MoonChyld's Entertainment News - Michael Jackson

The first time I was introduced to Michael Jackson I was 3 years old looking at the Rock with You video, and like many others before me and many more after me; I became a fan. For 30 years I grew up listening to his music, watching his videos, buying his albums and seeing his ever changing appearances. But no matter how many surgeries he's had, Michael always delivered in his music and performances on stage - I know this from personal experience. My father took me to see him and his brothers in concert in August 1984 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Auburn Hills Michigan; it was The Victory Tour.

June 23, 2009 was a sad day for music fans when news markets across the world revealed that the King of Pop passed away at age 50. It was almost as if time stood still in the shock and devastation of losing one of the greatest entertainers of all time. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. He was to perform 50 sold-out shows at the O2 Arena in London starting July 13; this was to be considered his comeback after a 3 year hiatus.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana to Joseph and Katherine Jackson; he was child number seven to their eventual nine (it would have been ten but Marlon's twin brother Brandon was stillborn). He knew at a very young age he wanted to be a singer and entertain the world; however his father needed to be convinced he could get the job done. Papa Joe had experience as a musician when he and his brother formed a local band called The Falcons. After discovering that Tito (who was secretly playing their father's guitar) was musically talented, and seeing that Jermaine and Jackie also possessed musical aptitude; the wheels in Joe's head were turning. He decided to develop a group by way of his offspring. It would be a year or so later that Marlon and Michael would join, with the latter taking the lead.

After a series of local performances and winning a few talent shows, Bobby Taylor of The Vancouvers saw their winning Apollo Amateur Night performance and suggested they auditioned for Motown Records. Joe and his sons packed up and headed to Detroit for the audition that would change their lives. Around this time video tape recording was beginning to be the new thing and Berry Gordy was eager to use it.

Obviously the audition was a successful one, because in 1969 the Jackson 5 began their journey of becoming legends in the music industry. Right out of the gate they were a force to be reckoned with having their first four singles (I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There) reach #1 on the charts and thus began Jackson 5 mania. While with Motown, Michael was given the chance to branch out on his own with four albums (Got to Be There, Ben, Music & Me and Forever, Michael); he was even nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for the song Ben. Sold out concerts and chart topping albums were to follow until 4 of the 5 members decided to leave Motown and signed on with CBS Records to have more control over the direction of their music. Jermaine was married to Berry's daughter Hazel at the time and chose to stay with the label that made them famous; little brother Randy joined the group taking his place.

Their first self-titled album produced two hit singles (Enjoy Yourself and Show You the Way to Go) and was certified gold. Their follow-up Going Places debuted at #1 and #63 on Billboard's R&B Albums Chart and Billboard 200 respectively; the only notable song was Different Kind of Lady which was written by The Jacksons. When the group made their transition to Epic in 1978 they released their third album Destiny. This became a very successful record with sales leading it to be their first platinum album since leaving Motown. This was also the first project where they wrote and produce the album with the exception of Blame It on the Boogie which was written by Mick Jackson, his brother David and Emar Krohn. That same year Michael co-starred with Diana Ross in the musical film The Wiz; based on the Broadway musical of the same name. The film's music director was Quincy Jones; he would soon be a collaborator and longtime friend of Michael's. Their first venture was 1979's Off the Wall, the album garnered 4 hit singles including Don't Stop Till You Get Enough and earned Michael his first Grammy Award. This was just the beginning for Quincy and Michael.

In 1982, they would produce Thriller, the best selling album of all time. The following year Michael would perform with his brothers (including Jermaine) at Motown's 25^th Anniversary special, but it was his solo performance of Billie Jean (a non Motown song) that would solidify his legendary pop star status; there was no looking back for Michael. The multi-platinum album had 7 top 10 hits and the title track's music video directed by John Landis was the first of his many innovative videos. This record breaking album added another historical moment in Michael Jackson's career; he won an unprecedented 8 Grammy Awards in 1984 (it would be 16 years later that Santana would share that same achievement).

Michael co-wrote the 1985 hit We Are the World with Lionel Richie. Produced by Quincy Jones, the song took a cue from Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas Time? and was recorded during and after the American Music Awards. Besides Michael and Lionel, there were various music artists from the pop, rock and R&B arenas. All giving their gifts of musical talent as a mega group known as United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa); it went on to raise over $50 million for famine relief in Africa.

His 1987 album Bad shed his clean cut pop persona and presented the public someone with a more mature and somewhat rebellious vibe from the looks of his album cover. Not only was there a difference in the wardrobe but it appeared that Michael's complexion was lighter than it was during Thriller. Martin Scorsese directed the video Bad which featured a then unknown Wesley Snipes while Smooth Criminal gave the world the Anti-gravity lean. Although it gave him five #1 hits and earned him two Grammys, Michael did not reach the success as his previous album.

