Michael Jackson died on the night of June 25-26, 2009 in Los Angeles. The news of his untimely death instantly spread throughout the world, shocking not only fans, but also envious people. The name of Jackson by that time had long become a legend, and, despite numerous reports of illnesses, no one expected such a sudden death.
Despite the years of musical silence, in the memory of bloggers, the singer remains a real legend, the king of pop music, the author of numerous hits, spectacular video clips and the famous “moonwalk”, without which few people can imagine the bygone era of the 1980s and their youth.
On the morning of June 25, 2009, Michael collapsed while in a house he was renting in Holmby Hills, West Los Angeles. Jackson's personal physician, cardiologist Conrad Murray, later reported through his lawyer that he went up to the second floor and found Jackson in bed, no longer breathing, but with a weak pulse in the femoral artery. Murray began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). After 5-10 minutes, Murray decided to make a phone call, but there was no landline in the bedroom, and Murray did not want to call on a cell phone, because he did not know the address of Jackson's house. While Murray was looking for a security guard to use his phone to call emergency services, 30 minutes passed. At 12:21 p.m. local time, a 911 call was recorded. It was not Murray who called, but a home security worker. Here is a recording of that historic call.
Arriving 3 minutes and 17 seconds after the call, the doctors found Jackson no longer breathing with a cardiac arrest and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 42 minutes. According to Murray's lawyer, a UCLA doctor ordered the medical team to give a direct injection of adrenaline into Jackson's heart. The lawyer noted that all the time while Jackson was at home, he still had a pulse. Efforts to bring Jackson back to life continued along the way and for an hour after arriving at the University of California Medical Center (UCLA) at 1:14 p.m. The effect was not achieved. Death was pronounced at 14:26 local time.
Thousands of fans of the singer immediately gathered near the hospital. They literally surrounded the porch, filling it soft toys and flowers and making everything around with photographs of the singer and candles. Fans also turned out to mourn at the empty home in Gary, Indiana, where Jackson spent his childhood, and at the huge central square Times Square in New York.
Most people did not learn the exciting news from the newspapers. People called each other, sent messages, wrote blogs. In terms of the scale of the tragedy, Jackson's death can only be compared with the death of Princess Diana or the assassination of President Kennedy.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958. He was the seventh of nine children in the Jackson family. At the age of four, Michael was already on stage. a little started later perform with older brothers Jackie, Tito, German and Marlon in the group "The Jackson 5", which was invented by their father Joseph. And although Michael was the youngest, it was he who attracted the most attention, sang, danced best of all, knew how to charm the audience and eventually became a real star of the team.
In the late 1960s, The Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records and began to release hot hits one after another throughout the next decade. Simultaneously with the work in the family band, Michael did successful solo projects.
Active Michael was always just not enough. So, in 1978, he starred with the young Diana Ross in feature film The Wizard, an African-American remake of The Wizard of Oz. The film did not become a classic of American cinema, but it was of great importance for Michael, because on the set he met the great music producer Quincy Jones, who worked on musical accompaniment movie.
It was Quincy who helped Michael Jackson get his next album, 1979's Off The Wall, multi-platinum, turning a singing black handsome boy into a superstar. popular music. The album included hits Don "t Stop" Til You Get Enough and Rock With You, the disc sold 10 million copies.
In 1982, Jackson broke not only his own record, but also set an unattainable bar for subsequent generations. The Thriller album did not have time to re-release, more than 50 million copies were sold worldwide. Michael Jackson received seven Grammy Awards for this album. Another world record for Thriller is a 37-week chart lead that no one has yet surpassed.
Thriller's sensational success lay in never-before-seen, enchanting and amazingly beautiful music videos for "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller". Jackson was the first to make a small film out of a clip, to make video a means of transferring music, to spit on the laws of the genre, setting his own. Michael broke any stereotypes that got in his way. Jackson became the first black guy on American MTV.
Having passed the peak, Michael continued to hold on to a huge height of popularity. The Bad album in 1987 sold 25 million copies, and in 1991 Dangerous sold 23 million copies.
