Michael Jackson in 1995—the one-time child star has undergone continuous self-transformation.
Singer, songwriter, and showman Michael Jackson may well be remembered best for the huge commercial success of his 1982 album Thriller, which sold 40 million copies worldwide within three years of its release, becoming the best-selling recording of all time. A highly talented and successful performer from childhood, Michael’s adult years became increasingly blighted by allegations about his personal life, which sometimes overshadowed his musical career.
The young Michael began public appearances at the age of just six, fronting a band made up of his older brothers Tito, Jackie, Marlon, and Jermaine—The Jackson Five. By age 12, in 1970, he was a bubblegum soul star who was also developing a successful solo career. That same year, the Jackson s topped the U.S. pop charts three times with “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.” In 1971–72, the teenage Michael had a run of solo hits with “Got To Be There,” “Rockin Robin,” and “Ben,” a movie theme and his first No. 1 hit.
Michael and his brothers came from the rough steel-mill town of Gary, Indiana, where their crane operator father, Joe, pushed their career forwards with a determination intensified by his own frustrated musical ambitions. The Jackson Five broke no musical ground, but released consistently tight, funky pop that holds up better than much of its period competition.
The Jacksons left Motown Records for Epic in 1975, replacing Jermaine, who had wed the daughter of Motown’s founder, with youngest brother, Randy. In 1978, Michael played the scarecrow in The Wiz—a remake of the classic film, The Wizard of Oz—and met legendary musician and producer Quincy JONES, who worked on the film’s soundtrack. This was the start of an artistic collaboration that vaulted the duo to the top of the pop world during the 1980s. The outstanding Jackson-Jones Off the Wall album, in 1979, provided a hint of glories to come—particularly the No. 1 disco smash “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough.” With Thriller, their star shone even brighter, and classics such as “Beat It” and “Billie Jean” created an album that epitomised the early 1980s.
Michael Jackson in 1995—the one-time child star has undergone continuous self-transformation.
With success came rumours of Jackson’s personal eccentricities—a reclusive child-man, with a constantly changing appearance due to facial surgery. Allegations of child abuse in the early 1990s caused his career to nosedive, and marriage (to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis PRESLEY) and fatherhood were said by many to be a publicity stunt. The post-Thriller years saw mixed fortunes. Jackson’s business empire acquired the rights to most of the BEATLES’ songs, and he launched his own film company. His albums Bad and Dangerous sold amazingly well for anyone other than Jackson, but musically did little more than rework his old styles.
Joseph Goldberg
SEE ALSO:
DANCE MUSIC; DISCO; MOTOWN; POP MUSIC; SOUL.
FURTHER READING
Campbell, Lisa D. Michael Jackson: The King of Pop (Boston, MA: Branden Books, 1993);
Wilson, Mike. Michael Jackson (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1997).
SUGGESTED LISTENING
Bad; Off the Wall; Thriller; Jackson Five: ABC.