Post by Forever Motown on Jul 26, 2009 1:35:32 GMT -5
BET.com Remembers Michael Jackson
By Andreas Hale
There was never another individual quite like Michael Jackson and there probably never will be another talent that will ever compare to him again. His loss has sent shockwaves throughout the globe as what is quite possibly the single most popular figure ever in entertainment has passed away.
The entire world mourns the loss of an unrivaled pop icon.
Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest on Friday, June 25, 2009.
It is difficult to put into words what the loss of Michael Jackson means to the world. His lasting impact on several generations of life is indescribable. For many of us, we grew up attempting to mimic his legendary dance moves. Some of us may not even have been born when his legendary “Thriller” was released, but still understand the significance and impact of the incomparable Michael Jackson.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. As the eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael began his journey to “King of Pop” status when he joined his brothers Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine in 1966.
Dubbed 'The Jackson 5' in 1968, Michael would take lead and make history as one of the original “boy bands” as a part of the Motown family at the tender age of 11. With Michael singing lead and astounding audiences all over with dead-on mastery of James Brown's dance moves and soulful, mature-beyond-his-years vocals, The Jackson 5 would become the first act in recorded history to have their first four major label singles ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There") reach the #1 spot on the charts. The group would also steal the hearts of women everywhere and become Black teen idols that appealed to the masses like no other.
While still a member of The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson would take his boyish good looks and remarkable voice to make an attempt at a solo career. He would release four solo albums with Motown beginning with 1972’s “Got To Be There” and his first number one solo single “Ben” off of the album of the same title.
With The Jackson 5 leaving Motown in 1975 – and subsequently being renamed The Jacksons when they signed with CBS Records – Michael began to focus strongly on his solo career. After appearing as the Scarecrow in the film musical, "The Wiz," Michael linked up with the film’s music arranger Quincy Jones and began to work on his next solo album. In 1979, the Jackson and Jones tandem would produce “Off The Wall” (which would eventually sell 20 million copies worldwide). The album spawned four top ten hits – two of which were “Rock With You” and “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” – and helped blast Jackson’s celebrity further into the stratosphere. The release garnered both American Music Awards and Billboard Awards and set the stage for Jackson to take the world by storm with his next release.
1982 found Jackson busy working on his masterpiece. On November 30, 1982, Jackson gave the world “Thriller.” Refining the pop and dance aesthetic of “Off The Wall,” “Thriller” would explode onto the charts with a staggering 80 consecutive weeks in the top ten, with 37 of those weeks being at #1. It was also the first album to have seven Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles including “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin.” It has often been called the best-selling album of all time as it went double diamond (28 million sold) in the U.S. and worldwide sales estimating in between 47 million and 109 million copies.
Jackson would also go on to redefine the concept of a music video with the release of the mini-movie “Thriller.” Featuring chilling narrative by Vincent Price and a 13-minute storyline complete with dancing zombies and a “werecat” transformation by Michael himself, “Thriller” would go on to become Guinness’ “most successful music video” of all time, selling over 9 million units.
As huge as "Thriller" was, Jackson’s icon status continued to grow with his legendary performance of “Billie Jean” at the “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” special which aired on March 25, 1983. An estimated 47 million viewers bore witness to the infamous “moonwalk” that has since catapulted the performance into one of the most memorable live performances of all time. “Billie Jean” would also break down racial barriers at MTV as Jackson became the first African American to have his video played on the network.
Jackson would continue to make his presence felt as a humanitarian when he co-wrote the charity song “We Are The World” with Lionel Richie.
With the boatloads of awards and accolades rolling in – including a record-breaking 8 Grammys in one night – Jackson would unquestionably become the biggest pop star of the 1980s.
