Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, widely known as the “King of Pop,” remains one of the most influential figures in music history. With a career spanning over four decades, he redefined pop stardom through his groundbreaking music, record-breaking sales, and unmatched stage presence. His 1982 album Thriller continues to hold the record as the best-selling album of all time, while his innovative short film-style music videos for hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” helped shape the golden era of MTV. Jackson holds 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and is the only artist to have top-ten hits across five different decades. His artistry extended beyond music into choreography, where he pioneered iconic moves like the moonwalk and anti-gravity lean. With over 500 million records sold worldwide, Michael Jackson ranks among the best-selling music artists of all time. In 2024, half of his music catalogue was acquired by Sony for $600 million, the most expensive deal ever for a solo artist. Inducted into multiple halls of fame and recipient of dozens of top industry awards, Jackson’s legacy as a global entertainment icon remains unmatched even years after his passing.

Michael Jackson grew up surrounded by music, discipline, and performance, which helped shape his path to stardom.

• Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, and lived with his large family in a small two-bedroom house on Jackson Street.
• He joined the Jackson Brothers in 1964, playing congas and tambourine alongside his older brothers.
• Their father, Joe Jackson, managed the group strictly, often using physical punishment to enforce discipline and perfection.
• Michael began sharing lead vocals in 1965, and the group was renamed the Jackson 5.
• They won a local talent show that same year, where Michael impressed the audience with his dance and singing skills.
• Between 1966 and 1968, the Jackson 5 toured the Midwest, performing at black clubs, local auditoriums, and high school events.
• In 1967, they won an amateur night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, gaining attention beyond their hometown.
• The Jackson 5 released their first single, “Big Boy,” in 1968 with Steeltown Records, a local label in Gary.
• After opening for Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, they were introduced to Motown and signed by the label later that year.
• In 1969, the Jackson 5 debuted on national television and released “I Want You Back,” which became their first No. 1 hit and launched Michael into the spotlight.

Michael Jackson’s family played an important role in launching and supporting his early music career, with several members involved in entertainment themselves.

• Michael was born to Katherine Jackson, a part-time Sears employee and musician who played clarinet, cello, and piano, and was a devout Jehovah’s Witness.
• His father, Joe Jackson, was a former boxer and crane operator at US Steel who played guitar for an R&B band called the Falcons and managed the Jackson 5.
• He was the eighth of ten children in the Jackson family.
• His siblings include Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet Jackson, and brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy, many of whom later built their own successful music or entertainment careers.
• Marlon’s twin brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth in 1957.
• In 1994, Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley and a singer. Their marriage lasted less than two years, ending in divorce in 1996.
• In 1996, he married Debbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant who was pregnant with his child at the time. The two divorced in 2000, and Rowe gave up custody of the children as part of the settlement.
• In 2004, following renewed child abuse allegations against Jackson, Rowe sought to regain custody. The legal battle was resolved with a settlement in 2006.
• Michael had two children with Debbie Rowe: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (commonly known as Prince), born on February 13, 1997, and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, born on April 3, 1998.
• His third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, nicknamed “Blanket,” was born via an anonymous surrogate on February 21, 2002. He later changed his name to Bigi Jackson in 2015.
• Following his death, all three children remained in the public eye and have occasionally spoken about their father and their lives in interviews and documentaries.