Published on: 26th June, 2009
Michael Joseph Jackson, the seventh in row in a big Jackson family, was a child prodigy who commenced a professional music career at the tender age of 11 as a significant element of ‘The Jackson 5’. In 1971, while still attached to the band, he went solo and in progressive years garnered top selling records globally like Off the Wall in 1979, Bad in 1987, Dangerous in 1991, History in 1995 and the epic top seller ever Thriller in 1982.
Jackson was since then fondly called the ‘King of Pop’ and the prevalent figure on the music scene in the early 1980’s. His music videos and stage shows featured slick dance moves, inimitable vocal modes and exceptional music that aired on MTV, helped bring the rather new-fangled music channel during 1990’s into limelight. ’Scream’ and ‘Black or White’ videos became the rage when they aired on MTV. He had several noteworthy accolades to his credit like 13 Grammy Awards and number one singles, being inducted twice in ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’, winner of the ’Most Successful Entertainer of All Time’.
Jackson’s early years were dominated by tumultuous relationship with his father who was a slave driver of sorts. Though he voice sounded infant-like, his gyrating moves signalled those of a grown up. The Jackson 5 group’s initial four singles tipped at the peak on the ‘Billboard hot 100’. In 1972, Jackson came up with four solo albums with Motown records that were eventually released under the Jackson 5 were instant hits. However due to the friction with Motown records which stifled their ingenious input, the band parted ways with it.
After getting into a new contract with CBS records in 1975 and then Epic Records, the group was re-christened to ‘Jacksons’ which belted out six albums between 1976-1984 where Jackson donned the role of the songwriter. The fruitful alliance with Quincy Jones commenced during the Jackson starrer musical film ‘Scarecrow’ whose music was directed by Quincy and who later on approved to produce Jackson’s solo album ‘Off the Wall’ which came out in 1979. The album was a mega success with garnered him several American and 
Billboard Music Awards and sold more than 20 million copies globally and procured him a handsome royalty of 37% of the total album profit sales.
During the same year he injured his nose during an intricate dance practice and has to get a nose job done which later turned out ineffective due to recurrent breathing problems. This started the string of facial operative procedures which totally transformed his look eventually.
There was no looking back as songs like the Grammy winning ‘Someone in The Dark’ and the zenith of his career ‘Thriller’ that fermented its position on the top 10 in Billboard 200 for nearly 20 months, making sales of more than 109 million copies and winning eight awards at the Grammys in 1984.
In 1984, Jackson was invited to the White House by U.S. President Ronald Regan to felicitate him for his overwhelming support to charities related to noble causes. ‘We are the World’ was a jointly written by Lionel Richie and Jackson with 
the intention to help the underprivileged in Africa and U.S. It made sales of near 20 million, a part of which was donated to the famine afflicted.
Jackson made the tabloids for weird reasons like sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber to slacken the ageing process to sharing a room with his pet chimpanzee, and buying bones of The Elephant Man, all of which he vehemently denied.
Due to his fourth nose and consecutive face job, weight loss, skin ailments and the skin colour change due to subsequent medications, his appearance changed drastically.
‘Bad’ in 1987 could not match up to the success that ‘Thriller’ managed, yet gained considerable success with five of its singles touching pinnacle position on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The ‘Bad World Tour’ during 1987 to 1989 had record sell-out wherever it toured and even broke the Guinness Record at the Wembley Stadium with its mammoth turnover. A major portion of the profit was donated by Jackson to noble 
causes.
His premier biographical release ‘Moon Walk’ in 1984, which sites all major milestones in his life became one of the best sellers of the time. His later released film, Moonwalker which had live recordings of music videos touched the peak at the Billboard Chart.
In 1988, he bought the land close to Santa Ynez, California to build his Neverland Ranch at a whooping $ 17million dollars. He was conferred with the ‘Artist of the Decade’ award- a White House Special award by George Bush. He started the ‘Heal the World Foundation’, where all the profits from his tours were poured into to help children in dire situations.
Jackson got embroiled in a lengthy, controversial case citing him to be a pedophile by a 13-yr old child Jordan Chandler and his father. He eventually got hooked into drugs due to the ongoing stress that deteriorated his health further leading him to cancel his further tours.
In 1995, he released the double album ‘History: Past, Present and Future’ got a Grammy nomination and sold 20 million copies. ‘Scream’ – a duet sung by Jackson and his sister Janet touched number five in the Billboard Chart and a Grammy nomination. ‘You Are Not Alone’ was inducted in the Guinness Record for the premier chart to unveil at top position on Billboard Chart. ‘Earth Song’ peaked UK singles chart.
During his HIStory World Tour during 1996-1997 that spanned 58 cities, Jackson wed a skin specialist nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe in the Australian part of the tour, with whom he had a son ‘Prince’ and daughter Paris.
He was also known to have married Lisa Marie Priestley which went kaput shortly. He was also linked to actress Brooke Shields initially.
In 1997, Jackson came up with ‘Blood on the Dance Floor: History in the Mix’ was well received peaking in UK and US. Jackson’s third child, Blanket was out of artificial insemination in 2002 whose maternal identity, Jackson kept concealed. He received lot of flack as he dangled his child off a window with his head covered to an audience below.
In 2003, an album comprising of Jackson’s hits were put out by Sony which was certified platinum and sold millions of copies. In a tele-documentary, the singer was noticed getting cosy with a 14-yr old 
child who later charged him of sexual assault. He was later charged on several counts of child abuse and the use of intoxicants to do the misdeed, which he vehemently denied. In 2005, he was cleared of all sexual charges.
Due to his frolicsome spending and poor financial handlings, he had to give up his Neverland Ranch which he resided during 1988-2005. He faced severe financial crisis and had a hefty loan of $270 million.
On June 25, 2009 he collapsed due to fatal cardiac arrest in his Holmby Hills home in LA and the paramedics were unable to restore his pulse after futile CPR attempts. He passed into coma as he was shifted to the nearby UCLA Medical Centre and passed away shortly. He was due to perform at London’s O2 arena on July 13, 2009 for which he was reportedly preparing.
A true legend and phenomenon in the making, Michael Jackson will always be revered as the King of Pop.
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