Michael Jackson

As an adult he is often seen as the boy who never grew up. As a child he was viewed as mature beyond his years especially when it came to his voice and singing ability. For nearly two decades it was nearly impossible to turn on the radio and not hear that unmistakable voice, first as a part of a group with his brothers and then as a solo artist.

He was born Michael Joseph Jackson on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana into a Jehovah Witness family. Father Joseph was a former musician playing guitar. The elder Jackson saw talent in his young sons and formed the older boys into a group. The brothers were already performing around the local area when Michael joined his brothers on stage.

After coming to the attention of Motown chief Barry Gordy the boys were signed to the label. The Jackson 5 released their debut album when young Michael was eleven years old. Their first four singles went to number one. It only took two years for the executives at Motown to begin pushing Michael as a solo artist. While working on his solo career Michael remained loyal to the family and still performed with the brothers.

His first album as an adult solo artist was "Off the Wall". It was clear that the boy who would be king had lost nothing as he emerged from a child star to an adult artist. The album spawned four hit singles and went on to sell seven million copies in the US alone.

Once he hit the top of the charts Michael continued his reign that eventually earned him the title king of pop. After "Off the Wall" came the mega million selling album "Thriller". Guests artists that appeared on the album were Sir Paul McCartney, Eddie Van Halen, and horror movie legend Vincent Price who added his voice to the hugely successful title track. "Thriller" became a greatest hits album in that nearly all of the songs were released as singles and topped the charts. The album sold 27 million copies in the US earning Michael his only Diamond Award - which is awarded for US album sales totaling 10 million copies. The only album to sell more copies in the US is the Greatest Hits album by The Eagles with 29 million.

After "Thriller" Jackson showed no signs of slowing down with "Bad" which spawned five hit singles and seven million copies sold. Though still hugely popular and successful rumours were abound that Jackson had reached his peak and was falling from his post at the top of the mountain. Often media reports were more about his personal life than his musical success.

In recent years Michael Jackson's musical contributions have been few and far between but over the course of his career Jackson has sold well over 100 million albums world wide; won 13 Grammy Awards - eight in 1984; has won an Image Award, a People's Choice Award, an MTV Movie Award, and a Brit Award; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist; and celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of his first solo hit at Madison Square Garden. Jackson viewed his music videos not as a video but as a song length movie; taking the young MTV network by storm. Twelve of his albums have reached platinum status with eleven of them achieving multi platinum status.

While Michael Jackson may no longer have the album sales he once did for many he is still the "Thriller" and a "Smooth Criminal" when it comes to stealing the hearts of his fans.