In 1993, Michael became famous on the Oprah Winfrey show, which was filmed at his home - at the Land of Eternal Childhood ranch in Santa Yanez, California. The interview lasted 1.5 hours and attracted almost 100 million viewers, becoming the most watched show of the year.
In 1995, Michael released the ambitious and ingenious double album HIStory Past, Present and Future Book I, consisting of 15 greatest hits of past years and 15 new songs, which are still considered his most touching and soulful compositions. During the year, the album became platinum six times in the United States and is still successfully sold, being the most sought-after double album in the world.
Jackson easily masters new musical genres and techniques, creating a wave, ahead of time. In subsequent years, he released the albums "Blood On The Dance floor: HIStory In The Mix", "Invincible", "Number 1 "s", which includes reissued old songs and new compositions, as well as a 44-minute DVD "Michael Jackson - The One" featuring footage from the CBS archives, including his concerts, off-stage footage, and footage from the HIStory tour.
In 1996, Jackson marries nurse Debbie Rowe, who gives him two sons (born in 1997 and 2002) and a daughter (born in 1998). Jackson says that fatherhood is the main dream of his life.
From 2003 to 2005, the whole world is discussing a high-profile court case: Michael Jackson is accused of child molestation. After long meetings and trials, Michael is found not guilty on all counts, but a long tense lawsuit undermines the singer's health, so after the trial he leaves for the island of Bahrain and becomes a hermit.
In March 2009, Michael announced that he was going to play the last series of concerts in London called This is it Tour. A series of 10 concerts at The O2 arena, with a capacity of 20 thousand people, was supposed to start on July 13, 2009 and end on March 6, 2010. However, the demand for tickets exceeded all expectations, and the organizers planned additional performances.
According to the doctors who examined Jackson, the singer's health completely allowed him to conduct such a difficult tour ...
The day after Jackson's death, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) began investigating an unusual and high-profile case. We started talking about new version the cause of the singer's death is murder.
On July 1, 2009, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) joined the investigation. The DEA, having the power to investigate issues normally protected by doctor-patient privilege, could examine all of Jackson's prescription medications. California Attorney General Jerry Brown said the DEA used CURES, a prescription database containing information about all prescribed drugs, doctors, doses and patients, to investigate. On July 9, William Bratton, LAPD chief, said the investigation was focused on murder or accidental overdose, but that full toxicology reports from the coroners should be awaited.
On August 24, 2009, the conclusions of a forensic medical examination were made public - death was due to an overdose of the potent anesthetic propofol. A number of other potent substances (lorazepam, diazepam, midazolam) were also found in the blood.
On August 28, the Los Angeles coroner announced that Michael Jackson's death would be qualified as a homicide. Cardiologist Conrad Murray, Michael's personal physician, was charged with manslaughter.
The case is still gathering new details. According to the latest testimony, when the singer's heart stopped, Murray interrupted the initial resuscitation procedure he had begun in order to hide the drugs that he illegally injected celebrities.
However, what difference does it make now ... Michael Jackson still cannot be revived with new details about his death.
“In the end, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself and your loved ones and work hard. What is now will not be tomorrow. Dare. Fight. Improve and cultivate your talent. Be the best at what you do. Learn more about your occupation than anyone alive. Use the tools to present yourself - be it books, or the floor to dance, or water to swim. Wherever it is, it's yours. That's what I always try to remember."
- Michael Jackson
Celebrity biographies
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29.08.14 10:01
He started working on stage very early and reached unthinkable heights in his career. The name of this star is associated with scandals and quirks; millions of fans still do not want to believe in his death.
Biography of Michael Jackson
Deprived of childhood
Little Michael was taught discipline by his father. And he did it quite brutally. But, perhaps, it was precisely those trials and humiliations that befell the baby that made him so stubborn in achieving his goal and helped him in his career.
There were nine children in the Jackson family, Michael was born the seventh. He was five when the boy began to perform in front of his peers in holiday concerts, and seven when he joined the family band The Jacksons, founded by older brothers.
The boy danced, played several instruments, was a backing vocalist. The musicians traveled around the cities and villages, performed in nightclubs. Soon Michael began to solo, and the group received a different name - "The Jackson 5". The little vocalist was only 8 when his ensemble won the talent competition. This was the start to national recognition. Already in 1970, their compositions topped the charts.
On the way to a solo career
The tour of America and the albums released by the group consolidated the success, but it gradually became clear who the reason for this impending fame was. It was on Michael that the eyes of the public were directed - his movements in the dance were enchanting, it was Michael that everyone listened to - he performed almost all the songs. A turning point came, and the seventh child of the Jacksons realized that he had to build his career on his own. His solo records and singles (such as "Got to Be There") quickly gained popularity, and it was the beginning of the path to worldwide love and fame.
On the set of a film based on Baum's book about the Wizard of Oz (in which Michael played the role of the Scarecrow), he met the star, Diana Ross, and director Jones. It was this person who would later become the producer of the singer's most famous discs.
Zenith of glory
The first was "Off the Wall" (it came out a year after the filming of the picture) "overcame" a circulation of 20 million. But "Thriller", born 3 years later, was the best-selling album on the planet. The collection earned 7 Grammys.
The music video for "Thriller" premiered in 1983. The author presented it at the anniversary of Motown Records. The audience roared with delight - the singer had such energy, everyone was delighted and demonstrated that evening, which later became famous "moonwalk".
Since then, Jackson's work has firmly established itself at the top of the charts - everything that the performer touched turned into gold. He was not greedy - a solid part of the proceeds went to charity.
The album "Bad" stayed at the top of the "Billboard 200" for 6 weeks. 29 million copies - this circulation sold out instantly. And in 1988, the singer's fans waited for his first tour, which took place in fifteen states.
Beginning of the End
It was the appearance in the video for the composition "Bad" that gave rise to many rumors. Everyone noticed that the skin of the idol of millions has brightened greatly. The singer himself claimed that a rare disease that occurs on an immune basis and is fraught with the appearance of white spots all over the body is to blame - vitiligo. The disease was allegedly provoked by burns received in January 1984 (this happened on the set of a Pepsi advertisement). It was from that terrible day that the countdown of plastic surgeries and the use of painkillers began.
Along with crushing fame came the desire to be less in public (not at concerts, but in private life). Only on the personal Neverland ranch did the singer feel safe. Only friends could visit him - including Macaulay Culkin and Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor (it was she who first dubbed a friend the "King of Pop"). They added fuel to the fire and accusations of the musician in child molestation. In 2003, the jury acquitted the singer for the first time. History repeated itself ten years later, and he was again found not guilty.
Michael Jackson's personal life
Spouses and heirs
Lisa, the only daughter of 20th century cult figure Elvis Presley, became the first "Mrs. Jackson". In 1994, they got married, but after a couple of years they parted - as friends, the girl supported the ex-husband in the most difficult moments of his life.
For three years, Michael's wife was Debbie Rowe, who previously worked as a nurse. From this marriage, the singer left the son Prince Michael and the daughter of Paris-Michael Katherine. Michael had another heir in 2002 (from a surrogate mother).
He planned a massive tour, but he was not destined to realize these dreams of his. On June 25, after an injection of the medicine prescribed by the doctor (propofol), our hero died. The doctor who arrived a couple of hours after the injection was unable to resuscitate his ward - later Aesculapius Murray would be sentenced to 4 years.
The 15-time Grammy winner is buried in a Los Angeles suburb. His death was a real tragedy for millions; at the farewell ceremony, the singer was mourned by many celebrities - from Stevie Wonder to Queen Latifah.
Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in the town of Gehry, Indiana, in a large family, where besides him there were nine more children. His father organized the Jackson 5 family group, which brought the first success to the future legend. Michael was only 12 at the time. Subsequently, he became one of the most commercially successful solo artists in the world. music industry, the singer won worldwide recognition and the title of "King of Pop". For my long musical career Michael Jackson received 19 Grammy awards, 13 times he rose with his singles to the first line of the American sales charts. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a solo artist and as a member of the Jackson 5.
