|
The Press Room
Michael Jackson
Exclusive Police Photos of
Michael Jackson's secret room at the Sheriff's
Site
Get more info from SantaBarbaraSheriff.com
Home
Funny Pics
Games
Jokes
News
Mug Shot
Animated Gifs
Message Board
GuestBook
Charges
Biography
Nation of Islam
Mark Geragos
Islam Photos
Lyrics
60 Minutes
Janet Jackson
Related
Links
Contents
| |
Michael Jackson's story is the stuff of which legends are made. It is a saga that began in America's heartland, Gary, Indiana, where Michael was born on August 29th, 1958 to Joseph and Katherine Jackson, into a family of eight brothers and sisters. When Papa Joe, himself a guitar player, noticed his sons' growing interest in music and performing, he devoted himself to the careful develop- ment of their nascent talents. Through hard work and dedication, Michael, Marlon, Tito, Jermaine and Jackie became the Jackson 5. The group began performing professionally in and around Gary in 1964; later that year, the siblings took their polished song-and-dance act to Harlem, New York's famed Apollo Theatre. The Jackson 5 turned the place out, winning first place in the Apollo's legendary amateur night talent show, where the audience reaction was (and still is) often brutal when a performance failed to meet the Apollo's high standards. After years of relentless rehearsal and weekend gigs, the young group turned the corner. In 1969, led by the innate singing and performing ability of the prodigal 11-year-old Michael, the J-5 auditioned for Berry Gordy--the founder of the Detroit-based Motown Records, then the most successful R&B label around. Captivated by what he saw and heard, Gordy signed the brothers immediately. Thus began one of the most successful runs by a recording group in pop music history. Beginning in 1969, the Jackson 5 scored four consecutive #1 Pop singles: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There." Not since the Beatles had any group enjoyed such an immediate and meteoric rise, or a level of mass popularity capable of transcending all barriers of age and color.
Motown soon began developing Michael's formidable talents as a solo artist. In the years 1971 to 1976, he scored with the singles "Got To Be There," "Rockin' Robin," "I Wanna Be Where You Are" and "Ben," the #1 hit from the likewise titled film; and with his solo albums Got To Be There, Ben, Music & Me, Forever Michael and The Best of Michael Jackson. It was becoming increasingly clear that the young Jackson was not just an outstanding singer, but a true artist of potentially enduring impact.
Michael tended to these solo interests while fronting the Jackson 5, whose first three albums--Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, ABC and Third Album, all Top 5 best-sellers--were comple- mented by such hit singles as "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Mama's Pearl," "Get It Together," "Dancing Machine" and "Forever Came Today," and LPs such as Get It Together, Dancing Machine, and Goin' Back To Indiana (the soundtrack from the group's hit 1971 television special--the J-5's ABC-TV Saturday morning cartoon series began airing that same year). When the Jackson 5 weren't recording, they were headlining sold-out concert tours that took them around the world. (The group's opening act was a then-unknown band called the Commodores, led by a fellow named Lionel Richie). After recording some 11 albums for Motown (1975's Moving Violation was their last recording there), the Jackson 5 left the label in 1976 to sign with the Epic subsidiary of CBS Records (now Sony Music). That same year, Motown released its Jackson Five Anthology greatest hits compilation, which underscored the fact that, by the time of its departure, the group had sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
As Epic recording artists, Michael and his brothers renamed themselves the Jacksons in 1976 and made younger brother Randy--until then, an unofficial member of the lineup--a permanent fixture. (Randy replaced Jermaine, who stayed at Motown to pursue a solo career.) The hits never stopped: The Jacksons, the group's Epic Records debut album, done under the direction of top r&b production team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, was quickly certified gold, powered by the million-plus-selling single "Enjoy Yourself." That summer the group hosted its own CBS-TV variety series, which also featured Jackson sisters Rebbie, La Toya and Janet. This period was vital to the creative development of the Jacksons and of Michael in particular: For the first time in the group's recording career, the family was allowed to write and produce its own material. The result, 1978's Destiny album, gave the public its first experience of Michael Jackson, the hit songwriter: The infectious "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)," co-written by Michael, sold more that two million copies, propelling the album beyond the million-seller mark. ("Blame It On The Boogie," another hit single from Destiny, was written by Mick Jackson--no relation.) Nineteen-seventy-eight was also the year in which Michael became a movie star: He was cast as the dance-crazy Scarecrow in The Wiz, which also starred Diana Ross and Richard Pryor. Michael and Diana's joyous duet of "Ease On Down The Road" was one of the film's highlights, and it was on the set of The Wiz that Michael first befriended the picture's musical director, producer/arranger Quincy Jones. Their union would go on to create musical history, and mark Michael Jackson's dramatic ascension to pop music's throne. The World's Most Famous Man is more than just an entertainer. He is a humanitarian whose efforts to help end pain and suffering have been felt the world over. His Heal The World Foundation, an international charity designed to protect children and the environment, raises millions of dollars each year for various causes. No artist has used his craft to promote greater good, or to offer more positive inspiration, than Michael Jackson. Through his hard work and standards of excellence, he supplies the beat heard around the world--and, if anyone is out there listening, the universe. Long live the King of Pop.
