Los Angeles, Calif.-the world was taken by surprise at around 12:30PM (PST) when news circulated that Michael Jackson was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center due to sudden cardiac arrest. After two hours, it was announced that the King of Pop has passed away.
The seventh in a brood of nine, Michael first sang to audiences together with his brothers known back then as “Jackson 5,” and later on as “The Jacksons,” which made major hits such as “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.”
He soon took off a solo career as a singer and dancer, showcasing his own brand of music which was a concoction of pop, jazz, soul and all other music genres fused into one harmony that captivated the ears of audiences worldwide. But it was in 1982 when Michael gained the ultimate glory of a pop star, when his album “Thriller” sold 109 million copies, making it the “best selling album of all time.”
With catchy hits such as Billie Jean, and Beat It, Michael pioneered the making of music videos which soon gave birth to MTV. He made another contribution to history when he defied the laws of physics with his signature dance move called “moonwalk,” which consisted of a smooth, flawless glide on the floor. The “moonwalk” was first featured in his single, “Smooth Criminal.”
The King of Pop, as he was already known, suffered a rare skin pigment disorder called vitiligo, which he kept secret for many years. As a result, Michael had to undergo treatments which in turn caused his skin to turn white. The change of color made a great impact not only in his career but also in his reputation, as Michael was packaged as a stalwart of plastic surgery, as well as a colorless voice who was able to unite racial differences through his songs.
He soon released a stream of equally successful hits such as “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Dirty Diana,” and “Man in the Mirror.” He also took an active part in advocacy campaigns and sang songs such as “We Are the World” for USA for Africa, “Gone Too Soon” dedicated to AIDS victim Ryan White, and “Heal the World” for his own charity, Heal the World Foundation.
The 1990s gave Michael a good start, with the “Dangerous” album making another commercial triumph. The succeeding years however were not as successful as his past albums, and he was soon plagued with various controversies including molesting children at his Neverland Ranch, and his marriage with Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. The couple divorced in 1996, and in 1997 he married nurse Deborah “Debbie” Jeanne Rowe, with whom he has two children, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. Michael and Debbie divorced in 1999, with him gaining full custody of their children.
While Michael began to avoid the limelight in the succeeding years, he became active in various charity events, as well as providing consultancy services in the construction of a theme park in the Middle East. He also had his third child, Blanket, which was born through a surrogate mother.
In 2009, it was announced that Michael will be making a comeback concert tour in London, which already gained sold out 50 concert sales hours after the concert was confirmed to take place, at scheduled dates in July. The concert tour will never happen however, as Michael Jackson succumbed to sudden cardiac arrest at the UCLA Medical Center on June 25. He was 50.
Twice inducted at the Rock and Roll of Fame, and with eight Guinness titles, 13 Grammy awards, and a Diamond award all under his name, Michael Jackson was not just a piece of history. He IS history.