Michael Jackson died at the University of California Hospital from a heart attack on June 25, 2009. The famous performer was 50 years old. The start of a grandiose series of concerts by the singer was scheduled for mid-July.
This picture of 12-year-old Michael Jackson was taken back in 1971, but even then his career was on the rise. Berry Gordy signed the Jackson Five to Motown Records in 1968, and Michael and his brothers topped the charts with ABC and I'll Be There. (Henry Diltz/Corbis)
Michael Jackson (far left) and the other five Indiana brothers, members of the Jackson Five, in 1972. (Frank Barratt/Getty Images file)
Michael Jackson at the premiere of The Wiz. This musical, which appeared on the screens in 1978, was the first work of a pop star, created in collaboration with the famous producer Quincy Jones. Subsequently, he will also act as a producer of such famous Jackson albums as Off the Wall and Thriller. Diana Ross, a friend and mentor of Jackson, took part in the musical The Wiz with Jackson, who introduced the five Jacksons to the public in 1968. (Bettmann/Corbis)
Michael Jackson performing during a tour with his brothers in 1981. During this tour, Michael began writing down ideas for his solo project, which went on to become the best-selling album in the world. (Susan Phillips/Corbis)
Michael Jackson and Diana Ross at the American Music Awards (American music award) In Los Angeles. Jackson won Best Soul Album and Ross won Best Soul Vocalist. (Juynh/AP)
Jackson with a group of dancers on the set of the video for the song "Thriller" in 1983. Thriller revolutionized the music industry. Thanks to this zombie clip, the general public learned about the MTV channel, and music videos became independent artistic genre. The album sold 25 million copies in the US alone. (Corbis/Sygma)
Michael Jackson performs his famous "moonwalk" for the first time while singing Billie Jean. it dance move, which later became calling card singer, stunned the audience, and Michael was crowned the title of "King of Pop". (Bettmann/Corbis)
Pictured here next to his producer Quincy Johnson, Michael Jackson holds six of the eight Grammy awards he received in 1984 for Thriller. Sequined suit and large sunglasses became Jackson's calling card. (AP)
May 1984 Michael Jackson accepts an award from US President Reagan at the White House. Jackson has been hailed as an example to American youth, and his hit Beat It became the anthem of the anti-drunk driving campaign. (Bettmann/Corbis)
Michael Jackson (in the background) filming a Pepsi commercial when his hair caught fire and his brother Jerman (in the foreground) continues to perform, not knowing what is going on. (AP)
A police officer guides Michael through the crowd during his London tour in 1985. (Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
Pop and movie stars jointly sing the song We Are the World to draw the attention of the world to the famine in Ethiopia. Michael Jackson in the center. Also with him were Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ricci, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor and many others. Jackson's sister Janet is in the lower right corner of the photo. (Bettmann/Corbis)
Guitarist Eddie Van Halen performs a guitar solo during a Michael Jackson concert in Irving, Texas. This immortal guitar riff was recorded by the guitarist specifically for Michael's Beat It, which Van Halen's partner, David Lee Roth, was not at all happy about, but everyone else was delighted with the song. (Carlos Osorio/AP)
Michael Jackson and his dancers during the Bad album promotion tour in Tokyo in 1987. A year earlier, Jackson starred in the sci-fi musical film Captain EO in 3D, one of the most expensive and short films ever made. Jackson gradually became the object of increasing criticism as his albums and videos became more and more expensive, but came out less and less. His next album, Dangerous, was not released until 1991. (Neal Preston/Corbis)
Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey on set in January 1993. This year, for the first time, Jackson was accused of sexual harassment of minors, and in the hour and a half Oprah show, he addressed the victims. Subsequently, the charges against Jackson were dropped, but he reportedly paid $25 million to settle the case. (Neal Preston/Corbis)
Michael Jackson performing in front of 30,000 children at the Super Bowl Half-Time Show on January 31, 1993. Despite the accusations against the singer, he was still at the top musical Olympus, releasing such hits as Black or White, Remember the Time, and his album Dangerous went multi-platinum. (Ralf Finn Hestoft/Corbis)
