Marek zvelebil biography of michael jackson

Tragically, he passed away on June 25, , at the age of 50, leaving behind a complex but impactful legacy in the world of entertainment. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, , in Gary, Indiana, as the eighth child in a family of ten. His parents, Joseph and Katherine Jackson, were both musically inclined — Joseph as a guitarist and Katherine as a clarinetist and aspiring country singer.

Encouraged by their parents, Michael began his music career at the tender age of five, performing with his brothers in their family band. The strict upbringing under Joseph, who pushed his children relentlessly toward success, often included grueling rehearsal schedules that cultivated both talent and, at times, fear among the siblings.

Growing up in a challenging environment, Michael faced both internal and external struggles. He experienced significant pressure to excel, which may have contributed to his complex personality and creative genius. While his childhood in Gary was turbulent, it also laid the foundation for his extraordinary talent. His formative years were characterized by a unique blend of musical exposure and personal turmoil, setting the stage for his future as a global pop icon.

Even as a child, Michael stood out for his incredible vocal range and emotional depth, traits that would later define his successful career. The Jackson 5, originally formed in the early s, marked the emergence of a musical phenomenon led by the remarkable talent of Michael Jackson. Consisting of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and the youngest sibling Michael, the group quickly gained recognition for their vibrant performances.

With Michael as the lead vocalist at just five years old, the Jackson 5 captured audiences with their incredible harmonies and infectious energy. Their first hit, "I Want You Back," topped the Billboard Hot in , establishing them as Motown's premier young act and setting the stage for Michael's unprecedented rise to fame. The group's dynamic performances, characterized by smooth choreography and spirited instrumentation, laid the groundwork for Michael's signature dance moves that would later dominate pop culture.

Despite subsequently parting ways with Motown and rebranding as the Jacksons, Michael Jackson continued to shine, eventually launching a groundbreaking solo career that catapulted him to global stardom. Michael Jackson began his solo career while still a member of the Jackson 5, releasing his debut album, "Got to Be There", in at just 13 years old.

The title track was a modest success, marking the start of a remarkable trajectory that would see him achieve unprecedented fame. He followed this with other albums like "Ben" in , which included his first solo No. Despite his success, he endured his father's constant criticism, particularly regarding his appearance. In , Michael declared his independence and released his debut solo album, "Off the Wall.

His fame reached unprecedented heights with the release of "Thriller" in It topped the Billboard for nine months, holding the record for the best-selling album of all time, with over million copies sold worldwide. The groundbreaking music video for the title track, directed by John Landis, became a cultural phenomenon. Michael's signature dance move, the "moonwalk," which he debuted at the 25th anniversary of Motown in , became synonymous with his innovative style.

His performance of "Billie Jean" during that televised event is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in music history. Jackson's wealth and fame allowed him to pursue philanthropic endeavors, including supporting anti-drug campaigns and donating millions to charities. He released his debut solo album at age 13 with Got to Be There , making the charts with the title track.

He had his first solo No. Jackson followed those albums with Music and Me and Forever, Michael , the latter of which was his last album with Motown Records. Jackson achieved his solo career breakthrough with Off the Wall , his first album with Epic Records and his first produced by Quincy Jones , whom he met while working on The Wiz. Critics felt the album moved Jackson from the pop music of his youth into a more complex sound, and some have called it one of the best pop albums ever made.

Jackson was still performing with his brothers at this time, and the overwhelmingly positive response to Off the Wall helped the Jacksons as a group. Their album Triumph sold more than 1 million copies, and the brothers went on an extensive tour to support the recording. At the same time, Jackson continued exploring more ways to branch out on his own.

In , Jackson embarked on his final tour with his brothers to support the album Victory Jackson achieved unparalleled success with the release of his six solo album Thriller , which as of August was still recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling album of all time, having sold 67 million copies worldwide and 34 million units in the United States alone.

The album stayed on the charts for 80 weeks after its release, holding the No. Pretty Young Thing.

Marek zvelebil biography of michael jackson

The album garnered 12 Grammy Award nominations and notched eight wins, both records at the time. Following its debut on MTV on December 2, , it was hailed as one of the greatest music videos of all time and became the first music video to be selected for the National Film Registry in On a television special honoring Motown, Jackson performed his No.

The much-lauded dance performance further boosted sales for the already-successful Thriller album. Jackson had surgery to repair his injuries and is believed to have begun experimenting with plastic surgery around this time. His face, especially his nose, would become dramatically altered in the coming years. Five years after Thriller , Jackson released his highly-anticipated follow-up album Bad Although unable to duplicate the phenomenal sales of Thriller , Bad still reached the top of the charts and became the first album to feature five No.

Jackson spent more than a year on the road, playing concerts to promote the album. Named after the fantasy island from the Peter Pan story, it included a zoo, train, Ferris wheel, and seat movie theater. Around the late s, rumors began swirling that Jackson was lightening the color of his skin to appear more white and sleeping in a special oxygen chamber to increase his lifespan.

In , Jackson agreed to a rare television interview with Oprah Winfrey to quell rumors. He explained that the change in his skin tone was the result of a skin condition known as vitiligo, and he opened up about the abuse he suffered from his father. In , Jackson released his eighth solo album Dangerous , his first without Quincy Jones in 16 years.

His performance made him a global icon of not just music, but dance. Michael Jackson pioneered the importance of music video in promoting a pop artist. His final album was Invincible Michael Jackson underwent numerous operations of plastic surgery to fix his nose and add a dimple in his chin. The press covered a range of speculative stories about Michael Jackson, including imaginary stories Michael had invented himself such as sleeping in an oxygen tent to avoid the ageing process.

He married Lisa Marie Presley in ; it lasted two years though they remained friendly after the divorce. In , he married Deborah Rowe in Sydney. Together they had two children. They divorced in and Rowe gave full custody of children to Jackson. Allegations of child abuse were first raised in the s and re-appeared in the s. After five months of high publicity, Jackson was acquitted.