Michael Jackson during his 1996 Russian tour. Photo: Reuter.
Michael Jackson would have turned 64 today, 29 August. The greatest pop star of the 80s, talented singer, unparalleled dancer and master in conducting her artistic activity, passed away on June 25, 2009at the age of 50 due to an overdose of propofol, an anesthetic.
For critics, he was the most important black artist in history, far surpassing Louis Armstrong in popularity. Considered the king of pop, he was as good as Elvis Presley or the Beatles.
It has reached the third place of record sales in the history of the record industry, with 350 million plates with only eleven albums released, among which stands out the music and me (1973), out of the wall (1979), which sold 20 million plates, e thriller (1982), which won eight Grammy Awards. Her last album was invincible (2001).
He was at the center of controversy especially in judicial matters with complaints, especially in the final phase of his life, for sexual abuse and to which he has not always been able to respond reliably; he had two major trials in 2003 and 2004 of which he was found innocent.
These situations not only affected his artistic career with a series of suspended concerts, but also his health. His last two tours, the Invincible World Tour (2000-2001) and This Is It (2009-2010), have been canceled.
The beginnings
jackson started at Jackson 5group that had a vertical rise after their first single in 1969, I want you back; supported by artists such as Diana Ross, he began his solo career in 1971, at the age of 13, with the release of I have to be there (1971) which together with his second album Well (1972), which reached the top spot in sales, gained immediate public acceptance. Jackson, at thirteen, was already a recognizable figure on US television.
After a growing musical career, with sales rapidly reaching gold and platinum records, as well as a unanimous recognition of the talent of this artist, towards the beginning of the 80s some hobbies of the star began to spread, such as his particular ones. religious beliefs. and its extreme health care after the diagnosis of vitiligo.
In a television interview with Oprah Winfrey, in February 1993, she denied, for example, that she wanted to buy the bones of the so-called “Elephant Man” and that she had slept in a hyperbaric chamber.
And above all he talked about the alleged decision to depigment the areas of his skin that would not have been affected by vitiligo with the use of whitening creams. He replied that it was not his intention and that he took care of those areas with special creams and also that he underwent three cosmetic surgeries, one on his face and two on his nose.
Your Neverland Palace
In March 1988 he bought a farm in Santa Ynez, California, for $ 17 million, where he built Neverland (Neverland, Peter Pan’s island where children did not grow up), where in addition to the mansion there was a zoo, a park of entertainment and a cinema, worth one hundred million dollars.
At this time, 1988, he published his first autobiography, walk on the moonin which he recounts his childhood, his life with the Jackson 5 and the abuse he suffered.
He also mentions his changes in facial appearance which he attributes to puberty, his vegetarian diet, change in hairstyle and lighting on stage. The book sold 500,000 copies and became a bestseller in the United States, according to the New York Times.
Something similar happened with the film Moonwalker (1988) containing two music videos that topped the Billboard Top Music Video Cassette and was the first for 22 weeks.
live shows
If his albums and video clips were best sellers, his shows performed with the same acceptance. Her productions have been historic in the world of music.
Let’s talk about at least one, the intermission of Super Bowl XXXVII, in 1993, where he appeared on stage with gold and black military uniform, dark glasses, in the introduction of the show a series of dancers dressed as Michael Jackson, while the singer remained motionless.
The effect was overwhelming on the audience who reacted only by applauding, without even starting to sing. She composed four songs, Jam, Billie Jean, black or white Y Heal the worldwho sang on the playground, decorated with a huge globe and surrounded by dozens of children.
Without doubt, Jackson was one of the most influential artists in the history of music; artists of different genres such as Prince, Madonna, Beyonce, Green Day, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Lady Gaga and many others have recognized his influence.
Motown label founder Berry Gordy hailed Michael Jackson as the “greatest artist ever” and the Baltimore Sun released “The 7 Ways Michael Jackson Changed the World” and in this effort to recognize quality of the artist beyond any land border, in July 2009, the Lunar Society of the Republic named one of the lunar craters Michael Jackson.
Jackson had two marriages, Lisa Marie Presley (daughter of Elvis) between 1994 and 1996 and Deborah Rowe, between 1996 and 1999. She had three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (1997), Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (1998) and Prince Michael Jackson II (2002).
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Source: Clarin