Michael Jackson and French mime Marcel Marceau at the Bacon Theater in New York on December 4, 1995. Michael's face has already been completely changed by plastic surgeons. (Bob Strong/AFP - Getty Images)
Michael Jackson and his then-wife Lisa Marie Presley at the Neverland Ranch during preparations for the World Children's Summit in April 1995. Presley filed for divorce less than a year after the wedding, thus causing a lot of gossip about what exactly caused it. (Steve Starr/Corbis)
Michael Jackson performing at Ericsson Stadium in Oakland, New Zealand, in November 1996 during his HIStory World Tour. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)
A few months after his divorce from Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson married Debbie Rowe on November 13, 1996 in Sydney, Australia. His new wife was pregnant. Jackson and Rowe divorced after 3 years and Debbie gave parental rights to Jackson. (Reuters/Corbis)
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson arrive for their 30th Anniversary Concert creative career Jackson on September 7, 2001. The stars were longtime friends and Taylor became godmother to two of Jackson's children. (Jeff Christensen/Reuters/Corbis)
Michael Jackson testifies at a court hearing on November 13, 2002 in Santa Maria, California. The California Supreme Court ruled against Jackson for canceling concerts, costing promoters several million dollars. (AFP/Getty Images)
Michael Jackson poses for photographers at the presentation of his album Invincible in Times Square in New York in November 2001. New album, which was released on October 30 of that year, became the most expensive album ever recorded and was better received by critics and fans than 1995's HIStory. (Brad Rickerby/Reuters/Corbis)
Jackson holds his son Prince Michael II covered in a towel as he stands on the balcony of a Berlin hotel November 19, 2002. Subsequently, Jackson called the incident "a terrible mistake", but this photo shocked even the singer's most devoted fans. His reputation was irreversibly damaged. (Tobias Schwarz/Reuters)
Photograph of Jackson taken at the Santa Barbara County Police Station on November 30, 2003. In 2003, Jackson documented that the boys slept in his bed. Soon, the prosecutor began checking on Jackson's charge of child molestation. In November, the police showed up at the Neverland Ranch for a search, and a few days later, Jackson was arrested. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's D/Reuters)
Michael (center) and his sisters La Toya (left) and Janet during a break at a court hearing in Santa Maria on August 16, 2004. (Pool/Reuters)
Michael Jackson, in pajama pants, escorted by bodyguards to a court hearing on March 10, 2005 on charges of child molestation since 2003. Jackson appeared in court after Judge Rodney Melville threatened to revoke his bail. (Kimberly White/pool via Reuters)
Jackson sings with his young fans during the World Music Awards in London on November 16, 2006. (Graham Jepson/WireImage)
Michael Jackson receives a written commendation from Colonel Robert M. Waltmeer, commander of the Zama garrison in Japan, March 10, 2007. Michael greeted thousands of US service members and their families. (U.S. Army via Getty Images)
Michael walks through the car park of a recording studio in Los Angeles with his children Prince and Paris in March 2009. The singer was spotted entering the studio on that cold, rainy day. In the studio, he spent over two hours with a large number of staff, allegedly recording videos. (Splash News/Splash News)
Fans watch the singer's press conference broadcast at the O2 Arena in London on March 5, 2009. In a press release, the megastar announced his intention to stage a series of concerts in London in July that would be his most significant performances in over a decade. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)
Michael Jackson was accused of pedophilia and convicted of plastic surgery, did not believe in the sincerity of his marriages and resented the frankness of the clips. But he was still loved and loved all over the world. Nine years have passed since his death, and people still sometimes “see” the singer in different corners the globe. Fake your own demise? It would be quite in the spirit of extravagant Michael.
Deprived of childhood
The seventh out of nine children in the family - this fact itself no longer implies an easy and carefree childhood. But the Jackson family was not just a large family. father and creator bands The Jackson 5 Joseph Jackson was close to sadism in his methods of upbringing: he regularly beat children, and he was especially strict with Michael - the man did not like his "downtroddenness" and unresponsiveness. 
It was his father who was to blame for the fact that the king of pop suffered from insomnia and nightmares all his life. One night, he climbed up the wall into the nursery wearing a Halloween mask. Thus, Joseph wanted to wean children from sleeping with open windows, but in the end only caused them psychological trauma. The success of The Jackson 5, where the five Jackson brothers, including Michael, sang, was largely due to iron discipline and fear of his father. As soon as you hit the wrong note in rehearsal, the belt came into play. Unsuspecting newspapers called the group "a phenomenon of our time", and eleven-year-old Michael cried quietly, looking out the window at peacefully playing peers. They did not need to prepare for concerts - they could remain just children.
Birth of a King
When the group's success began to decline, the grown-up soloists fired their father from the producers - the "five" broke up, and only Michael could achieve success on stage alone. On the set of The Wiz, he met music director Quincy Jones, who was embarking on a solo career as a promising artist.
The very first album "Off the Wall" becomes successful, but the real legend of Jackson will be called after the release of the record "Thriller".
A fourteen-minute video for the song of the same name, more like short film, will set a whole direction in the video music industry. He will be imitated, but no one will be able to repeat the success of Michael Jackson: nine months at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, seven Grammy awards!
Deprived of childhood, Michael created a reality for himself that he never had. But the real world constantly reminded of itself with completely non-childish problems.
One against all
On the set of a Pepsi commercial, Michael had a nuisance: at the request of the director, he lingered next to the pyrotechnic devices, he received severe burns to his face and head. This led to the first operations with serious consequences. While the burns healed, Jackson suffered from severe pain, which was helped by pills and sedatives. Due to the general stress, a rare hereditary disease has aggravated - vitiligo, a violation of the pigmentation of the skin.
Over the years, the skin of the king of pop has become more and more light. In rare interviews, Michael explained about vitiligo and the need for makeup, but most believed in a louder version of what was happening - Jackson wants to become "white", change race!
Even his passion for charity has been turned inside out. Helping seriously ill children, Michael offered them a free vacation at his fabulous ranch. In 1993, someone Evan Chandler accused the singer of seducing his 13-year-old son Jordan.
Marriages that no one believed in
They knew each other since the seventies, and in the days of difficult trials often called up. At some point, Michael realized how important Lisa's support was to him. “What would you say if I asked you to marry me?” he asked during another telephone conversation. Lisa, after a short pause, agreed. By that time, she already had the experience of an unsuccessful marriage and two children. They got married with Michael in the Dominican Republic, away from the paparazzi, and kept everything a secret for two months. The reaction of the public was predictable: both were immediately accused of mutual PR, and Jackson was also accused of trying to improve his own reputation at the expense of his wife.
However, if he had selfish motives, then they consisted in something else. All the year and a half that the marriage with Lisa lasted, Michael persuaded her to give birth to a child. She, who saw in Michael little boy in the body of an adult man, categorically refused. The dispute reached a dead end, as did their relationship. On January 18, 1996, Lisa filed for divorce, but nothing could stop Michael in his pursuit of fatherhood. Less than a year later, he married his dermatologist's assistant, Debbie Rowe. At the time of the wedding, she was already five months pregnant.
Jackson's dream came true: a healthy and trouble-free Deborah gave him a son, Prince Michael, and a daughter, Paris. And three years later, she fully accepted the terms of the divorce: the children remain with Michael, she also remains with a house in Beverly Hills and a settlement of $ 8 million. With Lisa-Marie Presley, they continued to communicate after the divorce. After Jackson's death, she admitted that Michael was her very own. big love in life.
New accusations
In 2003, Michael Jackson hosted film crew British television. Talking about the children playing around, the singer drew attention to one of the boys: “And this is Gavin Arvizo. We really became friends with him. Sometimes we even sleep in the same bed, don't we, Gavin? And the other day, you know, we tried alcohol together! The sincere confession, said so, in passing, struck both fans and enemies of the star. Jackson was again accused of pedophilia, the star was defended by the best lawyers in America, who insisted on a psychiatric examination. She showed that Michael was not a pedophile, but he was not mentally healthy either.
