Michael Jackson Biography
Who was Michael Jackson? He was a performer once-in-a-generation whose voice, motion, and vision redefined the art of entertainment. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on the 29th of August, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the eighth of nine children to the working-class Jackson family.
His father, Joe Jackson, was a steel mill worker as well as playing guitar for a local R&B band, while his mother, Katherine, nurtured the musical talents of the family.
Growing up with siblings in a small house, Michael’s childhood was nothing if not extraordinary; by the age of six, he would already take to the stage as the lead vocalist with the Jackson 5.
The group, made up of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, were signed to Motown Records in 1969, and before long, were topping the charts with songs such as I Want You Back and ABC.
Michael’s extraordinary voice, effortless grace, and acute sense of choreographed dance made him irreplaceable, and even as a young teenager, he would start recording solo material to accompany group recordings. His first solo albums, Got to Be There and Ben, began to glimpse the worldwide superstar he would eventually become.
With Off the Wall, Quincy Jones–produced, by 1979, Michael began a new period of his career—he incorporated pop, soul, funk, and disco into a brand-new sound. The album did well, but it was Thriller (1982) that propelled him to worldwide superstardom.
The largest-selling album of all time, with 70 million copies estimated, the nine-song double LP contained historic music videos for the Ray Pratt–directed “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” shorts, as well as the 14-minute short movie “Thriller” extravaganza by John Landis.
His TV Motown 25 performance, during which he debuted the moonwalk, became the stuff of legendary pop culture lore.
The pace did not let up with Bad (1987), the first album to spawn five chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, followed by Dangerous (1991), with boundary-defying cuts such as the song-and-dance extravaganza–inspired “Black or White” and the hip-hop–influenced, Timbaland–produced, nine-hour–inspired CD-ROM short movie– induced short movie–driven sensual Remember the Time.
His HIStory (1995) album included greatest hits with socially conscious new cuts such as the Rodney Jerkins–produced, Jon-John Rojo–arr Michael’s career wasn’t without scandal—his evolving look, unusual lifestyle, and misbehavior allegations regularly made headlines.
Regardless of personal scandal, his contributions to music, choreography, and visual artistry never faltered. He established music video as narrative, broke racial limits on MTV, and inspired generations of musicians across genres.
His philanthropic activities were also eminent; he helped numerous charities, and he established the Heal the World Foundation to assist children globally. In later years, he produced Invincible (2001) and continued to command worldwide attention.
Preparations for his This Is It comeback concert series in London were halted when he passed away on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest brought on by acute propofol poisoning. His passing sent shockwaves throughout the globe, evoking an outpouring of sorrow from millions of supporters.
Even after death, Michael Jackson’s legacy as the “King of Pop” remains unparalleled, with posthumous releases, stage shows, and record-breaking sales keeping his music popular with new generations.
Contents
Michael Jackson Top Songs
- Billie Jean
- Thriller
- Beat It
- Smooth Criminal
- Man in the Mirror
- Black or White
- Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough
- The Way You Make Me Feel
- Earth Song
- Remember the Time
Michael Jackson Discography
- Got to Be There (1972)
- Ben (1972)
- Music & Me (1973)
- Forever, Michael (1975)
- Off the Wall (1979)
- Thriller (1982)
- Bad (1987)
- Dangerous (1991)
- HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
- Invincible (2001)
Michael Jackson Top Albums
- Thriller – The best-selling album in history, blending pop, rock, and funk with cinematic music videos.
- Bad – History-making five Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers, including “Smooth Criminal” and the title track “Man in the Mirror.”
- Dangerous – New jack swing meets global themes, featuring “Black or White” and “Heal the World.”
- Off the Wall – The transition from teen sensation to grown-up musician, full of all-time dance anthems.
- HIStory – Part greatest hits, part socially conscious new music, featuring “Scream” and “They Don’t Care About Us.”
Michael Jackson Awards
Michael Jackson remains the most awarded musician of all time, with over 800 recognitions to date. Michael Jackson has been awarded 13 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
His 26 American Music Awards include the Artist of the Century and the Artist of the 1980s. His 39 Guinness World Records include the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time.
Jackson has been twice-inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—once for the Jackson 5 and again for being a solo recording artist—along with the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Dance Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
His dedication and impact on the world’s culture has been reciprocated by world leaders, with presidential recognitions, along with lifetime achievement awards and recognitions for his humanitarian services. His records continue to be certified even after he passed on, with his influence being acknowledged, placing him on record as among the most important and influential popular music figures of the world’s history.
Michael Jackson Singles
| Year | Single | Album | US Hot 100 | UK Singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Got to Be There | Got to Be There | 4 | 5 |
| 1972 | Rockin’ Robin | Got to Be There | 2 | 3 |
| 1972 | I Wanna Be Where You Are | Got to Be There | 16 | — |
| 1972 | Ben | Ben | 1 | 7 |
| 1973 | With a Child’s Heart | Music & Me | 50 | — |
| 1973 | Music and Me | Music & Me | — | — |
| 1973 | Morning Glow | Music & Me | — | — |
| 1975 | We’re Almost There | Forever, Michael | — | — |
| 1975 | Just a Little Bit of You | Forever, Michael | 23 | — |
| 1975 | One Day in Your Life | Forever, Michael | — (US 1975) | 1 (1981 reissue) |
| 1979 | Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough | Off the Wall | 1 | 3 |
| 1979 | Rock with You | Off the Wall | 1 | 7 |
| 1980 | Off the Wall | Off the Wall | 10 | 7 |
| 1980 | She’s Out of My Life | Off the Wall | 10 | 3 |
| 1981 | Girlfriend | Off the Wall | — | 41 |
| 1982 | The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney) | Thriller | 2 | 8 |
| 1983 | Billie Jean | Thriller | 1 | — (UK #1 in 1983) |
| 1983 | Beat It | Thriller | 1 | 3 |
| 1983 | Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ | Thriller | 5 | 8 |
| 1983 | Human Nature | Thriller | 7 | 62 |
| 1983 | P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) | Thriller | 10 | — |
| 1984 | Thriller | Thriller | 4 | 10 |
| 1984 | Farewell My Summer Love (reissue) | — | 38 | 7 |
| 1984 | Say Say Say (with Paul McCartney) | Pipes of Peace | 1 | 2 |
| 1984 | State of Shock (with Mick Jagger) | Victory (Jacksons) | 3 | 14 |
| 1984 | We Are the World (USA for Africa) | — | 1 | — (UK #1) |
| 1987 | I Just Can’t Stop Loving You | Bad | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | Bad | Bad | 1 | 3 |
| 1987 | The Way You Make Me Feel | Bad | 1 | 3 |
| 1988 | Man in the Mirror | Bad | 1 | 21 (UK #2 in 2009) |
| 1988 | Dirty Diana | Bad | 1 | 4 |
| 1988 | Another Part of Me | Bad | 11 | 15 |
| 1988 | Smooth Criminal | Bad | 7 | 8 |
| 1989 | Leave Me Alone | Bad | — | 2 |
| 1989 | Liberian Girl | Bad | — | 13 |
| 1991 | Black or White | Dangerous | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | Remember the Time | Dangerous | 3 | 3 |
| 1992 | In the Closet | Dangerous | 6 | 8 |
| 1992 | Jam | Dangerous | 26 | 13 |
| 1992 | Who Is It | Dangerous | 14 | 10 |
| 1992 | Heal the World | Dangerous | 27 | 2 |
| 1993 | Give In to Me | Dangerous | — | 2 |
| 1993 | Will You Be There | Dangerous | 7 | 9 |
| 1993 | Gone Too Soon | Dangerous | — | 33 |
| 1995 | Scream / Childhood (with Janet Jackson) | HIStory | 5 | 3 |
| 1995 | You Are Not Alone | HIStory | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | Earth Song | HIStory | — | 1 |
| 1996 | They Don’t Care About Us | HIStory | 30 | 4 |
| 1996 | Stranger in Moscow | HIStory | 91 | 4 |
| 1997 | Blood on the Dance Floor | Blood on the Dance Floor | 42 | 1 |
| 1997 | HIStory / Ghosts (Double A-side) | HIStory | — | 5 |
| 2001 | You Rock My World | Invincible | 10 | 2 |
| 2001 | Cry | Invincible | — | 25 |
| 2002 | Butterflies | Invincible | 14 | — |
| 2002 | Heaven Can Wait (promo) | Invincible | — | — |
| 2003 | One More Chance | Number Ones | 83 | 5 |
| 2008 | The Girl Is Mine 2008 (with will.i.am) | Thriller 25 | — | 32 |
| 2008 | Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008 (with Akon) | Thriller 25 | 81 | 69 |
| 2009 | This Is It | This Is It | — | 18 |
| 2010 | Hold My Hand (with Akon) | Michael | 39 | 10 |
| 2010 | Hollywood Tonight | Michael | — | — |
| 2011 | Behind the Mask | Michael | — | — |
| 2014 | Love Never Felt So Good (with Justin Timberlake) | Xscape | 9 | 8 |
| 2014 | Slave to the Rhythm | Xscape | 45 | 98 |
| 2014 | Chicago | Xscape | — | — |
| 2014 | A Place with No Name | Xscape | — | — |