films like Thriller largely remained unique to Jackson, while the group dance sequence in "Beat It" has frequently been imitated.[137] The choreography in Thriller has become a part of global pop culture, replicated everywhere from Bollywood to prisons in the Philippines.[138][139]

File:Smooth criminal patent.png
An image of US Patent No. 5,255,452 filed by Jackson describing the anti-gravity lean used in the video for "Smooth Criminal"

In the eighteen-minute music video for "Bad"—directed by Martin Scorsese—Jackson began using sexual imagery and choreography not previously seen in his work. He occasionally grabbed or touched his chest, torso and crotch. While he has described this as "choreography," it garnered a mixed reception from both fans and critics; TIME magazine described it as "infamous". The video also featured Wesley Snipes; Jackson's videos would often feature famous cameos roles in the future.[35][140] For "Smooth Criminal", Jackson experimented with an innovative "anti-gravity lean" in his performances, for which he was granted US Patent No. 5,255,452.[141] Although the music video for "Leave Me Alone" was not officially released in the US, in 1989, it was nominated for four Billboard Music Video Awards, winning three; the same year it won a Golden Lion Award for the quality of the special effects used in its production. In 1990, "Leave Me Alone" won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form.[47]

The MTV Video Vanguard Artist of the Decade Award was given to Jackson to celebrate his accomplishments in the art form in the 1980s; the following year the award was renamed in his honor.[56] "Black or White" was accompanied by a controversial music video, which, on November 14, 1991, simultaneously premiered in twenty-seven countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people, the largest viewing ever for a music video.[55] It featured scenes construed as having a sexual nature as well as depictions of violence. The offending scenes in the final half of the fourteen-minute version were edited out to prevent the video from being banned, and Jackson apologized.[142] Along with Jackson, it featured Macaulay Culkin, Peggy Lipton and George Wendt. It helped usher in morphing as an important technology in music videos.[143] "Remember the Time" was an elaborate production, and became one of his longest videos at over nine minutes. Set in ancient Egypt, it featured groundbreaking visual effects and appearances by Eddie Murphy, Iman and Magic Johnson, along with a distinct complex dance routine.[144] The video for "In the Closet" was Jackson's most sexually provocative piece to date. It featured supermodel Naomi Campbell in a courtship dance with Jackson. The video was banned in South Africa because of its imagery.[56]

The music video for "Scream" is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed. In 1995, it gained eleven MTV Video Music Award Nominations—more than any other music video—winning three in total. A year later, it won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form; shortly afterward Guinness World Records listed it as the most expensive music video ever made at a cost of $7 million.[77][145] "Earth Song" was accompanied by an expensive and well-received music video that gained a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form in 1997. The video had an environmental theme, showing images of animal cruelty, deforestation, pollution and war. Using special effects, time is reversed so that life returns, war ends and the forests re-grow.[77][146] Released in 1997 and premiering at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, Ghosts was a short film written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston. The video for Ghosts is over thirty-eight minutes long and holds the Guinness World Record as the world's longest music video.[14][147][148][77]

Legacy, influence and artistry

See also: Records and achievements of Michael Jackson

Jackson's successful career has made him a part of pop culture for almost four decades.[55] Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, Jackson has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world. He broke down racial barriers, transformed the art of the music video and paved the way for modern pop music in his own country. Jackson's work, distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, pop and R&B artists, including Mariah Carey,[5] Usher,[149] Britney Spears,[5] Justin Timberlake,[85] R. Kelly[132] and Ne-Yo.[150] For much of his career, he had an "unparalleled" level of worldwide influence over the younger generation through his musical and humanitarian contributions.[151]

Jackson's star on the Hollywood walk of fame, set in 1984

Throughout his career he received numerous honors and awards, including the World Music Awards' Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award and the Bambi Pop Artist of the Millennium Award.[22][152] He is a double-inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and later as a solo artist in 2001. Jackson was also an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.[22] His awards include multiple Guinness World Records (eight in 2006 alone), thirteen Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era—and the sale of over 750 million units worldwide.[55][49][153][154] He is characterized as "an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility and loads of sheer star power".[118] In the mid-1980s, TIME described Jackson as "the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley".[18] Daily Telegraph writer Tom Utley called him an "extremely important figure in the history of popular culture" and a "genius".[155]