Being a superstar did have its minor drawbacks as Jackson’s private life would remain under the microscope during his long hiatus between albums. Everything from his pet monkey “Bubbles,” his rumored bouts with the skin disease vitiligo and his questionable purchases of everything from The Beatles catalogue to his Neverland Ranch made him out to be more bizarre than one would expect. Regardless, Jackson continued to march on with more #1 releases such as 1987’s “Bad” and 1991’s “Dangerous.” He would also release the full length feature film “Moonwalker” in 1989 and signed a then-record breaking $65 million deal with Sony in March of 1991.
Despite his legal troubles that stemmed from accusations of sexual abuse in the early 1990s, fans all over the world adored the “King of Pop.” In between “Dangerous” and his 1995 release “HIStory,” Jackson would marry Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late Elvis Presley. The marriage would last from 1994-1996 as the two split amicably and remained friends.
When Jackson released 1995’s “HIStory,” he included the first ever duet with his younger sister Janet titled “Scream.” 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."
In 1996, “The King Of Pop” would embark on the HIStory World Tour, which spanned 58 cities and was seen by 4.5 million fans. Jackson would also marry his second wife during the Australian leg of the tour. Dermatologist nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe married Jackson and gave birth to two of his children - Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince") and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. The two would divorce in 1999.
As world renowned as Michael Jackson was, it was indeed time for a break. A new crop of R&B singers began to emerge and cited Jackson as their key influence. Artists such as Usher, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo have all professed how the pop icon helped shape who they are today.
During this time off, Jackson would be recognized for his charitable efforts in the Guinness World Records for his support of 39 charities, more than any other entertainer or personality. Before releasing his last album, “Invincible,” in 2001, he was engaged in a label dispute with Sony and its head of entertainment, Tommy Mottola. The conflict resulted in Jackson leaving Sony on the eve of “Invincible” being released and found that all promotions for the album were cancelled. The album still emerged atop the charts and sold 10 million copies worldwide. However, in comparison to previous releases, this was his lowest selling album to date.
In 2002, a third child would emerge. Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as "Blanket") was the center of much controversy considering the identity of the mother was never revealed and Jackson’s claims that the child was the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells. In November of that year, Jackson would infamously dangle his third son over the balcony of his hotel room in Berlin. This further fueled the media’s claims of Jackson’s erratic and bizarre behavior.
As Jackson faded from the public eye, his legal issues continued to cast a dark cloud. A documentary titled “Living With Michael Jackson” aired on Grenada television and showed Jackson holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 14-year-old boy by the name of Gavin Arvizo. The boy would later accuse him of child sexual abuse and the pop icon would be charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to commit that felony. He would later be acquitted of all counts and relocate to the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain as a guest of Sheikh Abdullah.
He would still make the occasional appearance, most notably emerging at the 2003 BET Awards to honor his mentor, James Brown, with a special Lifetime Achievement Award. Michael also gave a spontaneous dance performance.
Despite claims that he was in financial strife, Jackson was still reported to be making $75 million a year. A long-rumored comeback album began to hit the media in the mid 2000s as fans young and old anticipated the return of their pop icon.
After several false alarms, Jackson and music promoter AEG Live announced he would perform 50 concerts at London's O2 Arena. Jackson had been due to start the concerts on July 13. Jackson had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the London shows, which sold out within hours of going on sale in March. However, multiple reports of health issues began to take shape and cast a dark cloud on Jackson’s future.
On the morning of June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles. Paramedics responded to the 12:21 p.m. 911 call within minutes and administered CPR on the fallen pop legend. Jackson was not breathing and slipped into a coma as he was rushed to UCLA Medical Center for suffering cardiac arrest. Shortly after, the news nobody wanted to hear littered the internet and news outlets:
Michael Jackson dead at 50.
A collective gasp was heard across the globe as the man who impacted so many of our lives was abruptly taken from us. The young boy who grew up in front of the world had the curtain close on a tremendous career.
The music, the dancing, the influence, the star power and the multiple intangibles that made Michael Jackson the unparalleled “King of Pop” were no more.
Thousands gathered to mourn his loss as celebrities wept and paid their respects on the internet and through various media outlets.
He may be gone but his influence will forever live on.
