Category: Arts & Entertainment

Atlanta, GA – August 31, 2024

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was born on August 29, 1958, and would have celebrated his 65th birthday this year. On this date, radio stations across the country played his iconic songs in tribute to the legendary performer.

Jackson’s extraordinary career transformed music and dance and left an enduring legacy before his untimely death on June 25, 2009, at age 50 in Los Angeles, California. His death ruled a homicide, was caused by a lethal combination of sedatives and propofol administered by his personal doctor, Conrad Murray, who was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.

Jackson’s musical journey began early. Fifty-six years ago, on July 13, 1967, he and his brothers entered Chicago’s One-derful Studios for their first recording session, which produced the song “Big Boy.” This was the debut of The Jackson 5, a group founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and managed by their father, Joe Jackson. The group, composed of Michael and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon, was one of the first African American bands to achieve mainstream success, with crossover appeal that won them a diverse fan base.

The Jackson 5 quickly rose to fame with their 1970 single “I Want You Back,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100. They followed up with other number-one hits like “ABC” and “The Love You Save.” They achieved 17 Top 40 singles in just five years, including six number-one Billboard R&B hits. In 1976, the group left Motown for Epic Records, becoming “The Jacksons” and releasing several successful albums, including Destiny (1978) and Triumph (1980). Notable singles like “Enjoy Yourself,”, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” and “Can You Feel It” further solidified their place in music history.

While Jackson started his solo career in 1971, it wasn’t until 1979, when he teamed up with producer Quincy Jones for his album Off the Wall, that he began to gain recognition as a solo artist. The album featured hits like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You.” Jackson’s next album, Thriller (1982), became one of the best-selling albums of all time, spending 37 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and producing seven top 10 singles. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Jackson remained a dominant figure in music, earning the title of “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time,” according to Guinness World Records.

One of Jackson’s most iconic moments came on March 25, 1983, when he performed the “moonwalk” dance move during the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. The dance move, originally known as the “backslide” and taught to Jackson by dancer Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar, quickly became world-famous.

Jackson’s education was anything but conventional. He attended public grammar school in Gary, Indiana, until the age of 11, when his burgeoning music career made traditional schooling impossible. Instead, Rose Fine tutored him and his brothers, whom Michael viewed as a second mother. Fine instilled in him a lifelong love for books and literature; Jackson famously owned over 10,000 books at his Neverland Ranch, and he was known to finish at least one book a day. His favorite subjects included history and biographies.

Jackson’s three children, Prince (27), Paris (26), and Bigi (formerly known as Blanket, 21), have also lived their lives in the spotlight. Following their father’s death in 2009, they became more visible to the public, starting with Paris’s heartfelt tribute at Jackson’s funeral. Despite the intense public scrutiny, Jackson’s children have grown into well-adjusted adults who support each other in their various pursuits.

Fourteen years after his death, Michael Jackson’s influence endures. As a solo artist, he achieved 13 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 – the most by any male artist – and remains a beloved figure worldwide. His unparalleled contributions to music, dance, and popular culture continue to inspire new generations.

Six Little-known facts about Michael Jackson

1. He held a patent for a unique shoe design

• Michael Jackson held a U.S. patent for a unique shoe design that allowed him to lean forward at an impossible angle while performing his famous “Smooth Criminal” dance move. The patent in 1992 allowed him and his dancers to defy gravity on stage.

2. He Owned the Rights to Many Songs, Including the Beatles’ Catalog

• Michael Jackson purchased the publishing rights to a vast catalog of songs in the 1980s, including many of the Beatles’ hits. He outbid Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono to acquire the catalog, which created a rift between him and McCartney.

3. He Was Nearly Cast in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

• Jackson was interested in playing Quasimodo in Disney’s animated film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He even offered to produce the soundtrack. However, Disney declined his offer, likely due to concerns about his public image at the time.

4. He Created a Children’s Charity

• In 1992, Michael Jackson founded the “Heal the World Foundation,” a charitable organization dedicated to providing medicine, fighting world hunger, and supporting children in need around the globe. The foundation also helped children affected by war.

5. He Holds the Record for the Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star

• Michael Jackson supported over 39 charities throughout his career, more than any other pop star. He donated millions of dollars and dedicated much of his time to humanitarian causes.

6. He Broke a World Record with His “Thriller” Album

• “Thriller” remains the best-selling album ever, with sales exceeding 66 million copies worldwide. The Library of Congress also inducted the music video for “Thriller” into the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Michael Jackson – Bad (Official Video)

Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal (Official Video)

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Official Video)