Michael Jackson – The King Of Pop, Rock And Soul

Michael Joseph Jackson, the world’s most beloved “The King of Pop, Rock and Soul” or as others may call him The Gloved One, Wacko Jacko, Jacko, MJ, Mike and Mikey was born in Indiana, to be specific Gary, Indiana. On August 29, 1958, he became the son of Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson. His father Joe was a guitarist but due to marriage he had given up his musical ambitions. Joe and Katherine had five children Jackie, the first child, Tito, the second child, Jermaine, the third child, Marlon, the fourth child and Michael the fifth child. Living with his father, it was pretty difficult. Always being on the road really affected him and his brothers. He was always strict but it was very over the top most of the time. The Jackson 5 had four of their first singles hit the top of the Billboard chart, but the group's appeal was more than just musical, they were among the first black teen idols to appeal to a white audience. As Michael grew, his singing and dancing matured he became the main focus of Jackson 5.

In the 1970’s Michael and and the Jackson 5 became known as the most accomplished black pop and soul vocal groups in music history. Michael wanted to go on his own as a solo artist. As time went on Michael became more popular than his brothers and started to go solo. His brothers and father had a hard time with this, especially his father. On January 24, 1972, Michael Jackson, age 13 released his first album called “Got to Be There.” That also includes his first ever solo song with the same name as the album. Worldwide over 3.2 million copies and 900,000 copies were sold in the United States. He sold over 750 million albums world wide. “Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever.”

A few of his top selling hits he released were Thriller, Bad, Billie Jean, Black or White, Man in the Mirror, The Way You Make Me Feel and many others. He really wanted a title like “The Boss” or “The King”. He thought “The King of Pop” just seemed right. He had contacted MTV just before the launch of “Black or White” and had them refer to him as “The King of Pop”. At first, the name was laughed at, but it eventually it stuck. In 1982, Thriller Michaels Jacksons sixth album was the best-selling album in world history. “The Girl is Mine,” first single on the album ft. Paul McCartney from the Beatles was rated number one on the rhythm and blues charts and in 1982, it landed number two on the pop charts. As well the song “Billie Jean,” topped the pop charts. Including Michael dancing and doing is trademark the “moonwalk.” The hit single “Beat It” broke down the barriers between the black and the white musician's of radio. The album its self made 7/10 hits on Top 10 hits made it. For 80 weeks the album stayed on the charts and held the 1st place spot for 37 weeks total. 66 million copies were sold world wide. On Billboard 200 it stayed on there for 122 weeks straight.

Michael was known for his trade marks such as, the moon walk, the crotch grab - he would often grab his crotch during his dance routines, his single sparkle white glove - was apart of his stage costumes and worn to cover up his skin condition, his very high pitched voice, his black hat and his jacket with 1 ribbon around his sleeve.

Michael changed dance history, it was a style of dance called popping that changed everything. Worldwide they saw Michael do the moonwalk for the first time in his live solo performance of “Billie Jean.” Jackson had learned this from some of his friends. Michael was a really good dancer and because of this he was quick and had good control which made the moonwalk look slick. It starts with the moon walk, then a spin and one of his famous trademarks, his stance on his tiptoes along with freezing in place. Jackson made the move a national phenomenon, kids everywhere were imitating him. But the moment is a particular part of dance history because Jackson bridged the gap between West Coast street dance and the East Coast break dancers, who were part of the early days of hip-hop. Back in the 80’s a lot of radio stations were weary to play music by black artists. It wasn’t until “Billie Jean” came out that some stations started playing that kind of music.

Finally, when the “Thriller” song and short film came out, all radio stations started playing it. It really was the start of something amazing. He just wanted to spread love and that’s what he was starting to do. Michael Jackson’s image as a child and being bullied because of the way he looked. Is a great example of today’s society judgement on looks, sexuality, and race. Some call it poking fun, but he call it bullying. It made him self conscious for life. So he decided to get a nose job. Unfortunately, the first one didn’t go very well so he got another one. He started out modestly enough, by just wanting a different nose. In the end, after up to 100 procedures, he was desperately trying to fix the damage done by reckless and botched injections and operations. He had multiple cosmetic surgeries from nose jobs, a dimple on his chin, straight hair and also lost weight because of a change in diet and a desire for “a dancer’s body”. Reporters say that he slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow the ageing process, and that is wear he got the nickname “Wacko Jacko”.

Michael Jackson had a skin condition called vitiligo, vitiligo is a condition where the pigment in the skin start to lose its color, causing white patches. He bleached his skin to cover up the white patches that come with the disease as a result of dead pigment, producing cells.Why not just tell people I’m an alien from Mars? Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They’ll believe anything you say, because you’re a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, “I’m an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight,” people would say, “Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He’s cracked up. You can’t believe a single word that comes out of his mouth.” - Michael Jackson2009, June 5th, his career is over at age 50. The night before Jackson was found not breathing at his home he had been rehearsing ahead of a series of comeback concerts at the London O2 Arena. Michael was pronounced dead at 2:26pm. Jackson’s death was caused by a overdose of propofol and benzodiazepine. They had an autopsy on him and found drugs of the following also midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine.