Michael Jackson fans are observing a sombre anniversary this week. It was one year ago this Friday, June 25th that breaking news broke the hearts of pop music fans the world over — Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, dead at age 50. The shocking news came just days before the launch of Jackson’s highly-anticipated concert series in London — a concert comeback that was not to be. Much has transpired in the 12 months since Jackson’s passing. Investigations, acknowledgments and events continue to seal his status as a pop culture icon. A top-selling artist in life, Jackson is also proving to be a top-selling artist in death. Just this week, “Billboard” magazine estimated Jackson’s posthumous earnings at one-Billion-dollars, pointing to record sales, a lucrative record distribution deal, licensing and merchandising, and the success of a documentary based on the rehearsals for Jackson’s ill-fated concert series.
Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician at the time of his death, is facing involuntary manslaughter charges. Murray has admitted to giving Jackson the powerful hospital sedative Propofol that medical authorities say contributed to the pop star’s untimely passing. But Murray says he did nothing wrong. And while authorities seek out more answers to Jackson’s death, fans are remembering the events of a storied life. The following is a look back at the life and times of Michael Jackson.
Born August 29th, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, Michael Joseph Jackson was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. He began his career in the mid 1960s, performing with his older brothers as the Jackson 5. Despite his young age, it was apparent that Michael was a showman, and by the age of nine he was the group’s lead singer. Within a year, the Jackson 5 was signed by Motown Records, and in 14 months the group was celebrating its first chart-topping hit, “I Want You Back.”
The success thrust the Jackson 5 into the spotlight and Michael became an instant teen idol, joining David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, and Bobby Sherman as a “Tiger Beat” cover story. By 1971 Motown began to cultivate a 13-year-old Michael as a solo artist, and his first independent releases, “Got To Be There,” “Rockin’ Robin,” and the title track to the 1972 movie “Ben,” were all hits.
Michael continued to work throughout the ’70s, with and without his brothers, releasing albums, performing, and acting. In 1978 Michael took his talents to the big screen, starring in the film version of the Broadway show “The Wiz.” The movie sparked a working relationship with Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson’s 1979 breakthrough solo album, “Off The Wall.” Michael followed it up three years later with “Thriller.”
Within a year of its 1982 release, the landmark recording became the best-selling album of all time, and with sales topping the 108-million mark it still holds the title 28 years later. Seven of the disc’s nine tracks were top ten hits, and the project brought Jackson eight Grammy Awards. The groundbreaking video for the title track, a 13-minute mini-movie, has been deemed the most successful music video of all time and, at a cost of 500-thousand-dollars, was the most expensive video production at the time.
Jackson would later set a new benchmark for video production budget in 1995 with his collaboration with sister Janet on the video for “Scream.” At a cost of seven-million-dollars, “Scream” is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive music video ever made.
Jackson continued his rule of the 1980s, spearheading the 1985 charity project USA For Africa and co-writing the fundraising single “We Are The World.” “Bad” arrived in 1987. The album generated a record five chart-topping singles and the Bad World Tour set new attendance and concert gross records, sustaining Jackson’s hold on the pop world.
By the end of the decade the backlash began, and Jackson became the subject of tabloid fodder. Rumors — some of which he leaked to the press himself — began to paint a strange picture of an eccentric pop star. Living in his own amusement park at the Neverland Ranch, having a pet chimpanzee, and his changing appearance sparked questions about his physical and mental health. Soon after, he opened up about the abuse he says he suffered as a child. He was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy. While Michael denied the allegations and was never criminally charged, it cost him millions to settle the civil suit and the damage to his reputation was done.
Immediately following the scandal, Jackson resumed working, releasing the compilation album “HIStory” and touring behind the effort. He then turned his attention to his personal life, including a surprise short-lived marriage to Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie; and a relationship with Debbie Rowe, the mother of two of his three children. That union was also short-lived.
Jackson began a musical comeback in 2001 with the album “Invincible.” But with only one top ten single, and sales of just two-million, the disc was seen as a failure. Two years later, a decade after the first allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced, Jackson was accused again, and this time he also faced criminal charges. Jackson fought back — and won. Facing a nine-count indictment, Michael was acquitted of all charges.
The trial took a toll on Jackson physically, emotionally, and financially. He moved out of his famed Neverland Ranch, vowing never to return because it no longer felt like home after police raided the property for evidence before the trial.
In recent years the pop star had been plagued with rumors of monetary problems and health issues, but was making plans to launch a performance comeback. On March 5th, 2009, Jackson announced he would be performing 50 concerts at London’s O2 Arena in July, 2009.
Tickets for all of Jackson’s shows sold out within minutes of going on sale. Sadly, fans would never get to see the comeback.
On June 25, 2009, paramedics were called to Jackson’s rented home in Holmby Hills, California.
Jackson was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. His brother, Jermaine Jackson later broke the news to the world.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2009, fans and friends paid tribute to the King Of Pop at a star-studded memorial held at Staples Center in Los Angeles. It was the same venue where Jackson had been rehearsing right before his death.
Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, Usher and Brooke Shields were just some of the high profile names who participated at the public memorial. Two months after his sudden death, Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest in a private burial held on Thursday, September 3rd, 2009. The burial took place at Holly Terrace in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
In the 12 months since Jackson’s passing, the pop superstar’s name continues to make headlines. Sales of Jackson’s songs and albums skyrocketed in the weeks and months after his death and the documentary made from footage of his last rehearsals set records at the global box office upon its release last fall. “Billboard” magazine recently estimated Jackson’s posthumous earnings at one-Billion-dollars and the tributes and acknowledgements continue to pour in.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio is among a number of groups organizing special tributes to Jackson this weekend. The Jackson Family Foundation will present “Forever Michael” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California this Saturday, and a number of networks will air Jackson-themed programming throughout the weekend.