Discography

Main articles: Michael Jackson album discography and Michael Jackson singles discography

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 452–454
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i George, p. 20
  3. ^ "Michael Jackson's Secret Childhood". VH1. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  4. ^ a b "The Jackson Five". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Michael Jackson: Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-02-14. Cite error: The named reference "rollingstone" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 17
  7. ^ a b c d George, p. 22
  8. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 138–144
  9. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 163–169
  10. ^ a b George, p. 23
  11. ^ a b c d e f Taraborrelli, p. 205–210
  12. ^ a b c George, p. 37–38
  13. ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" ("#68: Off the wall"), Rolling Stone (2003-11-18).
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Taraborrelli, p. 610–612
  15. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 188
  16. ^ "Grammy Award Winners". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  17. ^ Pareles, Jon (1984-01-14). "Michael Jackson at 25: A Musical Phenomenon". New York Times.
  18. ^ a b Cocks, Jay (1984-03-19). "Why He's a Thriller". TIME.
  19. ^ Lewis, p. 47
  20. ^ "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  21. ^ "Sony announce Thriller 25". Reuters. 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2008-04-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ a b c d George, p. 50–53
  23. ^ "Michael Jackson Opens Up". CBS. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 238–241
  25. ^ Kisselgoff, Anna (1988-03-06). "Dancing feet of Michael Jackson". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 279–287
  27. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 304–307
  28. ^ Harrington, Richard (1988-10-09). "Prince & Michael Jackson: Two Paths to the Top of Pop". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  29. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 315–319
  30. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 320
  31. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 340–344
  32. ^ a b "Michael Jackson sells beatles songs to Sony". New York Times. 1995-11-08.
  33. ^ "Bad Fortunes". The Guardian. 2005-06-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ George, p. 41
  35. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 370–373
  36. ^ Original by Alan Light
  37. ^ a b c Campbell (1995), p. 14–16
  38. ^ Cite error: The named reference tara 434–436 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  39. ^ "Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple'". ABC News. February 8, 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  40. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 312–313
  41. ^ a b c Cocks, Jay (1987-09-14). "The Badder They Come". TIME.
  42. ^ Leopold, Todd (2005-06-06). "Michael Jackson: A life in the spotlight". CNN. Retrieved 2008-05-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ a b c d e "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  44. ^ a b c Lewis, p. 95–96
  45. ^ Harrington, Richard (1988-01-12). "Jackson to Make First Solo U.S. Tour". Washington Post.
  46. ^ George, p. 42
  47. ^ a b George, p. 43–44
  48. ^ a b c d e Gundersen, Edna (2007-02-19). "For Jackson, scandal could spell financial ruin". USA Today. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ a b c d "Jackson receives his World Records". Yahoo!. November 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  50. ^ Johnson, Peter (2005-06-13). "Media go into MJ Overdrive". USA Today. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ a b Keehner, Jonathan (2008-05-11). "Michael Jackson's Neverland Loan Sold by Fortress to Colony". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 2008-05-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ "Remarks on the Upcoming Summit With President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union". The American Presidency Project. 1990-04-05. Retrieved 2007-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ "Blacks who give back". Ebony. March 1990.
  54. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 382
  55. ^ a b c d e f g "The return of the King of Pop". MSNBC. 2006-11-02. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ a b c d e f g h George, p. 45–46
  57. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 459
  58. ^ a b c d Johnson, Robert (May 1992). "Michael Jackson: crowned in Africa". Ebony.
  59. ^ Lewis p. 165–168
  60. ^ a b "1993: Michael Jackson accused of child abuse". BBC. February 8, 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  61. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 477–478
  62. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 485–486
  63. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 496–498
  64. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 534–540
  65. ^ a b c d e Taraborrelli, p. 518–520
  66. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 524–528
  67. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 514–516
  68. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 500–507
  69. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 47–50
  70. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 540–545
  71. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 510
  72. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 562–564
  73. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 580–581
  74. ^ a b "Michael Jackson Bailout Said to Be Close". New York Times. 2006-04-16.
  75. ^ "Top 100 Albums (Page 2)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  76. ^ Strauss, Neil (1996-01-05). "New Faces in Grammy Nominations". New York Times.
  77. ^ a b c d e f g George, p. 48–50
  78. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 576–577
  79. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 597
  80. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 570
  81. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 586
  82. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 599–600
  83. ^ "Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Others To Join Pavarotti For Benefit". VH1. 1999-05-05. Retrieved 2008-05-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ "Slash, Scorpions, Others Scheduled For "Michael Jackson & Friends"". VH1. 1999-05-27. Retrieved 2008-05-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ a b c d Taraborrelli, p. 614–616
  86. ^ a b "Michael Jackson :Invincible". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  87. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson :Invincible". NME. 2001-11-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  88. ^ Jackson, Jermaine (December 31, 2002). "Interview with Jermaine Jackson" (Interview). Interviewed by Connie Chung. Retrieved 2008-07-02. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  89. ^ "Jackson Interview with Ed Bradley on 60 minutes". CBS. 2003-12-28. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  90. ^ "Jackson to avoid baby stunt probe". CNN. 2002-11-20. Retrieved 2008-06-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  91. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 631
  92. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 640
  93. ^ "Elizabeth Taylor defends Michael on Larry King Live". CNN. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  94. ^ Associated Press (June 13, 2005). "Michael Jackson jury reaches verdict". Retrieved 2008-07-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |pub= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  95. ^ "Jackson settles down to his new life in the Persian Gulf". Gulf News. January 23, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  96. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 661
  97. ^ Davis, Matthew (2005-06-06). "Michael Jackson health concerns". BBC. Retrieved 2008-04-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  98. ^ "M J Visionary". Sony BMG Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
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  109. ^ "Michael Jackson Thriller 25". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
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  111. ^ Caulfield, Keith (2008-02-20). "Big Grammy Gains For Many; King of Pop Returns". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-02-20. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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  115. ^ "Choose The Tracks On Michael Jackson's 50th Birthday Album!". Sony BMG Music Entertainment. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-06-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  141. ^ U.S. Patent 5,255,452; "Method and Means For Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion"; Michael J. Jackson, Michael L. Bush, Dennis Tompkins, issued Oct 26, 1993, Filed June 29, 1992
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  148. ^ Guinness World Records 2004
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References

  • Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden. ISBN 082831957X.
  • Campbell, Lisa (1995). Michael Jackson: The King of Pops Darkest Hour. Branden. ISBN 0828320039.
  • George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.
  • Guinness World Records (2003). Guinness World Records 2004. Guinness. ISBN 1892051206.
  • Guinness World Records (2005). Guinness World Records 2006. Guinness. ISBN 1-904994-02-4.
  • Lewis, Jel (2005). Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Big Picture : the Music! the Man! the Legend! the Interviews!. Amber Books Publishing. ISBN 0-974977-90-X.
  • Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.

Further reading

  • Dineen, Catherine (1993). Michael Jackson: In His Own Words. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0711932166.
  • Grant, Adrian (1994, 1997, 2002 and 2005). Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-432-2. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  • Jackson, Michael (1988). Moonwalk. Doubleday. ISBN 0-434-37042-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |Page= ignored (|page= suggested) (help)
  • Jackson, Michael (1992). Dancing The Dream. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-40368-2.
  • Jackson, Michael (2006). My World, The Official Photobook, Vol. 1. Triumph International. ISBN 0-9768891-1-0.
  • Jones, Bob (2005). Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask. Select Books Inc. ISBN 1590790723.
  • Noonan, Damien (1994). Michael Jackson. Carlton Books. ISBN 1-85797-587-1. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help)

External links

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