MICHAEL JACKSON, A STAR THAT WILL SHINE FOREVER

Interesting Figure

"I would overcome my feelings of pity with a spirit of defiance. No, I will not cry. He hadn’t earned it. But then the news came that he had died. And I was devastated." (Rabbi Shmuley Boteach)

Michael Jackson was an American singer-songwriter, entertainer, dancer, arranger, music producer, choreographer, actor, businessman, musician, and philanthropist. He was the eighth of ten children in an African American working class family who lived in a house in Gary. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B band called “The Falcons”. Michael Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, who was a twin of older brother Marlon, died shortly after birth. (Wikipedia)

The musical career of Michael Jackson began when he debuted on the professional music scene with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, later known as “The Jacksons” his first productions were "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There".

Furthermore, the Jackson 5 stayed with Motown until 1976, wanting more artistic freedom they felt they had to move on and signed up with Epic. The group name Jackson 5 had to be changed as it was owned by Motown, so they reverted to The Jacksons as they had been known in the early days.

During his dominant figure in popular music, Michael Jackson started his solo career in 1971, with music videos such as “Beat It,”“Billie Jean,” and “Thriller,” these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. 

Then in 1991 Michael signed with Sony Music the largest ever recorded contract and released his fourth solo album, 'Dangerous'. He toured world again in 1992, taking his concerts to countries that had never before been visited by a pop/rock artist. Also Michael Jackson founded the 'Heal the World Foundation' to help improve the lives of children across the world.

Severe criticism toward Jackson was originated in 2002, when he brought his new born son (Prince Michael Jackson II – also known as Blanket) onto the balcony of his hotel room in Berlin, as fans stood below. Jackson later apologized for the incident, calling it “a terrible mistake.”(Brumburgh)

Additionally, some of Jackson's achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime, achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century" and "Artist of the 1980s," 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career. (Biography.com) 

As time passed by, Michael Jackson faced a large number of health problems that included an addiction to painkillers which went on and off for decades. He also suffered a degenerative disease called vitiligo, which causes partial or total destruction of melanin, the pigment that gives the skin color. Then, his facial structure changed too; several surgeons speculated that, by the mid-1990s he also had multiple nasal surgeries, a forehead lift, thinned lips, and cheekbone surgery.

According to biographer J.Randy Taraborrelli, Jackson had his first rhinoplasty after breaking his nose during a complex dance routine in 1979. However, the surgery was not a complete success, and he complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career. 

The entire world was shocked with terrible news on June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home on North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His career was far from finishing though, since many speculations about his death arose back then. Some believe he is alive, some others think he commited suicide, while the most controversial believe he deserved dying. Yet Michael always claimed to be a lovely, friendly guy as he said: "If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." (Wikipedia)

As a final point, I considered it was important to briefly document  Michael Jackson's life because it means, to me at least, to talk about a superstar that was victim of unfair accusations from the tabloids. Some people thought that he was a bad person and a pederast but I think he was just making his dreams come true. Also I want to emphasize that Michael Jackson was one of the best pop music artists around the world and his influence will be felt for ages even after his death.