Two years later Dangerous was released with what can be considered one of the most obscured album covers in the business. In true Jackson form he produced two short film videos; Black or White and Remember the Time. One other memorable video would be Jam which shows Michael showing NBA legend Michael Jordan some of his dance moves - including the moonwalk. During the success of Dangerous, Michael was facing charges of molesting a young boy in 1993. He released a 4 minute response to his fans regarding the accusation. The case was settled out of court for a reported $22 million; Michael wasn't formally charged.

After the case was closed in 1994, Michael married Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie; something most thought to be a publicity stunt to draw attention from his child molestation allegations. To prove the union was genuine, they appeared at the VMA's (Video Music Awards) that year and opened the show with a kiss; a rather awkward one at best. Michael moved forward from that madness in his life and released HIStory Book I: Past, Present and Future; a two-disc album with new songs as well as some of his greatest hits. The first single, Scream, featured his equally successful sister Janet. The video that followed had a whopping $7 million budget and was viewed as a video long time coming from the two powerhouses. While promoting the album he and Lisa Marie did and hour-long interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC's Primetime Live to again show that their marriage was very real; however, the marriage lasted for less than two years.

His second marriage was to Debbie Rowe, while on his HIStory Tour in Australia in 1996. She gave birth to two of his three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (aka Prince) and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. They were only married for three years and although they remained friends after the divorce; she gave up parental rights. Michael would have a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (aka Blanket), by way of a surrogate mother.

Michael would release his last album, Invincible, in 2001; it was at this time where Michael was having some professional disputes with his record company Sony. Even with its 10 million copies sold around the world, Michael laid blame to poor promotion on the record company and its president Tommy Mottola whom Michael called a racist and a devil, claiming that he "does not support his African American artists."

The year 2003 marked what so many would believe to be the true beginning of the end of Michael's musical persona. ABC's Primetime Live aired The Granada Television documentary Living with Michael Jackson; the interviewer was Martin Bashir - famous for interviewing Princess Diana during her failed marriage to Prince Charles. The documentary showcased Michael's eccentric lifestyle, his time with his children and his love for shopping. However, the segment that obtained the most buzz was when viewers were introduced to a young man named Gavin Arvizo, a recovering cancer patient who along with his family became friends with Michael; he was 13 at the time.

After this interview, the Fox network aired a show responding to Bashir's interview called Take Two hosted by Maury Povich. This showed Gavin, his sister and mother Janet giving Michael much love and Gavin himself saying that Michael did not molest him. His mother actually thought of taking legal action against Bashir for spinning what she stated was a "beautiful, loving, father-son and daughter" relationship out of context. But in an instant it would soon change.

The Santa Barbara County Sherriff's Department began investigating Michael's relationships with children and with a search warrant they came to Michael's home and took many of his personal belongings that they felt was of a sexual nature towards children; they also had a warrant for Michael's arrest. To make matters worse the district attorney created a website giving people the opportunity to come forward about details of Michael's alleged exploits or other 'victims' who were molested by Michael. He was charged in December 2003 with 4 counts of child molestation, 4 counts of giving underage children alcohol, 1 count of abduction and 1 count of trying to keep Gavin and his family at the singer's home; he would be put on trial for these charges in February 2005.

After 4 months of testimony Michael was found not guilty of all counts; he never took the stand. George Lopez testified that he was friends of the accuser's family and gave them money but it turned into what the defense felt was extortion due to the father asking for more. There were two witnesses claiming that they saw Michael being inappropriate towards Macaulay Culkin. In the beginning Macaulay chose not to testify but changed his mind upon hearing about what allegedly happened to him. He stated that Michael never touched him sexually and remained calm during his time on the stand. The big surprise came from the discovery that Gavin's mother has a history of extorting money and making false claims to obtain compensation; she also sought legal representation from Larry Feldman - the same attorney who represented the family in 1993 that accused Michael of the same accusations. This matter proved to be more damaging to Michael's image and spirit even though he received an outpour of support from his family, friends and fans.

Despite his troubles, Michael never steered away from what he did best, making great music. Since his start in the business the sound of music has changed, but Michael always played an intricate part of it. He may be gone physically but his spirit will live on with his music being passed on to the next generation and thereafter. Michael created the blueprint of what a great entertainer should be. If there were no Michael Jackson there would be no Ne-Yo, Mario, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, or Chris Tucker.

To best describe Michael Jackson's sudden passing can be taken from one of my many favorite songs by the icon:

Like a sunset dying with the rising of the moon

Gone too soon