Michael Jackson came into this world on August 29, 1958. He was born in Gary, Indiana. His parents, Katherine Esther Scruse and Joseph Walter Jackson were of modest means. Katherine was a dedicated Jehovah's Witness and Joseph labored in a steel mill. Michael was born into a musical family. Joseph performed with The Falcons, an R&B band.
Joseph Jackson wasted little time living vicariously through his sons. Joseph turned his kids into performers and started a family group. Michael Jackson and his brother Marlon would join this group in 1964. Michael was only eight years old when he began singing backup vocals and dancing. Michael and Marlon quickly became the lead and the group was named The Jackson Five.
Michael Jackson was not destined to be in a group act. Even though the Jackson Five found celebrity, he was destined to be a solo performer. In the late 1970s, Michael struck out on his own. By 1982, Michael Jackson was releasing his second solo album. Thriller became the most successful album of all times. Thriller stayed on Billboards top 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. RIAA certified Thriller for 28 million shipments, earning Thriller Double Diamond status. Worldwide, Thriller sold between 47 million and 109 million copies.
Being just another singer is not what Michael had in mind. He would also become an author in 1988 adding the title of writer to his repetoir. Moon Walk, his autobiography, would take nearly four years to complete and would sell over 200,000 copies.
Michael Jackson's fame made him a very rich man. Between 1984 and 1985, he purchased the catalog to the Beatles music for $47.5 million. This year was not without its challenges. While filming a Pepsi commercial, his scalp was burned.
In 1993, Jackson's first case of accused child sexual abuse surfaced. The accusers were a 13 year old boy names Jordan Chandler and his father, Evan Chandler. On January, 1, 1994, Jackson would settle with the Chandler's out of court for $22 million. Jackson was never charged in this case due to lack of evidence by the state.
In May 1994 Jackson was married for the first time to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. Jackson and Presley's marriage was short lived, and would end in a divorce 2 years later. They would still remain friends after the divorce.
Entering his second marriage in 1996, Jacko would marry his dermatology nurse, Debbie Rowe, on November 14. Together they would have two children. Michael Joseph Jackson, now known as Prince Michael Jackson, would be the first born. Their second born would be their daughter, Paris Katherine Michael Jackson. Just 3 years later the marriage would end, but the split couple would still continue to be friends, with Debbie Rowe granting full custody of both children to Michael.
In 2002, Jacko's third child would be born. Prince Michael Jackson II. The mother's identity was never released by Jackson, but he would say that the child was the result of an artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells.
In 2003, Jacko was once more accused of child molestation by then 13 year old Gavin Arvizo. Jackson would be charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor.. Jackson would deny all allegations.
His trial, People vs. Jackson, would officially begin on January 31, 2005 and would last for a period of only 5 months. The trial ended with Jackson being acquitted on all counts.
Right before his death in 2009, Jacko was to be in the spotlight once again. He was scheduled to perform at London's O2 arena, starring in 50 sold out concerts. They were to begin July 13, 2009, with the last concert scheduled to be on March 6, 2010. The ticket sales, according to Jackson's website, broke numerous records.
On June 25,2009, Los Angeles Paramedics would receive a call at 12:22 p.m (PDT). Michael Jackson had collapsed in his rented mansion. Paramedics arrived three minutes later at Jacko's residence. CPR would be administered for an hour while en route to a local Los Angeles hospital, where Jackson would be pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. local time.
His memorial would be held on July7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angles. His casket was present at the memorial, which was broadcast live all around the world and watched by up to one billion people, but no information would be released about the final resting place of Michael Jackson's body. RIP Michael "King of Pop" Jackson.
Joseph Jackson wasted little time living vicariously through his sons. Joseph turned his kids into performers and started a family group. Michael Jackson and his brother Marlon would join this group in 1964. Michael was only eight years old when he began singing backup vocals and dancing. Michael and Marlon quickly became the lead and the group was named The Jackson Five.
Michael Jackson was not destined to be in a group act. Even though the Jackson Five found celebrity, he was destined to be a solo performer. In the late 1970s, Michael struck out on his own. By 1982, Michael Jackson was releasing his second solo album. Thriller became the most successful album of all times. Thriller stayed on Billboards top 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. RIAA certified Thriller for 28 million shipments, earning Thriller Double Diamond status. Worldwide, Thriller sold between 47 million and 109 million copies.
Being just another singer is not what Michael had in mind. He would also become an author in 1988 adding the title of writer to his repetoir. Moon Walk, his autobiography, would take nearly four years to complete and would sell over 200,000 copies.
Michael Jackson's fame made him a very rich man. Between 1984 and 1985, he purchased the catalog to the Beatles music for $47.5 million. This year was not without its challenges. While filming a Pepsi commercial, his scalp was burned.
In 1993, Jackson's first case of accused child sexual abuse surfaced. The accusers were a 13 year old boy names Jordan Chandler and his father, Evan Chandler. On January, 1, 1994, Jackson would settle with the Chandler's out of court for $22 million. Jackson was never charged in this case due to lack of evidence by the state.
In May 1994 Jackson was married for the first time to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. Jackson and Presley's marriage was short lived, and would end in a divorce 2 years later. They would still remain friends after the divorce.
Entering his second marriage in 1996, Jacko would marry his dermatology nurse, Debbie Rowe, on November 14. Together they would have two children. Michael Joseph Jackson, now known as Prince Michael Jackson, would be the first born. Their second born would be their daughter, Paris Katherine Michael Jackson. Just 3 years later the marriage would end, but the split couple would still continue to be friends, with Debbie Rowe granting full custody of both children to Michael.
In 2002, Jacko's third child would be born. Prince Michael Jackson II. The mother's identity was never released by Jackson, but he would say that the child was the result of an artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells.
In 2003, Jacko was once more accused of child molestation by then 13 year old Gavin Arvizo. Jackson would be charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor.. Jackson would deny all allegations.
His trial, People vs. Jackson, would officially begin on January 31, 2005 and would last for a period of only 5 months. The trial ended with Jackson being acquitted on all counts.
Right before his death in 2009, Jacko was to be in the spotlight once again. He was scheduled to perform at London's O2 arena, starring in 50 sold out concerts. They were to begin July 13, 2009, with the last concert scheduled to be on March 6, 2010. The ticket sales, according to Jackson's website, broke numerous records.
On June 25,2009, Los Angeles Paramedics would receive a call at 12:22 p.m (PDT). Michael Jackson had collapsed in his rented mansion. Paramedics arrived three minutes later at Jacko's residence. CPR would be administered for an hour while en route to a local Los Angeles hospital, where Jackson would be pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. local time.
His memorial would be held on July7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angles. His casket was present at the memorial, which was broadcast live all around the world and watched by up to one billion people, but no information would be released about the final resting place of Michael Jackson's body. RIP Michael "King of Pop" Jackson.
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