Father's abuse and early adulthood on stage led to the fact that the 46-year-old singer had the development of a teenager and did not see anything reprehensible in letting a frightened child into bed.
He was acquitted again, but this time the singer earned not only another depression, but also serious financial problems. To fully pay off the lawyers, he even had to mortgage the ranch. Only new tours could improve the situation. In early 2009, Michael Jackson announced a series of concerts he would perform in London over the summer. The program was called This Is It Tour: the singer rehearsed a lot, honing his performance to perfection. 18 days before the first concert, everything was almost ready - except for Michael himself.
The legendary American singer Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana (USA). He was the seventh of nine children in the Jackson family.
At the age of five, Michael became a member of the Jackson Five family band and soon took over as lead vocalist.
In 1968, the Jackson Five signed with Motown Records and recorded such hits as I Want You Back, ABC, The love you Save and I "ll Be There. In the mid-1970s, the popularity of the Jackson Five began to decline, and Solo career Michael began to gain momentum.
In 1977, Michael Jackson made his debut in the film-musical The Wiz, which began his long-term collaboration with famous producer and composer Quincy Jones. Together with him, Michael released a solo album Off the Wall in 1979. The disc took the top lines of the US and UK charts, and for the song Don "t Stop" Til You Get Enough, Jackson received his first Grammy statuette.
In 1982, the singer released his second album Thriller. The album became one of the most commercially successful in the history of pop music - its circulation amounted to 70 million copies worldwide. The Thriller disc brought Michael seven Grammy awards.
A video clip was shot for the album's main song of the same name, which is believed to have laid the foundation for active development music video.
In 1983, at the Motown 25 years show, Michael Jackson walked his famous "moonwalk" for the first time.
In 1987, the singer released the album Bad. All the singles from this album reached the first lines of the charts. The album was sold with a circulation of 29 million copies.
In the same year, Jackson's autobiography Moonwalker was published.
In 1991, Michael Jackson signed a major contract with Sony Music and released his solo album Dangerous.
The singer finally secured the status of the first star in the world show business - his composition Black Or White became a number one hit on both sides of the ocean.
In September 1993, a Michael Jackson concert took place in Moscow, at the Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Stadium.
In 1995, Jackson released the double album HIStory, which paired a disc of 15 new songs with a greatest hits disc. The album has sold 7 million copies in the US (15 million worldwide).
In 1996, Jackson's second performance in Russia took place at the Dynamo Stadium in Moscow.
In 1997, an album of dance remixes for tracks from HIStory - Blood on the Dancefloor appeared in stores.
The album Invincible, released in October 2001, contained 16 tracks, including the single You rock my world, which featured the legendary actor Marlon Brando in the video. In the same year, Michael recorded the song What more can I give, the proceeds of which went to charity.
In 2003 the album was released greatest hits Michael Jackson - Number Ones. The only original track on this disc, One More Chance, spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard charts.
In 2004, Jackson released the anniversary edition of Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection, a five-disc collection that included his most famous hits, demos and an extra DVD of live footage from the Dangerous tour.
In August 2008, Michael Jackson released an original studio album titled King of Pop. The collection consisted of compositions based on poems by the great 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Jackson's album Thriller 25, released in February 2008 to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of the legendary Thriller album, was a great success. AT new compilation included nine original songs from the old album, as well as remixes and new song For All Time.
The disc reached number one on the charts in eight European countries, reached number two in the US and number three in the UK charts. It was sold in the USA.
As a forensic medical examination established, the king of pop music became an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.
July 7, 2009 at the Staples sports and entertainment complex in Los Angeles was held with Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson has been married twice. The first time was on Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. The marriage did not last long, from 1994 to 1996, but the stars remained friends. In 1996, Michael Jackson married former nurse Debbie Rowe. For three years of marriage, they had two children: a son, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Sr. (1997) and a daughter, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (1998). Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (2002), was born via a surrogate mother.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources
