Michael Joseph Jackson: A Life Plagued By Controversy

by Amy Judd | June 25, 2009 at 03:20 pm

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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.

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.

1993 Accused of abusing 11yearold Jordy Chandler
Jackson's squeaky clean image is dealt a severe blow when the family of 11yearold Jordy Chandler accuse Jackson of abusing the boy at his Neverland ranch. Police raid Neverland while the singer is on tour in the Far East. The tour ends prematurely with Jackson cancelling a number of dates blaming dehydration.

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.

1997 First son Prince Michael Jackson is born. Inducted into the Rock n roll Hall Of Fame
In an unexpected move Jackson marries nurse Debbie Rowe who is pregnant with the couple's baby. The child is named Prince Michael Jackson.

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.

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Pythiian1

at 16:05 on June 25th, 2009

Michael Jackson was an incredibly talented artist albeit plagued with controversies in latter part of his life.

It's still a shock that he has died so suddenly.

Thanks, Amy for pulling this chronology together so quickly.

patgarcia

at 17:24 on June 25th, 2009

I remember going to several of the Jackson 5 concerts in N.Y.

caj1

at 23:45 on June 25th, 2009

Wow, Pat! I can't say I ever did that, though I'm from New Jersey!

Paschen

at 17:53 on June 25th, 2009

Most artist of this calibre had a few problem to deal with as well.

His art will most likely prevail.

voiceforpeace

at 23:05 on June 25th, 2009

The news of Michael Joseph Jackson's death has saddened the people of tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border. They have expressed condolence over the death of this great singer.