Michael Joseph Jackson: A Life Plagued By Controversy

Michael Jackson has died at age 50 in Burbank, California after being rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

His life has been a series of highs and lows and triumph and devastation, and no matter what was thought about him in later years, he was considered the 'King of Pop' by many and was a pioneer in the music industry.

He was born in August 29, 1958 in Gary Indiana to a big family with nine children, five brothers and three sisters, and everyone in the family was musical.

At age four he and his brothers, Marlon, Tito, Jackie and Jermaine formed the Jackson 5 and the group quickly rose to worldwide fame.

In 1968, the Jackson 5 signed a contract with Motown records and only a year later they achieved their first number one U.S single 'I want you back'.

In 1971 Michael released his first solo single 'Got to be there'. It wasn't until 1979, that he released his first solo album 'Off the Wall' and in 1980 he won his first Grammy Award. 

Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time was released by Michael in 1982 and included the hits 'Thriller', 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It'. He also performed the moonwalk for the first time on TV. 

Two years later stories about a bizarre lifestyle began to emerge and his personal life began to garner more attention than his professional one. His constantly changing appearance caused some controversy, and speclation was made about plastic surgery and skin lightening treatments. 

Videos

Michael Jackson R_I_P

see larger video

sourced by Amy Judd

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

• 

  Created by Amy Judd | add comment

In 1985 he co-wrote the charity single 'We are the world' and this is credited for starting the theme of writing songs for charity to raise money. 

He contined to release more albums and write more award-winning songs and tour the world with his music and innovative dance moves, but a dark cloud was forming over his head. In 1992 he invited Oprah Winfrey to Neverland Ranch to help squash some of the rumours and talk about how he was abused by his father and his skin condition, which caused his skin to lighten. But the controversy that was to overshadow the rest of his life was just around the corner.

He settled out of court and tried to get on with his life by marrying Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 but they split after 19 months.
In 1995 he released HIStory and contined to tour and make muisc, but although his star was shining, it was a tarnished one.

In 1998 his daugher Paris Michael Katherine is born, but he divorces Debbie in 1999.

In 2002, Prince Michael II is born, who he famously held over the balcony in Germany, causing yet more controversy.

2003, Michael is arrested on child abuse charges and reports emerge that he is close to bankruptcy. Michael surrenders himself to the police in Santa Barbara

He was seen in a Granada Television documentary holding hands and discussing sleeping in the same bed with Gavin Arvizo, who accused him of abuse. Jackson said that the sleepovers were not of a sexual nature and he was examined by a mental health professional.

Jackson went on trial for the charges and he suffered many illnesses during this time. In 2005 he was acquitted on all counts and he moved out of the United States to Bahrain.

Reports of financial problems plagued Michael in recent years and Neverland Ranch was closed as he couldn't afford it anymore.

He continued to win awards however, and release the 25th anniversary album of Thriller, and to celebrate his 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a compliation album called King of Pop.

He was scheduled to perform a comeback tour at London's O2 Arena starting July 8th 2009 but reports that he had suffered a cardiac arrest and he had been rushed to hospital were heard around the world on June 25th.

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop died at age 50 on June 25th 2009.