Michael Jackson

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Permalink Reply by Kris @Yeagerhood on June 26, 2009 at 6:40am

THE EARLY YEARS

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29th, 1958 in Gary, Indiana.


Before he became the self proclaimed “King Of Pop,” Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson Five.


The Jackson Five – consisting of Michael’s brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon – went on make over 40 top ten records worldwide, birthing hit songs like “I’ll Be There,” “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “The Love You Save.”
In 1969, The Jackson 5 signed a recording contract with Motown Records.
In 1970, Jackson embarked on a solo career.
In 1976, The Jacksons got their own television show.
In 1978, Jackson appeared on stage as the scarecrow in the musical The Wiz.


THE JACKSON 5 DISCOGRAPHY

The Jacksons, 1976
Goin’ Places, 1977
Destiny, 1978
Triumph, 1980
The Jacksons Live, 1981
Victory, 1984

THE KING OF POP

In 1979, Jackson’s solo album, Off the Wall, produced by Quincy Jones, was released. It sold seven-million copies.


In 1982, Jackson released Thriller, also produced by Quincy Jones. More than 40-million copies are sold. The album contains chart-topping singles such as “The Girl Is Mine,” “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and “Beat It.” Thriller’s success is owed in great part to a formidable marketing campaign that redesigned Jackson’s fashion style and promoted his effortless dancing.


In 1984, Jackson began to remodel his African features, starting with the reduction of his nostrils. His skin color began to lighten, as well.


In 1985, Jackson took part in the ensemble hit, “We Are The World.” Michael co-wrote the iconic song alongside Lionel Richie.


In 1987, Jackson’s album Bad was released.


In 1988, Moonwalk, Jackson’s first autobiography, was published.


In 1988, Jackson paid 17-million dollars for a ranch outside Santa Barbara, California and turned it into a real-life Neverland. It included an amusement park with a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel.


In 1991, Dangerous came out.


In 2001, Jackson released his sixth solo album, Invincible, which cost 30-million dollars to make. It received a cool reception from music critics.




MICHAEL JACKSON SOLO DISCOGRAPHY

Got To Be There, 1972
Ben, 1972
Off the Wall, 1979
Thriller, 1982
Michael Jackson Bad, 1987
Dangerous, 1991
History: Past, Present And Future Book 1, 1995
Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix, 1997
The Best of Michael Jackson (Anthology Series) , 1998
Invincible, 2001
Number Ones, 2003



NEVERLAND RANCH FACTS

Neverland Ranch is located at 5225 Figueroa Mountain Road in Los Olivos, California and is 28-hundred acres.


Neverland Ranch contained a zoo and a theme park, complete with a Ferris wheel, a super slide, bumper cars and other rides.


It is named after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, where children never grow up.


It was closed in 2006 after Jackson failed to pay his staff or maintain proper insurance.


The ranch was scheduled to go up for auction this year to help Jackson with his financial trouble. The auction was then cancelled in April.



MARRIAGE TO LISA MARIE PRESLEY

In 1994, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in a secret ceremony on May 26. The marriage lasted 18 months.


MARRIAGE TO DEBBIE ROWE

In 1996, Jackson married Australian nurse Debbie Rowe. The marriage ended in 1999.



MICHAEL JACKSON TRIALS

In 1993, Michael Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by Evan Chandler, on behalf of his then-13-year-old child, Jordan Chandler.


Again, in 2003, questions were raised as to whether Jackson was a pedophile when British journalist Martin Bashir followed the pop singer’s lifestyle in the controversial documentary, Living With Michael Jackson.


In the documentary, Jackson defended his practice of letting young boys sleep in his bed. He was also shown holding hands with a boy who would later accuse the singer of child molestation.


In November 2003, Jackson’s Neverland Ranch was extensively searched by police, whereby he was subsequently arrested on charges of child molestation.


Jackson was booked and later released on a three-million dollar bail bond.


Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charges and did not testify during the trial.


On May 12th, 2005, actor Macaulay Culkin testified on Jackson’s behalf and denied that the pop singer ever abused him while he was a child star. Culkin, 24, made many visits to Jackson’s Neverland estate in the early ‘90s. Culkin told the courtroom he slept in Jackson’s bed several times but said it was simply because he fell asleep in the bedroom.


On June 3rd, 2005, the case against Michael Jackson went to the jury. In closing arguments, the prosecution tried to paint the picture of a serial child molester who supplied children with alcohol at his sprawling Neverland Ranch home. Jackson’s lawyers argued he was the victim of an attempted extortion.


On June 13th, 2005, after 32 hours of deliberation, the jury found Jackson not guilty on all counts.


Jackson left the courthouse with his family by his side. His supportive fans greeted him outside with cheers and posters.


His lead defense attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., told reporters on his way out of the courthouse that “justice was done. The man’s innocent. He always was.”


(Facts provided by CNN.com and Wikipedia.com)

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