You will be missed…
Michael Jackson
"The King Of Pop"
By Andreas Hale
There was never another individual quite like Michael Jackson and there probably never will be another talent that will ever compare to him again. His loss has sent shockwaves throughout the globe as what is quite possibly the single most popular figure ever in entertainment has passed away.
The entire world mourns the loss of an unrivaled pop icon.
Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest on Friday, June 25, 2009.
It is difficult to put into words what the loss of Michael Jackson means to the world. His lasting impact on several generations of life is indescribable. For many of us, we grew up attempting to mimic his legendary dance moves. Some of us may not even have been born when his legendary “Thriller” was released, but still understand the significance and impact of the incomparable Michael Jackson.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. As the eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael began his journey to “King of Pop” status when he joined his brothers Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine in 1966.
Dubbed 'The Jackson 5' in 1968, Michael would take lead and make history as one of the original “boy bands” as a part of the Motown family at the tender age of 11. With Michael singing lead and astounding audiences all over with dead-on mastery of James Brown's dance moves and soulful, mature-beyond-his-years vocals, The Jackson 5 would become the first act in recorded history to have their first four major label singles ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There") reach the #1 spot on the charts. The group would also steal the hearts of women everywhere and become Black teen idols that appealed to the masses like no other.
While still a member of The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson would take his boyish good looks and remarkable voice to make an attempt at a solo career. He would release four solo albums with Motown beginning with 1972’s “Got To Be There” and his first number one solo single “Ben” off of the album of the same title.
With The Jackson 5 leaving Motown in 1975 – and subsequently being renamed The Jacksons when they signed with CBS Records – Michael began to focus strongly on his solo career. After appearing as the Scarecrow in the film musical, "The Wiz," Michael linked up with the film’s music arranger Quincy Jones and began to work on his next solo album. In 1979, the Jackson and Jones tandem would produce “Off The Wall” (which would eventually sell 20 million copies worldwide). The album spawned four top ten hits – two of which were “Rock With You” and “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” – and helped blast Jackson’s celebrity further into the stratosphere. The release garnered both American Music Awards and Billboard Awards and set the stage for Jackson to take the world by storm with his next release.
1982 found Jackson busy working on his masterpiece. On November 30, 1982, Jackson gave the world “Thriller.” Refining the pop and dance aesthetic of “Off The Wall,” “Thriller” would explode onto the charts with a staggering 80 consecutive weeks in the top ten, with 37 of those weeks being at #1. It was also the first album to have seven Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles including “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin.” It has often been called the best-selling album of all time as it went double diamond (28 million sold) in the U.S. and worldwide sales estimating in between 47 million and 109 million copies.
Jackson would also go on to redefine the concept of a music video with the release of the mini-movie “Thriller.” Featuring chilling narrative by Vincent Price and a 13-minute storyline complete with dancing zombies and a “werecat” transformation by Michael himself, “Thriller” would go on to become Guinness’ “most successful music video” of all time, selling over 9 million units.
As huge as "Thriller" was, Jackson’s icon status continued to grow with his legendary performance of “Billie Jean” at the “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” special which aired on March 25, 1983. An estimated 47 million viewers bore witness to the infamous “moonwalk” that has since catapulted the performance into one of the most memorable live performances of all time. “Billie Jean” would also break down racial barriers at MTV as Jackson became the first African American to have his video played on the network.
Jackson would continue to make his presence felt as a humanitarian when he co-wrote the charity song “We Are The World” with Lionel Richie.
With the boatloads of awards and accolades rolling in – including a record-breaking 8 Grammys in one night – Jackson would unquestionably become the biggest pop star of the 1980s.
Being a superstar did have its minor drawbacks as Jackson’s private life would remain under the microscope during his long hiatus between albums. Everything from his pet monkey “Bubbles,” his rumored bouts with the skin disease vitiligo and his questionable purchases of everything from The Beatles catalogue to his Neverland Ranch made him out to be more bizarre than one would expect. Regardless, Jackson continued to march on with more #1 releases such as 1987’s “Bad” and 1991’s “Dangerous.” He would also release the full length feature film “Moonwalker” in 1989 and signed a then-record breaking $65 million deal with Sony in March of 1991.
Despite his legal troubles that stemmed from accusations of sexual abuse in the early 1990s, fans all over the world adored the “King of Pop.” In between “Dangerous” and his 1995 release “HIStory,” Jackson would marry Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late Elvis Presley. The marriage would last from 1994-1996 as the two split amicably and remained friends.
When Jackson released 1995’s “HIStory,” he included the first ever duet with his younger sister Janet titled “Scream.” 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."
In 1996, “The King Of Pop” would embark on the HIStory World Tour, which spanned 58 cities and was seen by 4.5 million fans. Jackson would also marry his second wife during the Australian leg of the tour. Dermatologist nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe married Jackson and gave birth to two of his children - Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince") and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. The two would divorce in 1999.
As world renowned as Michael Jackson was, it was indeed time for a break. A new crop of R&B singers began to emerge and cited Jackson as their key influence. Artists such as Usher, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo have all professed how the pop icon helped shape who they are today.
During this time off, Jackson would be recognized for his charitable efforts in the Guinness World Records for his support of 39 charities, more than any other entertainer or personality. Before releasing his last album, “Invincible,” in 2001, he was engaged in a label dispute with Sony and its head of entertainment, Tommy Mottola. The conflict resulted in Jackson leaving Sony on the eve of “Invincible” being released and found that all promotions for the album were cancelled. The album still emerged atop the charts and sold 10 million copies worldwide. However, in comparison to previous releases, this was his lowest selling album to date.
In 2002, a third child would emerge. Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as "Blanket") was the center of much controversy considering the identity of the mother was never revealed and Jackson’s claims that the child was the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells. In November of that year, Jackson would infamously dangle his third son over the balcony of his hotel room in Berlin. This further fueled the media’s claims of Jackson’s erratic and bizarre behavior.
As Jackson faded from the public eye, his legal issues continued to cast a dark cloud. A documentary titled “Living With Michael Jackson” aired on Grenada television and showed Jackson holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 14-year-old boy by the name of Gavin Arvizo. The boy would later accuse him of child sexual abuse and the pop icon would be charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to commit that felony. He would later be acquitted of all counts and relocate to the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain as a guest of Sheikh Abdullah.
He would still make the occasional appearance, most notably emerging at the 2003 BET Awards to honor his mentor, James Brown, with a special Lifetime Achievement Award. Michael also gave a spontaneous dance performance.
Despite claims that he was in financial strife, Jackson was still reported to be making $75 million a year. A long-rumored comeback album began to hit the media in the mid 2000s as fans young and old anticipated the return of their pop icon.
After several false alarms, Jackson and music promoter AEG Live announced he would perform 50 concerts at London's O2 Arena. Jackson had been due to start the concerts on July 13. Jackson had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the London shows, which sold out within hours of going on sale in March. However, multiple reports of health issues began to take shape and cast a dark cloud on Jackson’s future.
On the morning of June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles. Paramedics responded to the 12:21 p.m. 911 call within minutes and administered CPR on the fallen pop legend. Jackson was not breathing and slipped into a coma as he was rushed to UCLA Medical Center for suffering cardiac arrest. Shortly after, the news nobody wanted to hear littered the internet and news outlets:
Michael Jackson dead at 50.
A collective gasp was heard across the globe as the man who impacted so many of our lives was abruptly taken from us. The young boy who grew up in front of the world had the curtain close on a tremendous career.
The music, the dancing, the influence, the star power and the multiple intangibles that made Michael Jackson the unparalleled “King of Pop” were no more.
Thousands gathered to mourn his loss as celebrities wept and paid their respects on the internet and through various media outlets.
He may be gone but his influence will forever live on.
You will be missed…
Michael Jackson
"The King Of Pop"