Michael Jackson’s tragic death makes a whole nation mourn, remembering a life well lived.
During the summer of 2009, America lost a few well-known celebrities including Charlie’s Angels actress, Farrah Fawcett, television infomercial salesman, Billy Mays, and past Tonight Show sidekick, Ed McMahon. At 2:26 p.m on June 25, the world lost yet another of its legends: Michael Jackson.
After rehearsing for his upcoming, This Is It Tour in London, Jackson had gone to bed in his rented Holmby Hills estate. A few hours later, he woke, saying he “felt weak” and was advised to get more rest. By the next morning (Thursday June 25, 2009), Jackson’s physician, Conrad Murray, discovered Jackson was not breathing and immediately called 911. For over an hour, UCLA Medical Center physicians tried to revive Jackson, but at 2:26 p.m the whole world was informed of Michael Jackson’s death.
Michael Jackson was not just a legend, he was The King of Pop, and like all great kings, lived a historical life. From the day of his birth on August 29, 1958, Michael Jackson had a musical talent. When he was about two, Jackson would dance to the thumping sound of his family’s washing machine. He was one of 11 people living in a two-bedroom home in Gary, Indiana, where his father, Joe, worked two steel mill shifts per day and frequently played small gigs with his blues group, the Falcons. Meanwhile, Jackson’s mother, Katherine, would often stay at home and sing with the kids. By age five, Jackson was already making it big, as lead signer of his brothers’ band. He also was learning how to dance by watching James Brown, one of his idols, perform on television. At age six, Jackson and his brothers won a talent contest signing Barefootin and shuffling across the stage. After the performance more followed, thus giving birth to The Jackson 5. In 1967, the group performed at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, the most famous African-American music hall in the country, and in August of 1969, they made their first national television appearance on The Hollywood Palace hosted by Diana Ross and The Supremes. They also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing many hits such as ABC, I’ll be there, and I Want You Back.
Michael Jackson’s solo career began in 1972. At age 14, he had already achieved his No. 1 single, Ben, the title song from a horror movie about a boy and his rat – his first No. 1 single! In 1978, Jackson starred alongside one of his best friends, The Supremes’ Diana Ross, as the Scarecrow in the film, The Wiz (an all-African American cast version of The Wizard of Oz). By 1979, Jackson and music arranger, Quincy Jones, had produced the album, Off the Wall, with famous songwriters including Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. Also in 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine, leading him to discover rhinoplasty, and throughout his career his facial appearance changed. Another devastating accident, an explosion during a Pepsi-Cola commercial, set Jackson’s hair on fire (forcing him to wear wigs) and gave him second-degree burns. However, most people may not know that it was not these accidents that made Jackson’s skin color lighter. Jackson’s dermatologist and good friend, Dr. Arnold Klein, confirmed that Jackson suffered from vitiligo, a disease that causes depigmentation in patches of skin. Jackson used a special cream called Benoquin to even out his skin’s coloring.
Every king has a queen, or several in Jackson’s case. In 1994, Michael Jackson wed 26-year old Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis. Jackson and Presley were in love, often seen as inseparable; but sadly, their relationship unexpectedly ended on January 18, 1996. Although Jackson had many famous women in his life (actresses Brooke Shields, Tatum O’Neal, and Diana Ross), his next wife, Debbie Rowe, was an unknown face in the celebrity world. Rowe and Jackson met in the early 1980s at a dermatologist’s office but did not marry until a decade later. Although Rowe gave Jackson two kids, Prince Michael Jr. (born in 1997), and Paris (born in 1998), their marriage ended in October 1999. Jackson’s other son, Prince Michael II (a.k.a. “Blanket”), was delivered via surrogate mother.
Michael Jackson may have had a few downfalls in his legacy. He dangled his infant son “Blanket” over a balcony to show him off to the world. He went to court, being accused of sexual abuse toward children at his large estate, Neverland Ranch (but was declared innocent). By 2005, he was up to $400 million in debt and had to sell some of his personal items. Even the public started to hate one of their favorite idols. Regardless of whether they loved him or not, most remember Michael Jackson as the iconic, legendary singer and dancer who would moonwalk across the stage, delighting millions of people and living his American dream.
Michael Jackson Discography
Hello World – The Motown Solo Collection – 2009
Thriller (25th Anniversary Edition Cd/Dvd) – 2009
Gold – 2008
Thriller 25 Super Deluxe Edition – 2008
Thriller 25 Deluxe Edition – 2008
Essential Michael Jackson – 2005
Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection – 2004
Number Ones – 2003
The Best of Michael Jackson – The Millennium Collection – 2002
Love Songs – 2002
Invincible – 2001
Candle in the Wind – 1999
Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory – 1997
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 – 1995
The Best Of Michael Jackson: Anthology – 1995
Motown Legends: Rockin’ Robin – 1993
Motown Legends – 1993
Jam – 1992
Dangerous – 1991
Anthology – 1990
Bad – 1987
Thriller – 1982
The Best of Michael Jackson [Motown] – 1981
Off The Wall – 1979
Got to Be There – 1972
