Introduction

Michael Joseph Jackson was an extremely successful pop singer, superb dancer, and talented composer who often conveyed a grotesque image. (Michael Joseph Jackson) Michael Jackson was by far the best performer and singer of all time. In my opinion he is a legend who changed the art of music.  He was dubbed the “King of the Pop” for a reason. Jackson’s success started as a young child. As a child Michael was already in the music business, he continued so until his death. When he was alive he was adored by millions, when he died he was adored by even more. He was an inspiration to many different people, including many celebrities and artists today. He is often compared to the great Elvis Presley or Frank Sinatra. The difference to me is that Michael was always an individual. He always had his own unique style, unique moves, and unique vibe of music. It’s his music, his ways that made him unforgettable. It’s the feeling you get whenever you hear “Thriller”, and you know you have to dance. Michael had that power over people. His music captured you completely, and no matter how many times you listen to it, it will never get redundant.  His career was a huge success story. However he had many failures and predicaments in his life time. From being accused of several outrageous issues, to almost falling into complete debt. He had his bad moments, but his good ones shone above all else. He was a true star; all Jackson could do was shine, in both life, and in death.

Billie Jean- http://www.mtv.com/videos/michael-jackson/26708/billie-jean.jhtml

Category 1: Childhood (Entry 1)

The story starts with talent. Not the sort of talent that wins the lead in the school musical, or even the sort that wins American Idol. (TIME Michael Jackson) Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958. Michael was one of the nine children born to Joe and Katherine Jackson. He was the fifth out of nine. Their house was always filled with music. Their mother always sang to them. His father Joseph Jackson always dreamed of becoming a musician. He was a guitarist, but put away his dream to work for his family in a steel plant. Joseph saw that his sons had talent. The Jackson boys formed a family band.  Joseph decided to do whatever it took to make his children famous. He pushed them to succeed.  He was often very violent and obsessive with success. He would make the boys stay up all night to practice for a gig until absolute perfection. He treated them as adults. Many times the boys never got to do things that other kids got to do. It was almost as if they were pushed into being adults and had to grow up overnight.  The music group started out as Michael’s older brothers Tito, Jermaine, and Jackie. Michael joined at only the age of five and became the group’s lead singer! His vocals were amazing and he was very impressive. Eventually their other brother Marlon also joined the family group. This group evolved into what was known as The Jackson Five.  (Bio Michael Jackson)

Category 1: Childhood (Entry 2)

Michael Jackson was only a kid, maybe a second grader, spins his way out of the pack of older boys and opens his mouth to sing and magic. “He’s only 4 ft. tall,” Don Cornelius, creator of Soul Train, recalls, “and you’re looking at a small person who can do anything he wanted to do onstage- with his feet or his voice. Michael did it all, within the framework of one package. Nobody else did that.” (TIME Michael Jackson) It’s amazing that even though Michael was the youngest he was the star of the Jackson Five. His father didn’t even consider him because he was too young, but then he heard him sing. In an instant he was a star. Joe Jackson pushed the Jackson Five to no end. If they made mistakes he punished them. (TIME Michael Jackson) He made them practice and polish their skills. Joe was very violent with the boys. If they messed up he whipped them. The boys did many gigs at strip joints. The Jackson Five were exposed to sex at a young age. It wasn’t the right environment for six year old Michael who would come home late at night. His mother sometimes opposed what her husband did with the boys, but she feared him as well. The Jackson brothers made it to Harlem’s Apollo Theater where the group won a competition in 1967. (TIME Michael Jackson) That same year the Jackson’s opened for Gladys Knight, who was part of Barry Gordy’s Motown Records. She was so impressed by Michael she wanted Gordy to take a closer look.

Category 1: Childhood ( Entry 3)

The Jackson Five had big things in store for them, and Michael had success coming, he just didn’t know it yet. The Jackson Five was a big hit and Barry Gordy signed them in 1968. Their father became their manager once they were relocated to Los Angeles to work on perfecting their dancing and singing. Once in Los Angeles they lived with Gordy and Diana Ross. Michael loved Diana and always referred to her as his “first love”. He was ecstatic that he was given the privilege to meet all of these different people. Los Angeles, hotels, celebrities- it was a lot different than life was in small town Gary, Indiana. In August 1969, the Jackson 5 was introduced to the music industry at a special event, and later served as the opening act for the Supremes. (bio Michael Jackson) They were released to the public with the hit single called “I Want You Back”. The brothers sung back up, but it was Michael’s song. From the minute he opened his mouth the world knew he was a star. The song hit No.1 in January 1970. The song that followed was ABC, which beat out the Beatles for number one in April. Michael at the age of 12 was already a star beating out big time artists. (TIME Michael Jackson) It came with a price though, it was a lost childhood. Jackson said that there was a park across the street from Motown studios and he said “I’d just stare at them in wonder—I couldn’t imagine such freedom, such a carefree life—and I wish more than anything I had that kind of freedom, that I could walk away and be just like the.” (TIME Michael Jackson) Although Michael got major success at just the young age of 12 he still longed for a childhood, for a break, for the chance to just be a kid.

