Michael Jackson was born on August 29 in Gary, Indiana, 1958. His father, Joseph Jackson, was a guitarist but was believed to be forced into giving up his musical ambitions following his marriage to Katherine.Despite of giving up music, Joseph Jackson tried hard to provide for his family's musical interests at home. And by the early 60s the older boys Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964 Michael and Marlon had joined in.
A musical prodigy, Michael's singing talents were amazingly mature and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of The Jackson 5. It was Gladys Knight who officially brought The Jackson 5 to Berry Gordy's attention, and by 1969 the boys were producing back-to-back hits as Motown artists. Soon after, the talent of little MJ got known.
Success was inevitable for Michael, and by the 80s he had become far more popular than The Jackson 5. In 1979, Michael released his first solo album with the support of producer Quincy Jones. This was Off the Wall, featuring songs like Don't stop till you get enough. The album had four songs in the Us Top 10 hits.
1979 was also the year when Jackson had his first rhinoplasty following a fall during a concert. Among his multiple surgeries, Michael Jackson had a total of four rhinoplasties, as he was never quite satisfied with his nose after his fall in 1979.
The biggest year in Jackson's life was 1982, when he released the album Thriller. The album held its position in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for 80 straight weeks and nearly half that time it remained on the number one position. The album had songs like Thriller, Wanna be starting something and Beat it. The album continues to be one of the top best-selling albums even today. Jackson won eight Grammy Awards for that album.
In 1983, Jackson did his famous moonwalk for the first time. He did it for a live performance for the stageshow Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.
Michael Jackson has been involved with a number of charities and even been honoured for that in different way. The highlight of his charitable work came in 1984 when he co-wrote the song We are the world with Lionel Ritchie under the banner called USA for Africa and got together a huge number of singing sensations to contribute to the song. Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Charles and a host of others. Jackson has a number of other songs with a social message, like Heal the world and Black or white.
By the late 80s, stories of Jackson's obsession with his appearance made headlines repeatedly. Apart from all the nose-jobs, there were stories of him setting up an oxygen chamber to better his skin. It was in the 80s itself that Jackson says he was hit by diseases like Vitiligo and Lupus that made his skin lighter. Most people, however, don't always believe these stories and feel that Jackson changed his colour voluntarily.
Some doctors claim that Jackson suffers from body dysmorphic disorder that a mental disorder that disables the patient from making a connection with his mirror image. It is a result of this, doctors say, that he feels the need to change his appearance repeatedly.
In 1987, Jackson released the album Bad, which also became a superhit and topped the charts for weeks. Songs like Bad, The way you make me feel and Dirty Diana were featured on this album.
In 1988, Jackson built his infamous Neverland ranch in California. Due to his childhood fascination with Peter Pan, that character was the inspiration behind his mansion, which also has a theme park in it.
In 1991, Jackson released Dangerous with songs like Black or white, and Remember the time.
One of the worst years in Jackson's life was perhaps 1993 when he was accused on sexually abusing a child called Jordan Chandler. Since Jackson settled out of court, it raised speculations that the charges were true. Those were humiliating times for Jackson as the child in question described details of their relationship, which later were considered untrue, and Jackson had to agree to a 25-minute strip search apart from the search of his entire estate. To make things worse, one of his sisters called him a pedophile, a statement she later took back.
Jackson's mental and physical health took a terrible turn ever since the child molestation charges. He got addicted to painkillers and even illegal drugs. It was around this time that he got married to Lisa Marie Presley. The two divorced two years later.
In 1995, Jackson released HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. and in 1997, Blood on the Dance Floor. Also in 1997, Jackson married for a second time. His second wife was a nurse by profession, named Deborah Jeanne Rowe. Together they have two children. The couple divorced in 1999 and Rowe gave Jackson full custody of the kids.
In 2002, Jackson had a third child whose mother is unknown. Jackson claims that the child is a result of artificial insemination.
Sadly, in 2003, stories of child molestation came back to haunt him as he was charged with seven counts of sexual abuse against children. A mental health professional testified in court saying that ackson had become a regressed 10-year-old and did not fit the profile of a pedophile. He was finally acquitted of all charges in 2005, after which he moved to the Middle-East.
In 2008, Michael announced that he has converted to Islam in a ceremony officiated by an Imam where he pledged his allegiance to The Koran.
In 2009, Michael decided to announce a grand comeback tour, under which he will travel across the world. Show tickets were sold-out within the hour of releasing.
It is also confirmed that Jackson now has the initial stages of skin cancer, which is treatable.
One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records including one for Thriller as the world's best-selling album 13 Grammy Awards.
Despite all the controversies, Michael Jackson's skills as a singer, dancer, writer and businessman remain unparalleled. And that's what makes him a legendary artist.
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