Michael Jackson Career Highlights 1995 - 2001
June 7, 1995 Michael Jackson's double A-sided single, "Scream" b/w "Childhood (Theme From Free Willy 2), enters the Billboard Hot 100 at #5* to become the highest debut in the chart's 37-year history. The single surpasses the previous record for highest debut established by the Beatles in March, 1970 when "Let It Be" entered the chart at #6*. Michael Jackson's previous highest-charting debut was "Thriller," which entered at 20 in February, 1984.
June 13, 1995 The short film, "Scream," directed by Mark Romanek, premiers on MTV and BET.
June 14, 1995 "Scream" has its network television premier, when Diane Sawyer interviews Michael Jackson on "Prime Time Live" (ABC network). The broadcast earns a 25.9 rating/42 share, which translates to 24.7 million households or an estimated 63.7 million viewers.
June 20, 1995 HIStory -- Past, Present & Future -- Book I by Michael Jackson is released on Epic Records. The album enters the Billboard chart at #1, and also tops the chart in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Israel, Mexico, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
July 28, 1995 The television special, "Michael Jackson Changes HIStory," airs on ABC Network and MTV. The 30-minute broadcast features the world premier of the new short film, "You Are Not Alone," directed by Wayne Isham.
August 17, 1995 Michael Jackson conducts his first-ever online chat, carried simultaneously over all three leading online services--America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy--as well as the Internet. In a unique use of split-screen technology, MTV airs Jackson videos and special pro- gramming while simulcasting the chat session on television.
August 20, 1995 "You Are Not Alone," the second single from HIStory, enters the Billboard Hot 100 at 1--the first #1 debut in the history of the chart. Thus, Jackson breaks his own record for highest debut which he set with "Scream."
September 8, 1995 Michael Jackson's 15-minute performance opens the MTV Music Video Awards telecast, live from Radio City Music Hall in New York. "Scream" receives three MTV Video Music Awards: Best Dance Video, Best Choreography, and Best Art Direction.
January 11, 1996 HIStory is certified 6X platinum in the US. Within the next year, the album has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide (US sales included).
February 28, 1996 "Scream" wins the Grammy Award for Best Music Video - Short Form. This is Michael Jackson's 13th Grammy Award as a solo artist.
May 10, 1996 Michael appears at the World Music Awards in Monaco, where he receives five awards and performs "Earth Song."
September 2, 1996 Michael Jackson kicks off his HIStory World Tour in Prague. The September leg of the tour includes sold-out performances in Budapest, Bucharest, Moscow, Warsaw, Zaragoza, and Casablanca.
October 1, 1996 The HIStory World Tour continues with sold-out concerts in Cairo, Seoul, Taiwan, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Djakarta.
October 25, 1996 A new 35-minute film, Michael Jackson's "Ghosts", is shown in selected Sony Theaters across the US. Starring Michael Jackson, the film is directed by four-time Academy Award winner Stan Winston and features music based on the song "Too Bad" from HIStory.
November 15, 1996 The HIStory World Tour reaches the Pacific, with sold-out concerts in Tokyo; Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, Australia; and Auckland, New Zealand.
January 3-4, 1997 The HIStory World Tour concludes with two sold-out concerts at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii--Michael Jackson's first US performances since the "Bad" tour of 1989.
March 7, 1997 The Soul Train Music Awards names its top honor The Michael Jackson Award for Best Video. The Michael Jackson Award is presented to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony for "The Crossroads."
May 1, 1997 Michael begins a major European tour in Bremen, Germany with dates running through August 24, 1997.
May 20, 1997 Epic Records releases Michael Jackson's album, Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix, containing new remixes of eight songs from HIStory and five new original songs. Released simultaneously with the album is HIStory On Film Volume II, a new collection of the artist's short films and television performances. The album's first single, "Blood On The Dance Floor," reaches #1 in England, Spain, Italy, and Denmark, and is a Top 5 hit in Australia, Ireland, Holland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
May 30, 1997 Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix is the #1 album in the UK, France, and Spain, and a Top 5 hit in Germany, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Austria, Finland, and Denmark.
July 7, 1997 Thriller is certified 7 x Platinum
July 16, 1997 Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix is certified gold in the US.
September 19th 1998 - Billboard magazine celebrates their 40th anniversary of their singles charts by compiling a list of their hit songs over the past 4 decades.Michael is listed as no. 1 male artist with most # 1 hits.
June 1999 - Michael Jackson with friends performs two charity concerts , the proceeds of which went to Red Cross, Unesco and the Nelson Mandela Children's fund
October 12 1999, - History is certified 7x platinum
December 11 1999 - MTV airs 100 greatest videos ever made. Thriller comes in at # 1
May 30 2000 - Dangerous is certified 7x platinum
October 30 2000 - Thriller is certified 26 x platinum
October 2000 - Michael is given "The best selling male artist of the millennium award " at the World Music awards
March 2001 - Michael Jackson is inducted into the "Rock and Roll" Hall of fame as a solo artist
July 30 2001 - "You Rock my world" the ist single from Michaels new album Invincible is debuted on radio stations world wide
September 4 2001 - Michael performs at the MTV Video music awards with Nsync
September 2001 - Michael Jackson's holds two tribute shows at New York's Madison Square Garden on September 7th and 10th. The line up featured Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Billy Gilman, Whitney Houston, James Ingram, Destiny's Child, Macaulay Culkin, Quincy Jones & the Legends of Jazz, 'N Sync, Jill Scott, Shaggy, Britney Spears, Tamia, and many more.
@ 2001 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. Sony Privacy Policy Buy Invincible www.michaeljackson.com
|