Category 1 Reflection

I believe that Michael Jackson was robbed off his childhood. His talent skyrocketed at the age of five. Yes, he got fame and fortune, but he never got to play hopscotch or tag with the neighborhood children. He never got a chance to be free. That’s why I think Michael befriended children a lot when he was an adult. Due to the fact, he never really got a chance to do the fun things that kids got to do he longed for that. He always said he was a lonely child. He had his brothers and played with them, but he never got anything more than that. His dad made his career technically. Without his dad constantly pushing him, he may not have ever been discovered, but he would have had a childhood. Overall I believe that Michael Jackson’s childhood was a sad one. He lived it up, but he also didn’t get to be a child, it was a bittersweet situation.

Category 2: Career (Entry 1)

After the Jackson Five, Michael slowly wandered on his own, into his solo career. Barry Gordy and Joseph Jackson had many rising tensions which led to a bitter break with Motown Records, which also ended the Jackson Five. Jermaine Jackson, however stayed to pursue a solo career with Gordy, but it was nothing compared to Michael’s success. (Bio Michael Jackson) Later the group called themselves the Jacksons and added their younger brother Randy. In 1978 Michael Jackson was in the movie “The Wiz” where he sang the song “Ease on down the Road” with Diana Ross. While working on the Wiz he met and began working with producer Quincy Jones and created a new solo album called “Off the Wall”. Songs such as “Don’t stop till you Get Enough” and “Rock With You” were some of the tracks. These became major hits in 1979. (Bio Michael Jackson) In 1982, Quincy helped Michael with the Thriller album. Thriller is what made Jackson. Thriller captured many awards, including a record-setting eight Grammy’s. (Jackson, Michael)  Thriller fully established Jackson as a solo performer. “Billie Jean”, “Beat it”, and “Thriller” made him a major star of the 80’s. Thriller sold more than forty million copies. It holds the title of being the best-selling album of all time. The videos of Jackson’s songs helped Jackson break color barriers between blacks and whites on the radio. At this time, success for him only went up.  By 1984 he was pronounced as the “King of Pop”. (Jackson, Michael) “At the top of his game creatively and commercially, Jackson signed a $5 million endorsement deal with Pepsi-Cola around this time. He, however, was badly injured while filming a commercial for the soda giant in 1984, suffering burns to his face and scalp. Jackson had surgery to repair his injuries, and is believed to have begun experimenting with plastic surgery around this time. His face, especially his nose, would become dramatically altered in the coming years.” (BIO Michael Jackson) In the late 80’s he created his fantasy of the childhood he never had. He bought a California Ranch in which he called Neverland. He held many events for children and had exotic pets. It was fascinating, but this offset some people, and rumors began to up rise. (BIO Michael Jackson)

Category 2: Career (Entry 2)

Michael Jackson was reunited with his brothers in 1984 for a Victory reunion tour. A year later Michael Jackson co-wrote “We are the World” with Lionel Richie. This song was written for USA for Africa’s, which raised money for the poor in Africa and helped famine relief. (Michael Jackson Britannica) Jackson’s next albums “Bad” and “Dangerous” produced many new hits, but wasn’t anywhere close to the success of “Thriller”. Michael was climbing high in success and in fame. Everything was going great for him until he was thrown into a major scandal. His reputation was damaged in 1993. A thirteen year old boy accused Jackson of molestation. The case was settled civilly and Jackson insisted he was innocent. This still hurt him very bad because many began to pose multiple questions about this case. His image was now damaged. In 1994 Jackson shocked the world with his marriage to Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Their marriage only lasted for two years and ended in divorce. Shortly after Jackson pronounced that he was to be a father. The mother was Debbie Rowe; a friend Michael had always been close too. “The couple had two children through artificial insemination. Son Prince Michael Jackson was born in 1997 and daughter Paris Michael Jackson was born in 1998.” (BIO Michael Jackson) This marriage ended in divorce as well, but Rowe gave all custody rights to Jackson. “He would go on to have a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, or also known as “Blanket”, with an unknown surrogate.