There was a live music blues club, The Blue Door, in Midland, Texas when I was growing up in the 1950’s through the mid-1960’s which featured mostly Texas and surrounding states blues musicians like Albert Collins, TX (electric blues guitar)…. Lightnin’ Hopkins, TX (country blues guitar/singer)….Pee Wee Crayton (west coast blues guitar/singer)….Z. Z. Hill, TX (singer soul blues)….. Freddie King, TX (electric blues guitar/singer)….Johnny Winter, TX (electric blues guitar/ singer)….Luther Allison, AK (Chicago + electric blues guitar) ….Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. LA (soul blues guitar/singer) …. Boogie Woogie Red, LA (Detroit blues, boogie woogie, jazz pianist)….Bobby “Blue” Bland, TN (singer soul blues)….Willie Dixon, MS (Chicago blues singer/ songwriter….Fats Domino, LA (rock n roll pianist, singer/songwriter) ….when each of these artists were all budding musicians in the early 1950’s…. who all went on to be very successful musicians with long careers….as The Blue Door was not only a stepping stone for each of their careers….but also popular place to see some great talent and entertainment in a very unlikely place in conservative West Texas….where country and western music was the normal daily bill of fare. The point to all of this is that by the mid-1960’s, I had become a fan of soul, blues, rhythm and blues, funk and rock n roll music…..with some of my favorite artists being James Brown, B. B. King, Fats Domino, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Steve Ray and Jimmie Vaughn, The Four Tops, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Martha Reeves and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles by the time that the MoTown sound came into existence…..so, it was a simple transition into the music of the Jackson 5…..and especially the talents of Michael Jackson. The truth be known, I thought that Michael was the only Motown artist who ever came even close to the King of Soul James Brown…. and as his career progressed, I became even more of a fan of his music….as he evolved into the greatest musical entertainer of all time…..and I was also very impressed by his passionate approach to philanthropy…..for he always caught my attention with his charitable endeavors…..so, it is with great pleasure that I post this story and video tribute to the most commercially successful “King of Pop” entertainer to have ever graced a stage for the past 123 years…..while having sold over 750 million albums worldwide throughout his career.
Music – 1958 To 2009 – Free Movies Documentary Film Presents – “Michael Jackson: Life, Death and Legacy”
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer and philanthropist…..who was the anointed “King of Pop”…..as he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion…..along with his publicized personal life…..which is what made him a global figure in popular culture…..as Jackson influenced artists across many music genres through stage and video performances….while he popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk, to which he gave the name, as well as the robot. He is the most awarded individual music artist in history.
Music – 1958 To 2009 – Special Documentary – “Michael Jackson: Man In The Mirror”
The 8th child of the Jackson family, Jackson made his professional debut in 1964 with his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon…..as a member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons)…..then he began his solo career in 1971 while at Motown Records. He became a solo star with his 1979 album Off the Wall…..while his music videos, including those for “Beat It”, “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” from his 1982 album Thriller, are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an artform and promotional tool. He helped propel the success of MTV and continued to innovate with videos for the albums Bad in 1987….Dangerous in 1991….. and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I in 1995. Thriller became the best-selling album of all time…..while Bad was the 1st album to produce five U.S. Billboard Hot 100 # 1 singles.
Music – 2010 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Speed Demon”
From the late 1980’s, Jackson became a figure of controversy and speculation due to his changing appearance, relationships, behavior and lifestyle. In 1993, he was accused of sexually abusing the child of a family friend. The lawsuit was settled out of civil court…..as Jackson was not indicted due to lack of evidence…..then in 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges…..as the FBI found no evidence of criminal conduct on Jackson’s behalf in either case. I chose the video below as evidence that the charges brought on Michael Jackson were obviously trumped-up…..but rather images of a man who never got to have a childhood because of pressures to perform in an adult world…. so he never wanted to grow up……visa vie his Neverland home.
Music – 2010 – Michael Jackson Neverland Fun Memories Special – “The King of Pop Just Having Fun Being a Kid With the Kids”
Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time…..with estimated sales of over 750 million albums worldwide…..while having having 13 # 1 singles on Billboard Hot 100…..which was more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era…..and was the 1st artist to have a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. He is regarded by the RIAA as the highest-selling individual music artist of all time worldwide…..when his honors include 15 Grammy Awards, 6 Brit Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and 39 Guinness World Records…..which includes the award for being the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”…..while Jackson’s inductions include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice)…..the Vocal Group Hall of Fame…..the Songwriters Hall of Fame…..the Dance Hall of Fame (the only recording artist to be inducted)…..and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. In 2016, his estate earned $825 million…..which is the highest yearly amount for a celebrity ever recorded by Forbes.
Music – 1992 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Remember The Time” – Featuring Magic Johnson + Eddie Murphy
Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958. He was the 8th of ten children in the Jackson family…..who were a working-class African-American family living in a two-bedroom house on Jackson Street. His mother, Katherine Esther Jackson played clarinet and piano….who had aspired to be a country-and-western performer…..and worked part-time at Sears….while being a Jehovah’s Witness. His father, Joseph Walter “Joe” Jackson, a former boxer, was a crane operator at U.S. Steel…..and played guitar with a local rhythm and blues band, the Falcons, to supplement the family’s income…..while his great-grandfather, July “Jack” Gale, was a US Army scout…..as family lore held that he was also a Native American medicine man. Michael grew up with three sisters, Rebbie, La Toya and Janet …..along with five brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy….while a 6th brother, Marlon’s twin Brandon, died shortly after birth.
Music – 2020 – Welcome To Bollywood Special – Michael Jackson’s Family – Parents + Siblings + Wife + Kids
In 1964, Michael and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers…..which was a band formed by their father that included Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine…..as backup musicians playing congas and tambourine…..when Michael said his father told him he had a “fat nose”…..and physically and emotionally abused him during rehearsals…..as he recalled that Joe often sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed, ready to punish any mistakes….for Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped Michael…..however, his mother Katherine said that although whipping came to be considered abusive, it was a common way to discipline children when Michael was growing up. Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon denied that their father was abusive…..and said that the whippings, which were harder on Michael because he was younger, kept them disciplined and out of trouble…..while Michael said his youth was lonely and isolated.
Music – 1969 – The Hollywood Palace With Diana Ross – Featuring A Musical Medley By The Jackson 5
Music -1970 – Live on The Sonny & Cher Show – The Jackson 5 – “Looking Through The Window”
Music – 1971 – The Jackson 5 – “Never Can Say Goodbye”
Music 1964 to 1989 – Special – “The Jacksons Being Brothers For At Least 6 Minutes”
Music & Game Shows – 1972 – The Dating Game – With Guest Bachelor Michael Jackson
Later in 1964, Michael began sharing lead vocals with Jermaine…..and the group’s name was changed to the Jackson 5. In 1965, the group won a talent show…..when Michael performed the dance to Robert Parker’s 1965 song “Barefootin'” and sang the Temptations’ “My Girl”. From 1966 to 1968, the Jacksons 5 toured the Midwest…..while they frequently played at a string of black clubs known as the Chitlin’ Circuit…..as the opening act for artists such as Sam & Dave, the O’Jays, Gladys Knight, and Etta James. The Jackson 5 also performed at clubs and cocktail lounges…..where striptease shows were featured…..and at local auditoriums and high school dances. In August 1967, while touring the East Coast, they won a weekly amateur night concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Music – 1965 – Special Rare Footage – The Jackson 5 – “My Girl”
Music – 1969 – The Ed Sullivan Show – Featuring The Jackson 5 – “Stand” + “Who’s Loving You” + “I Want You Back”
Music – 1970 – The Ed Sullivan Show – Featuring The Jackson 5 – “The Love You Save”
Music – 1972 – Live Hellzapoppin’ Concert – Featuring The Jackson 5 – “Sugar Daddy” + “Got To Be There” + “Brand New Thing”
Music -1971 – Live on Stage – The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
Music & Comedy – 1976- The Carol Burnett Show – Featuring The Jackson 5 Singing “Anybody Named Jackson” + “Forever Came Today”
Music & Comedy – 1976 – Carol Burnett Show Comedy Skit – Featuring The Jackson 5 in Music Class With Substitute Teacher Carol Burnett Singing “This Old Man” + “ABC”
Music & Comedy – 1976 – Carol Burnett Show Skit – Vicky Lawrence & The Jackson 5 in “Body Language: Do The Love Dance”
Music – 1968 To 1973 – Special Highlights of Jackson 5’s 10 Rarest Video Performances – Ed Sullivan Show (1969) + Hellzapoppin (1972) + MoTown Audition (1968) + Jim Nabors Show (1970) + Save The Children Expo (1972) + Miss Black America Beauty Pageant (1969) + Live In Japan (1973) + 1st National Tour
The Jackson 5 recorded several songs for a Gary record label, Steeltown Records…..with their 1st single being “Big Boy”…..which was released in 1968. Bobby Taylor of Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers brought the Jackson 5 to Motown after they opened for Taylor at Chicago’s Regal Theater in 1968. Taylor produced some of their early Motown recordings, including a version of “Who’s Lovin’ You”…..when after signing with Motown, the Jackson family relocated to Los Angeles. In 1969, Motown executives decided Diana Ross should introduce the Jackson 5 to the public…..which was partly to bolster her career in television…..while sending off what was considered Motown’s last product of its “production line”. The Jackson 5 made their 1st television appearance in 1969 in the Miss Black America pageant…..while performing a cover of “It’s Your Thing”. Rolling Stone later described the young Michael as “a prodigy” with “overwhelming musical gifts” who “quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer”.
Music – 1968 – Steeltown Records Presents – The Jackson 5 – “Big Boy”
Music – 1969 – MoTown Records Presents – The Jackson 5 – “Who’s Loving You”
Music – 1969 – Live at the Miss Black America Pageant – The Jackson 5 – “It’s Your Thing”
Music – 1969 – The Diana Ross Show Presents – The Jackson 5 Singing a Medley – “Mama’s Pearl” + “Walk On” + “The Love You Save” + “I’ll Be There” + “Feelin’ Alright”
In January 1970, “I Want You Back” became the 1st Jackson 5 song to reach # 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100…..where it stayed there for four weeks….. then 3 more singles with MoTown topped the chart with “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There”.
Music – 1970 – Live on Goin’ Back To Indiana TV Special – The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
Music – 1970 – Live on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand – The Jackson 5 – “ABC”
Music – 1970 – Live on The Diana Ross Show – The Jackson 5 – “The Love You Save”
Music – 1970 – Live on The Jim Nabors Show – The Jackson 5 – “I’ll Be There”
In May 1971, the Jackson family moved into a large house at Hayvenhurst….. which was a 2-acre estate in Encino, California…..when during this period, Michael developed from a child performer into a teen idol….and between 1972 and 1975, he released 4 solo studio albums with Motown…..Got to Be There in 1972…..Ben in 1972…..Music & Me in 1973…..and Forever, Michael in 1975…..while “Got to Be There” and “Ben”, the title tracks from his 1st two solo albums, sold well as singles…..as did a cover of Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin”.
Music – 1972 – Michael Jackson – “Got To Be There”
Music – 1972 – Live on the Diana Ross Show – Michael Jackson – “Ben”
Music – 1973 – Live on the ABC TV Stage – The Jackson 5 – “Rockin’ Robin”
Albeit MoTown was influential in launching Michael’s solo career…..but he continued his ties to the Jackson 5…..who were being described as “a cutting-edge example of black crossover artists”…..but the group was frustrated by MoTown’s refusal to allow them creative input…..so, the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975…..and signed with Epic Records…..while they renamed themselves the Jacksons…..when their younger brother Randy joined the band around this time…..as Jermaine stayed with MoTown and pursued a solo career. The Jacksons continued to tour internationally…..and released six more albums between 1976 and 1984…..with Michael as the group’s main songwriter during this time…..when he wrote songs such as “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” in 1978…..“This Place Hotel” in 1980 and “Can You Feel It” in 1980.
Music – 1978 – Live on Stage – The Jacksons – “Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)”
Music – 1984 – Victory Tour Live – The Jacksons – “This Place Hotel”
Music – 1981 – Live at the Providence Civic Center – The Jacksons – “Can You Feel It”
Music – 1984 – The Jacksons Victory Tour Toronto Full Concert
In 1977, MJ moved to New York City to star as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, a musical film directed by Sidney Lumet, alongside Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross…..but the film was a box-office failure…..with its score being arranged by Quincy Jones…..who later produced 3 of Jackson’s solo albums. During his time in New York, Jackson frequented the Studio 54 nightclub….. where he heard early hip hop…..which influenced his beatboxing on future tracks such as “Working Day and Night”. In 1978, Jackson broke his nose during a dance routine…..when a rhinoplasty led to breathing difficulties that later affected his career…..as he was referred to Steven Hoefflin…..who was the doctor that performed Jackson’s operations.
Movie & Music – 1977 – Clip from the Movie “Wiz” – “The Crow Anthem” – Featuring Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow
Movie & Music – 1977 – Clip from the Movie “Wiz” – “Ease On Down The Road” – Featuring Michael Jackson + Diana Ross
Music – 1987 – Live from Yokohama – Michael Jackson – “Working Day and Night”
Jackson’s 5th solo album, Off the Wall released in 1979, established him as a solo performer…..which helped him move from the bubblegum pop of his youth to more complex sounds…..plus, it produced 4 top 10 songs in the US with “Off the Wall”…..”She’s Out of My Life”…..along with the chart-topping singles “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You”…..as the album reached # 3 on the US Billboard 200…..and sold over 20 million copies worldwide…..then in 1980, Jackson won three American Music Awards for his solo work with Favorite Soul/R&B Album…..Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist….. and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”. He also won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for 1979 with “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”. In 1981, Jackson was the American Music Awards winner for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist. Jackson felt Off the Wall should have made a bigger impact…..and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release. In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry at 37% of wholesale album profit.
Music – 1979 – Michael Jackson – “Off The Wall”
Music – 1979 – Official Music Video – Michael Jackson – “She’s Out Of My Life”
Music – 1980 – Official Music Video – Michael Jackson – “Rock With You”
Music – 1980 – Official Music Video – Michael Jackson – “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”
Jackson recorded with Queen singer Freddie Mercury from 1981 to 1983….. when they recorded demos of “State of Shock”, “Victory” and “There Must Be More to Life Than This”…..as the recordings were intended for an album of duets…..but according to Queen’s manager Jim Beach, the relationship soured when Jackson brought a llama into the recording studio…..while Jackson was upset by Mercury’s drug use…..when the songs were finally released in 2014…..however Jackson went on to record “State of Shock” with Mick Jagger for the Jacksons’ album Victory in 1984. In 1982, Jackson contributed “Someone in the Dark” to the audiobook for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Music – 1981 – Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury Duet – “State of Shock”
Music – 1981 – Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury Duet – “There Must Be More To Life Than This”
Music – 1981 To 1983 – Special – Freddie Mercury & Michael Jackson In Studio – “Acapella Battle of the Voices”
Music – 1984 – Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger Duet – “State Of Shock”
Music & Movie – 1983 – Clip from Movie “ET” – “Someone In The Dark” – Sung By Michael Jackson
Jackson’s 6th album, Thriller, was released in late 1982…..which was the best-selling album worldwide in 1983…..and became the best-selling album of all time in the US…..as well as the best-selling album of all time worldwide….. while selling an estimated 70 million copies. It topped the Billboard 200 chart for 37 weeks…..and was in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for 80 consecutive weeks…..plus, it was the 1st album to produce seven Billboard Hot 100 top-10 singles…..which included “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”.
Music – 1982 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
Music – 1982 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Beat It”
Music – 1982 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”
On March 25, 1983, Jackson reunited with his brothers for Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, an NBC television special…..when the show aired on May 16 to an estimated audience of 47 million…..which featured the Jackson 5 in their 1st reunion since Jermaine left the group in 1976…..along with many other Motown stars like the Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Diana Ross & the Supremes et al. Michael’s solo performance of “Billie Jean” on the anniversary special earned him his 1st Emmy Award nomination…..while wearing a glove decorated with rhinestones, he debuted his moonwalk dance…..which Jeffrey Daniel had taught him three years earlier…..and it became his signature dance in his repertoire. British Vogue called Jackson “a fashion pioneer….who gave new meaning to moonwalking, immortalized solitary, (and) sparkly gloves”. MJ had originally turned down the invitation to the show…..while believing he had been doing too much television…..but at the request of Motown founder Berry Gordy, he performed in exchange for an opportunity to do a solo performance. Rolling Stone reporter Mikal Gilmore called the performance “extraordinary”…..while saying Jackson’s performance drew comparisons to Elvis Presley’s and the Beatles’ appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show…..as Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times praised the perfect timing and technique involved in the dance. Gordy described being “mesmerized” by the performance.
Music -1982 – Live On Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever TV Special – The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back + I Never Can Say Goodbye + I’ll Be There” & Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
Music -1982 – Live On Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever TV Special – Michael Jackson Performs “Billie Jean”
At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards, Thriller won eight awards…..and Jackson won an award for the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial storybook…..while winning eight Grammys in one awards ceremony is a record he holds with the band Santana…..when MJ and Quincy Jones won the award for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical)…..Thriller won Album of the Year (with Jackson as the album’s artist and Jones as its co-producer)…..and the single won Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) award for Jackson…..while “Beat It” won Record of the Year and Best Rock Vocal Performance (Male)…..and “Billie Jean” won two Grammy awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance (Male), with Jackson as songwriter and singer respectively. Thriller also won the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording (Non Classical) …..while acknowledging Bruce Swedien for his work on the album. At the 11th Annual American Music Awards, Jackson won another eight awards and became the youngest artist to win the Award of Merit…..plus, he also won Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, and Favorite Pop/Rock Artist…..as “Beat It” won Favorite Soul/R&B Video, Favorite Pop/Rock Video and Favorite Pop/Rock Single. The album won Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Album. Thriller‘s sales doubled after the release of an extended music video, Michael Jackson’s Thriller…..which sees Jackson dancing with a horde of zombies.
Music – 1982 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Thriller”
Music – 1982 – On the Thriller Album – Michael Jackson – “Baby Be Mine”
Music – 1982 – On the Thriller Album – Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney – “The Girl Is Mine”
Music – 1987 – On the Thriller Album – Michael Jackson Live in Yokohama – “Human Nature”
Music – 2002 – On the Thriller Album – Michael Jackson & Oprah Winfrey Video – “Carousel”
Music – 1997 – On the Thriller Album – Michael Jackson Live in Munich – “Thriller”
The success transformed Jackson into a dominant force in global pop culture …..and cemented his status as the “King of Pop”…..when Jackson had the highest royalty rate in the music industry at that point…..with about $2 for every album sold (equivalent to $5 in 2021)…..as he was making record-breaking profits. Dolls modeled after Jackson appeared in stores in May 1984 for $12 each. In the same year, The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, a documentary about the music video…..which won a Grammy for Best Music Video (Longform). Time described Jackson’s influence at that point as “star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style and color too.” The New York Times wrote “in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else”.
Music – 1983 – Special Documentary – “The Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller”
On May 14, 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave Jackson an award recognizing his support of alcohol and drug abuse charities…..and in recognition of his support for the Ad Council’s and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Drunk Driving Prevention campaign. Jackson allowed the campaign to use “Beat It” for its public service announcements.
News & Music – 1984 – ABC News Special – President Ronald Reagan Hosts Michael Jackson at the White House
In November 1983, Jackson and his brothers partnered with PepsiCo in a $5 million promotional deal that broke records for a celebrity endorsement (equivalent to $13,603,408 in 2021). The 1st Pepsi campaign, which ran in the US from 1983 to 1984 and launched its “New Generation” theme….which included tour sponsorship, public relations events and in-store displays. Jackson helped to create the advertisement…..and suggested using his song “Billie Jean”, with revised lyrics, as its jingle.
Music & TV Ad – 1983 – Michael Jackson & The Jacksons for Pepsi’s New Generation
Music & TV Ad – 1983 – Four (4) Michael Jackson & The Jacksons for Pepsi’s New Generation
On January 27, 1984, Michael and other members of the Jacksons filmed a Pepsi commercial overseen by Phil Dusenberry, a BBDO ad agency executive, and Alan Pottasch, Pepsi’s Worldwide Creative Director, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles…..when during a simulated concert before a full house of fans, pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson’s hair on fire, causing second-degree burns to his scalp. Jackson underwent treatment to hide the scars…..and had his 3rd rhinoplasty shortly thereafter. Pepsi settled out of court…..as Jackson donated the $1.5 million settlement to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California…..while its now closed Michael Jackson Burn Center was named in his honor. Jackson signed a 2nd agreement with Pepsi in the late 1980’s for $10 million…as the 2nd campaign covered 20 countries…..while providing financial support for Jackson’s Bad album…..and 1987–88 world tour…..while Jackson had endorsements and advertising deals with other companies, such as LA Gear, Suzuki and Sony….. but none were as significant as his deals with Pepsi.
TV Ads & News – 1984 – US Weekly Special – Michael Jackson’s Hair Catching On Fire During Shooting Of Pepsi Commercial As Scalp Still Hurts 23 Years Later
TV Ads & Music – 1984 – Michael Jackson’s “Bad” for Pepsi – “The Magic Begins”
TV Ads & Music – 1990 – Michael Jackson for L A Gear
TV Ads & Music – 1990 – Michael Jackson for Suzuki – From MJ’s International Tour
The Victory Tour of 1984 headlined the Jacksons and showcased MJ’s new solo material to more than two million Americans…..which was the last tour he did with his brothers…..when following controversy over the concert’s ticket sales, MJ donated his share of the proceeds, an estimated $3 to 5 million, to charity. During the last concert of the Victory Tour at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles…..that’s when Jackson announced his split from The Jacksons during the performance of “Shake Your Body”. His charitable work continued with the release of “We Are the World” in 1985, co-written with Lionel Richie…..which raised money for the poor in the US and Africa…..as it earned $63 million (equivalent to $158,728,032 in 2021)…..and became one of the best-selling singles of all time…..with 20 million copies sold. It won four Grammy Awards in 1985…..which included Song of the Year for Jackson and Richie as its writers. The project’s creators received two special American Music Awards honors…..with one for the creation of the song….and another for the USA for Africa idea…..while Jackson, Quincy Jones and promoter Ken Kragen received special awards for their roles in the song’s creation.
Music – 1984 – Michael Jackson & The Jacksons Victory Tour Live at Dodger Stadium – “Shake Your Body Down To The Ground” – When MJ Announces This Is Last Tour With His Brothers After 20 years
Music – 2006 – Michael Jackson – “We Are The World” – Live At The World Music Awards
Jackson collaborated with Paul McCartney in the early 1980’s…..and learned that McCartney was making $40 million a year from owning the rights to other artists’ songs…..so, by 1983, Jackson had begun buying publishing rights to others’ songs…..but he was careful with his acquisitions…..while only bidding on a few of the dozens that were offered to him. Jackson’s early acquisitions of music catalogs and song copyrights such as the Sly Stone collection included “Everyday People” in 1968…..Len Barry’s “1–2–3” in 1965…..and Dion DiMucci’s “The Wanderer” and “Runaround Sue” in 1961…. then in 1984, Robert Holmes à Court announced he was selling the ATV Music Publishing catalog comprising the publishing rights to nearly 4,000 songs…..which included most of the Beatles’ material…..whereas, in 1981, McCartney had been offered the catalog for £20 million ($40 million USD). Jackson submitted a bid of $46 million on November 20, 1984…..whereby Jackson and McCartney were unable to make a joint purchase…..and McCartney did not want to be the sole owner of the Beatles’ songs…..so he did not pursue an offer on his own…..and since Jackson’s agents were unable to come to a deal…..and in May 1985 MJ left the negotiations after having spent more than $1 million and four months of due diligence work. In June 1985, Jackson and Branca learned that Charles Koppelman’s and Marty Bandier’s The Entertainment Company had made a tentative offer to buy ATV Music for $50 million…..then in early August, Holmes à Court contacted Jackson and talks resumed. Jackson’s increased bid of $47.5 million (equivalent to $119,675,897 in 2021) was accepted because he could close the deal more quickly…..while having already completed due diligence. Jackson agreed to visit Holmes à Court in Australia…..where he would appear on the Channel Seven Perth Telethon. His purchase of ATV Music was finalized on August 10, 1985.
Music & Interviews – 2020 – Special Interviews – “Paul McCartney Reflects On His Feud With Michael Jackson Over The Beatles Catalog”
Music – 1983 – Video Special- “Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney – “Say Say Say”
Music – 1983 – Special Video – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson – “The Man”
Jackson’s skin had been medium-brown during his youth…..but from the mid-1980’s gradually grew paler…..as the change drew widespread media coverage…..which included speculation that he had been bleaching his skin. His dermatologist, Arnold Klein, said he observed in 1983 that Jackson had vitiligo…..which is a condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment, and sensitivity to sunlight. He also identified discoid lupus erythematosus in Jackson…..while diagnosing Jackson with lupus that year, and with vitiligo in 1986. Vitiligo’s drastic effects on the body can cause psychological distress…..when Jackson used fair-colored makeup…..along with the possibility of using skin-bleaching prescription creams to cover up the uneven blotches of color caused by the illness. The creams would have further lightened his skin…..and with the application of makeup, he could appear very pale. Jackson said he had not purposely bleached his skin and could not control his vitiligo…..while adding, “When people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me.” He became friends with Klein and Klein’s assistant, Debbie Rowe…..who later became Jackson’s 2nd wife and the mother of his 1st two children.
Music – 2016 – Today I Found Out Mini Documentary – ” Why Michael Jackson’s Skin Turned White as He Got Older”
Music – 1958 To 2009 – Special – “The Evolution Of Michael Jackson’s Face From Birth to 50 Years Old”
Jackson worked with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola on the 17-minute $30 million 3D film Captain EO…..which ran from 1986 at Disneyland and Epcot…..and later at Tokyo Disneyland and Euro Disneyland…..then after having been removed in the late 1990’s, it returned to the theme park for several years after Jackson’s death. In 1987, Jackson disassociated himself from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Katherine Jackson said this might have been because some Witnesses strongly opposed the Thriller video. Michael had denounced it in a Witness publication in 1984.
Music – 1986 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Captain EO: Another Part of Me”
Music – 1986 – Official Video – “Michael Jackson: We Are Here To Change The World / Another Part Of Me (Captain EO)”
Jackson’s 1st album in five years, Bad (1987), was highly anticipated, with the industry expecting another major success. It became the first album to produce five US number-one singles: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror”, and “Dirty Diana”. Another song, “Smooth Criminal”, peaked at number seven. Bad won the 1988 Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form for “Leave Me Alone”. Jackson won an Award of Achievement at the American Music Awards in 1989 after Bad generated five number-one singles, became the first album to top the charts in 25 countries and the best-selling album worldwide in 1987 and 1988. By 2012, it had sold between 30 and 45million copies worldwide. The Bad world tour ran from September 12, 1987, to January 14, 1989. In Japan, the tour had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record for a single tour. The 504,000 people who attended seven sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium set a new Guinness World Record.
Music – 1987 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Bad”
Music – 1988 – Live at Wembley Stadium, London – Michael Jackson – “I Just Can’ Stop Loving You”
Music – 2001 – Live at Madison Square Garden – Michael Jackson & Britney Spears Duet – “The Way You Make Me Feel”
Music – 1988 – Live in Concert Bad Tour – Michael Jackson – “Man In The Mirror”
Music – 1988 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Dirty Diana”
Music – 1988 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Smooth Criminal”
Music – 1988 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Leave Me Alone”
In 1988, Jackson released his autobiography, Moonwalk…..with input from Stephen Davis and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis…..as it sold 200,000 copies …..and reached the top of the New York Times bestsellers list…..wherein Jackson discussed his childhood, the Jackson 5 and the abuse from his father. He attributed his changing facial appearance to three plastic surgeries, puberty, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hairstyle and stage lighting. In June, Jackson was honored with the Grand Vermeil Medal of the City of Paris by the then Mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac…..while during his stay in the city as part of the Bad world tour. In October, Jackson released a film, Moonwalker…..which featured live footage and short films starring Jackson and Joe Pesci…..while in the US it was released direct-to-video…..and became the best-selling video cassette in the country…..when the RIAA certified it as eight times Platinum in the US.
Music & Film – 1988 – Special Short Film – “Bad” – Starring Michael Jackson
Movie & Music – 1988 – Feature Movie – “Moonwalker” – Starring Michael Jackson + Joe Pesci
In March 1988, Jackson purchased 2,700 acres (11 km2) of land near Santa Ynez, California, to build a new home, Neverland Ranch, at a cost of $17 million (equivalent to $38,950,760 in 2021). He installed a Ferris wheel, a carousel, a movie theater and a zoo. A security staff of 40 patrolled the grounds. Shortly afterwards, he appeared in the first Western television advertisement in the Soviet Union.
Music – 2009 – Special – “Michael Jackson: Fun At Neverland”
Music – 2020 – Tru Drone Videos Special – “A Comprehensive View Of Michael Jackson’s “Neverland” Then And Now”
Jackson became known as the “King of Pop”…..which was a nickname that Jackson’s publicists embraced. When Elizabeth Taylor presented him with the Soul Train Heritage Award in 1989, she called him “the true king of pop, rock and soul.” President George H. W. Bush designated him the White House’s “Artist of the Decade”. From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $455,000 to the United Negro College Fund, and all profits from his single “Man in the Mirror” went to charity. His rendition of “You Were There” at Sammy Davis Jr.’s 60th birthday celebration won Jackson a second Emmy nomination. Jackson was the bestselling artist of the 1980’s.
Music & News – 1990 – Special Report – President George Bush Sr. Designates Michael Jackson as Artist of the Decade at the White House
Music – 1985 – Live At Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Birthday Celebration – Michael Jackson – “You Were There”
In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65 million (equivalent to $129,317,127 in 2021)….which broke Neil Diamond’s renewal contract with Columbia Records. In 1991 he released his 8th album, Dangerous…..which was co-produced with Teddy Riley…..and was certified 8 times platinum in the US…..and by 2018 had sold 32 million copies worldwide…..and while in the US, the 1st single “Black or White”, was the album’s highest charting song at # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks….. and it achieved similar chart performances worldwide…..while the 2nd single “Remember the Time” peaked at # 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. At the end of 1992, Dangerous was the best selling album of the year worldwide…..and “Black or White” was the best selling single of the year worldwide at the Billboard Music Awards. In 1993, MJ performed “Remember the Time” at the Soul Train Music Awards in a chair….while saying he twisted his ankle during dance rehearsals. In the UK, “Heal the World” made # 2 on the charts in 1992.
Music – 1991 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Black or White”
Music – 1993 – The Soul Train Music Awards Show – Featuring Michael Jackson – “Remember The Time”
Music – 1993 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Heal The World”
Music – 1997 – Live in Concert in Munich, Germany – Michael Jackson – “Dangerous”
Music – 1993 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Jam”
Music – 1993 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Who Is It”
Music – 1993 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “In The Closet”
Jackson founded the Heal the World Foundation in 1992. The charity brought underprivileged children to Jackson’s ranch to use the theme park rides, and sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war, poverty, and disease. That July, Jackson published his second book, Dancing the Dream, a collection of poetry. The Dangerous World Tour ran between June 1992 and November 1993 and grossed $100 million (equivalent to $187,583,506 in 2021); Jackson performed for 3.5 million people in 70 concerts, all of which were outside the US. Part of the proceeds went to Heal the World Foundation. Jackson sold the broadcast rights of the tour to HBO for $20 million, a record-breaking deal that still stands.
Music – 1992 – Michael Jackson’s Dangerous Tour Live in Oslo, Norway – Full Concert
In January 1993, Jackson performed at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in Pasadena, California…..when the NFL sought a big-name artist to keep ratings high during halftime following dwindling audience figures…..and it became the 1st Super Bowl whose half-time performance drew a greater audience than the game itself…..when Jackson played “Jam”, “Billie Jean”, “Black or White” and “Heal the World”…..whereby the Dangerous album rose 90 places in the US albums chart after the performance.
NOTE: Typical of the NFL, I was not able to copy any video available of MJ’s performance at the Super Bowl…..so, I replaced them with the one below which drew 941,134,204 views….which ain’t a bad replacement
Music – 1996 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “They Don’t Care About Us” (Brazilian Version)
Jackson gave a 90-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey on February 10, 1993…..when he spoke of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father….. along with how he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood….. while admitting that he often cried from loneliness. He also denied tabloid rumors that he had bought the bones of the Elephant Man…..slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber…..or bleached his skin…..when he stated for the first time that he had vitiligo. After the interview, Dangerous re-entered the US albums chart in the top 10…..which was more than a year after its release.
Music & Talk Shows – 2005 – The Oprah Winfrey Show – Michael Jackson Talks About Why His Skin Colour Changed
In January 1993, Jackson won three American Music Awards…..with Favorite Pop/Rock Album forDangerous…..Favorite Soul/R&B Single for “Remember the Time”…..and was the 1st to win the International Artist Award of Excellence. In February, he won the “Living Legend Award” at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles…..when he attended the award ceremony with Brooke Shields. Dangerous was nominated for Best Vocal Performance for “Black or White”…..Best R&B Vocal Performance for “Jam”…..and Best R&B Song for “Jam”…..plus Bruce Swedien and Teddy Riley won the Grammy for Best Engineered – Non Classical.
Music & Awards – 1993 – The American Music Awards Favorite Rock/Pop Album – Michael Jackson – “Dangerous”
Music & Awards – 1993 – The Grammy Legends Award – Presented by His Sister Janet Jackson – With Michael Jackson Acceptance Speech
In late 1993, Jackson proposed to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, over the phone. They married in La Vega, Dominican Republic, in May 1994 by civil judge Hugo Francisco Álvarez Pérez. The tabloid media speculated that the wedding was a publicity stunt to deflect Jackson’s sexual abuse allegations and jump-start Presley’s career as a singer. Their marriage ended little more than a year later, and they separated in December 1995. Presley cited “irreconcilable differences” when filing for divorce the next month and only sought to reclaim her maiden name as her settlement. After the divorce, Judge Pérez said, “They lasted longer than I thought they would. I gave them a year. They lasted a year and a half.” In an October 2010 interview with talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, Presley revealed that she and Jackson had attempted to reconcile intermittently for four years following their divorce, and that she had travelled to different parts of the world in order to be with him.
Music & Interviews – 1995 – Live on Primetime With Diane Sawyer – Interview With Michael Jackson & Lisa Marie Presley
In June 1995, Jackson released the double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1…..as the 1st disc, HIStory Begins, is a greatest hits album (reissued in 2001 as Greatest Hits: HIStory Volume 1)…..with the 2nd disc, HIStory Continues, contains 13 original songs and 2 cover versions. The album debuted at # 1 on the charts…..and has been certified for 8 million sales shipments in the US…..while it is the best-selling multi-disc album of all time…..with 20 million copies (40 million units) sold worldwide. HIStory received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. The New York Times reviewed it as “the testimony of a musician whose self-pity now equals his talent.” The 1st single from HIStory was “Scream/Childhood”…..which was a duet with MJ’s youngest sister Janet…..as it protests the media’s treatment of Jackson during the 1993 child abuse allegations against him…..when the single reached # 5 on the Billboard Hot 100…..and received a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals”. The 2nd single, “You Are Not Alone”, holds the Guinness world record for the 1st song to debut at # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart…..and it received a Grammy nomination for “Best Pop Vocal Performance” in 1995. Also in 1995 the Anti-Defamation League and other groups complained that “Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don’t you black or white me”…..which were the original lyrics of “They Don’t Care About Us”, were antisemitic…..so, Jackson released a version with revised words. In late 1995, Jackson was admitted to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance, caused by a stress-related panic attack. In November, Jackson merged his ATV Music catalog with Sony’s music publishing division…..thus creating Sony/ATV Music Publishing…..of which he retained ownership of half the company…..while earning $95 million up front (equivalent to $168,941,909 in 2021)…..as well as the rights to more songs. “Earth Song” was the 3rd single released from HIStory…..which topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995…..while becoming the 87th-bestselling single in the UK.
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson – “Slave To Rhythm”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson – “On The Line”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson – “You Are Not Alone”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson – “Liberian Girl”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson – “2300 Jackson Street”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson – “Someone In The Dark”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Michael Jackson Live – “Save Your Tears”
In 1996, Jackson won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form, for “Scream”…..and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist. Jackson promoted HIStory with the HIStory World Tour, from September 7, 1996, to October 15, 1997…..when he performed 82 concerts on 5 continents, 35 countries and 58 cities to over 4.5 million fans…..which was his most attended tour…..while grossing $165 million. During the tour, in Sydney, Australia, Jackson married Debbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant, who was six months pregnant with his 1st child…..when Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (commonly known as Prince) was born in February of 1997…..while his sister Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson was born a year later in April of 1998. Jackson and Rowe divorced in 1999…..and Rowe conceded custody of the children…..with an $8 million settlement (equivalent to $14,639,832 in 2021). In 2004, after the 2nd child abuse allegations against Jackson, she returned to court to reclaim custody…..and the suit was settled in 2006.
Music – 1996 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Official Video – Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – “Scream”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Official Video -Michael Jackson – “Another Part Of Me”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Official Video -Michael Jackson – “Earth Song”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Official Video -Michael Jackson – “Come Together”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Official Video -Michael Jackson – “Behind The Mask”
Music – 1995 – From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 Album – Official Video -Michael Jackson – “A Place With No Name”
In 1997, Jackson released Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix….. which contained remixes of singles from HIStory and 5 new songs…..as worldwide sales stand at 6 million copies…..which makes it the best-selling remix album of all time…..when it reached # 1 in the UK…..as did the title track…..whereas in the US, the album reached # 24 and was certified platinum.
Music – 1997 – From Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix Album – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Blood on the Dance Floor”
In June 1999, Jackson joined Luciano Pavarotti for a War Child benefit concert in Modena, Italy….. as the show raised a million dollars for refugees of the Kosovo War…..and additional funds for the children of Guatemala…..then later that month, Jackson organized a series of “Michael Jackson & Friends” benefit concerts in Germany and Korea…..which involved other artists like Slash, The Scorpions, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A. R. Rahman, Prabhu Deva Sundaram, Shobana, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti…..as the proceeds went to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the Red Cross and UNESCO. From August 1999 to 2000, he lived in New York City at 4 East 74th Street. At the turn of the century, Jackson won an American Music Award as Artist of the 1980’s. In 2000, Guinness World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities…..which was more than any other entertainer.
Music & Awards Shows – 1997 – Telegatti Italian Festival – Michael Jackson & Luciano Pavarotti
Music – 1995 – Legends Tribute To Michael Jackson – With Michael Jackson + James Brown + Luciano Pavarotti – “It’s A Man’s World”
In September 2001, two 30th Anniversary concerts were held at Madison Square Garden to mark Jackson’s 30th year as a solo artist……when Jackson performed with his brothers for the 1st time since 1984……as the show also featured Mýa, Usher, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Monica, Liza Minnelli, and Slash…..albeit the 1st show was marred by technical lapses….. and the crowd booed a speech by Marlon Brando. Almost 30 million people watched the television broadcast of the shows in November. After the September 11 attacks, Jackson helped organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on October 21, 2001…..as Jackson performed “What More Can I Give” as the finale.
Music – 2001 – Live at Madison Square Garden – 30th Anniversary of Michael Jackson Music – Full Concert
Music – 2001 – Official Video – Michael Jackson & Friends – “What More Can I Give”
Music – 2001 – Special – Rare Footage from the Recording of Michael Jackson’s 9/11 Charity Song – “What More Can I Give”
From October 1997 to September 2001, Jackson worked on his 10th solo album, Invincible…..which cost $30 million to record…..while the release of Invincible was preceded by a dispute between Jackson and his record label, Sony Music Entertainment…..when Jackson had expected the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him in the early 2000’s…..after which he would be able to promote the material however he pleased…..and keep the profits…..but clauses in the contract set the revert date years into the future. Jackson sought an early exit from his contract. Invincible was released on October 30, 2001. It was Jackson’s 1st full-length album in six years…..and the last album of original material he released in his lifetime…..as it debuted at # 1 in 13 countries…..and went on to sell 8 million copies worldwide….. while receiving double-platinum certification in the US.
Music – 2001 – From the Invincible Album- Official Video – Michael Jackson – “You Rock My World”
Music – 2001 – From the Invincible Album – Michael Jackson – “Break of Dawn”
Music – 2001 – From the Invincible Album – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Cry”
Music – 2001 – From the Invincible Album – Michael Jackson – “Heaven Can Wait”
Music – 2001 – From the Invincible Album – Official Dance Video – Michael Jackson – “Unbreakable”
Music – 2001 – From the Invincible Album – Michael Jackson – “Invincible”
On January 9, 2002, Jackson won his 22nd American Music Award for Artist of the Century…..then later that year, an anonymous surrogate mother gave birth to his third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed “Blanket”)….. who had been conceived by artificial insemination. On November 20, Jackson briefly held Blanket over the railing of his Berlin hotel room, four stories above ground level, prompting widespread criticism in the media. Jackson apologized for the incident, calling it “a terrible mistake”. On January 22, promoter Marcel Avram filed a breach of contract complaint against Jackson for failing to perform two planned 1999 concerts. In March, a Santa Maria jury ordered Jackson to pay Avram $5.3 million. On April 24, 2002, Jackson performed at Apollo Theater. The concert was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and former President Bill Clinton. The money collected would be used to encourage citizens to vote. It raised $2.5 million. The concert was called Michael Jackson: Live at the Apollo….. and was one of Jackson’s final on-stage performances. In July 2002, Jackson called Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola “a racist, and very, very, very devilish,” and someone who exploits black artists for his own gain, at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in Harlem. The accusation prompted Sharpton to form a coalition investigating whether Mottola exploited black artists. Jackson charged that Mottola had called his colleague Irv Gotti a “fat nigger”. Responding to those attacks, Sony issued a statement calling them “ludicrous, spiteful, and hurtful”…..and defended Mottola as someone who had championed Jackson’s career for many years. Sony ultimately refused to renew Jackson’s contract and claimed that a $25 million promotional campaign had failed because Jackson refused to tour in the US for Invincible.
Music & Awards Shows – 2002 – American Music Awards Michael Jackson Artist of the Century – With Michael Jackson Acceptance Speech
Music & News – 2002 – Special – Michael Jackson Dangles His Baby “Blanket” Over a Hotel Balcony
TV Ads & Music – 1991 – Rare Special – Michael Jackson Exposes Sony Music Chairman Tommy Mottola as Devilish and Corporate Piranha
In March 2009, amid speculation about his finances and health, Jackson announced a series of comeback concerts, This Is It, at a press conference at The O2 Arena…..as the shows were to be his 1st major concerts since the HIStory World Tour in 1997…..when Jackson suggested he would retire after the shows. The initial plan was for 10 concerts in London, followed by shows in Paris, New York City and Mumbai…..as Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, predicted the first 10 dates would earn Jackson £50 million. The London residency was increased to 50 dates after record-breaking ticket sales…..when over one million were sold in less than two hours. The concerts were to run from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. Jackson moved to Los Angeles…..where he rehearsed in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer Kenny Ortega…..whom he had worked with during his previous tours…..as rehearsals took place at the Forum and the Staples Center owned by AEG. On June 25, 2009, less than three weeks before the 1st This Is It show was due to begin in London, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died from cardiac arrest…..which was caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose. Dr. Conrad Murray, his personal physician, had given Jackson various medications to help him sleep at his rented mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Paramedics received a 911 call at 12:22 pm Pacific time (19:22 UTC)…..and arrived three minutes later finding Jackson not breathing and CPR was performed. Resuscitation efforts continued in route to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center…..and for more than an hour after Jackson’s arrival there…..but were unsuccessful and Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm Pacific time (21:26 UTC). News of his death spread quickly online…..while causing websites to slow down and crash from user overload…..and putting unprecedented strain on services and websites including Google, AOL Instant Messenger, Twitter and Wikipedia. Overall, web traffic rose by between 11% and 20%…..when MTV and BET aired marathons of Jackson’s music videos…..and Jackson specials aired on television stations around the world. Jackson’s memorial was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles…..which was preceded by a private family service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park’s Hall of Liberty. Over 1.6 million fans applied for tickets to the memorial….with the 8,750 recipients being drawn at random…..and each received two tickets. The memorial service was one of the most watched events in streaming history …..with an estimated US audience of 31.1 million…..and a worldwide audience of an estimated 2.5 to 3 billion. Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson and Shaheen Jafargholi performed at the memorial…..as Smokey Robinson and Queen Latifah gave eulogies. Al Sharpton received a standing ovation with cheers when he told Jackson’s children “Wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with. But he dealt with it anyway.” Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter Paris Katherine, speaking publicly for the 1st time, wept as she addressed the crowd. The Rev. Lucious Smith provided a closing prayer. Jackson’s body was entombed on September 3, 2009, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Music – 2009 – Special – Michael Jackson: This Is It Last Rehearsal – On the Night that MJ Died
Music – 2020 – How It Was Special – “Michael Jackson’s Death Story – How Did He Really Die?”
Music & Documentary – 2021 – Real Stories Mystery Documentary Special – “What Killed the King of Pop?: The Death of Michael Jackson”
Music – 2009 – Special – Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service (Full Service)
Music – 2009 – Special – Michael Jackson Memorial: Paris Jackson Speaks and Says Goodbye to Her Father
At the 2009 American Music Awards, Michael Jackson won four posthumous awards…..which included two for his compilation album Number Ones….. thus bringing his total American Music Awards to 26. In the year after his death, more than 16.1 million of Jackson’s albums sold in the US…..and 35 million albums sold worldwide…..which was more than any other artist in 2009…..as he became the 1st artist to sell one million music downloads in a week….when he sold 2.6 million song downloads…..while Thriller, Number Ones and The Essential Michael Jackson became the 1st catalog albums to outsell any new album. Jackson also became the 1st artist to have four of the top 20 best-selling albums in a single year in the US. Following the surge in sales, in March 2010, Sony Music signed a $250 million deal (equivalent to $310,659,240 in 2021) with the Jackson estate to extend their distribution rights to Jackson’s back catalog until at least 2017…..as it had been due to expire in 2015. It was the most expensive music contract for a single artist in history…..when they agreed to release 10 albums of previously unreleased material…..and new collections of released work…..then the deal was extended again at the end of 2017. That July, a Los Angeles court awarded Quincy Jones $9.4 million of disputed royalty payments for Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. In July 2018, Sony/ATV bought the estate’s stake in EMI for $287.5 million. In 2014, Jackson became the 1st artist to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. The following year, Thriller became the 1st album to be certified for 30 million shipments by the RIAA…..then a year later, it was certified 33× platinum…..which was after Soundscan added streams and audio downloads to album certifications.
Music & Awards Shows – 2009 – American Music Awards Special – Michael Jackson Wins the “Lifetime Posthumous Achievement Award”
The 1st posthumous Jackson song, “This Is It”, co-written in the 1980’s with Paul Anka, was released in October 2009…..when the surviving Jackson brothers reunited to record backing vocals. It was followed by a documentary film about the rehearsals for the canceled This Is It tour, Michael Jackson’s This Is It, and a compilation album. Despite a limited two-week engagement, the film became the highest-grossing documentary or concert film ever…..with earnings of more than $260 million worldwide…..as Jackson’s estate received 90% of the profits. In late 2010, Sony released the first posthumous album, Michael…..and the promotional single “Breaking News”…..when Jackson collaborator will.i.am expressed disgust, saying that Jackson would not have approved the release.
Music – 2009 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “This Is It”
Music – 2010 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Breaking News”
Video game developer Ubisoft released a music video game featuring Jackson for the 2010 holiday season, Michael Jackson: The Experience….. which was among the 1st games to use Kinect and PlayStation Move, the motion-detecting camera systems for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. In October 2011, the theater company Cirque du Soleil launched Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, a $57-million production, in Montreal, with a permanent show resident in Las Vegas. A larger and more theatrical Cirque show, Michael Jackson: One, designed for residency at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas, opened on May 23, 2013, in a renovated theater.
Music & Video Games – 2010 – Michael Jackson: The Experience – “Smooth Criminal”
Music & Video Games – 2010 – Michael Jackson: The Experience – “Billie Jean”
Music – 2011 – Cirque du Soleil Presents – Official Trailer – Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour
Xscape, an album of unreleased material, was released on May 13, 2014. A duet between Jackson and Justin Timberlake titled “Love Never Felt So Good” was released in 2014…..thus making Jackson the 1st artist to have a top 10 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 5 different decades when the single reached # 9. Later that year, Queen released a duet recorded with Jackson and Freddie Mercury in the 1980’s. A compilation album, Scream, was released on September 29, 2017.
Music – 2014 – Official Video – Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake – “Love Never Felt So Good”
Jackson has been referred to as the “King of Pop” for having transformed the art of music videos…..and paving the way for modern pop music…..as the truth be known, for much of Jackson’s career, he had an unparalleled worldwide influence over the younger generation…..while his influence extended beyond the music industry…..as he impacted dance, led fashion trends and raised awareness for global affairs. Jackson’s music and videos fostered racial diversity in MTV’s roster…..and steered its focus from rock to pop music and R&B…..while shaping the channel into a form that proved enduring. In songs such as “Man in the Mirror”, “Black or White”, Heal the World, “Earth Song” and “They Don’t Care About Us”, Jackson’s music emphasized racial integration, environmentalism and he protested injustice. He is recognized as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time by Guinness World Records…..plus, he is considered one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century…..while his contributions to music, dance and fashion…..along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Danyel Smith, chief content officer of Vibe Media Group and the editor-in-chief of Vibe, described Jackson as “the Greatest Star”. Steve Huey of AllMusic called him “an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the skills to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility and loads of sheer star power”. BET said Jackson was “quite simply the greatest entertainer of all time” whose “sound, style, movement and legacy continues to inspire artists of all genres”. In 1984, Time pop critic Jay Cocks wrote that “Jackson is the biggest thing since the Beatles. He is the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley. He just may be the most popular black singer ever.”…..while he described Jackson as a “star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style, and color too.” In 2003, The Daily Telegraph writer Tom Utley described Jackson as “extremely important” and a “genius”. At Jackson’s memorial service on July 7, 2009, Motown founder Berry Gordy called Jackson “the greatest entertainer that ever lived”. In a June 28, 2009 Baltimore Sun article, Jill Rosen wrote that Jackson’s legacy influenced fields including sound, dance, fashion, music videos and celebrity…..while pop critic Robert Christgau wrote that Jackson’s work from the 1970’s to the early 1990’s showed “immense originality, adaptability, and ambition” with “genius beats, hooks, arrangements, and vocals”…..as music that “will stand forever as a reproach to the puritanical notion that pop music is slick or shallow and that’s the end of it”.
Music – 2009 – Special – Reaction Of World, Celebrities and Media When Michael Jackson Died
Jackson is regarded as a prolific philanthropist and humanitarian. Jackson’s early charitable work has been described by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as having “paved the way for the current surge in celebrity philanthropy”, and by the Los Angeles Times as having “set the standard for generosity for other entertainers”. By some estimates, he donated over $500 million, not accounting for inflation, to various charities over the course of his life….. while the total monetary value of Jackson’s donations may be substantially higher since Jackson often gave anonymously and without fanfare. In addition to supporting several charities established by others, in 1992 Jackson established his Heal the World Foundation, to which he donated several million dollars in revenue from his Dangerous World Tour. Jackson’s philanthropic activities went beyond just monetary donations…..as he also performed at benefit concerts, some of which he arranged…..when he gifted tickets for his regular concert performances to groups that assist underprivileged children…..plus, he visited sick children in hospitals around the world. He opened his own home for visits by underprivileged or sick children…..and provided special facilities and nurses if the children needed that level of care. Jackson donated valuable, personal and professional paraphernalia for numerous charity auctions…..as he received various awards and accolades for his philanthropic work…..which included two bestowed by Presidents of the United States. The vast breadth of Jackson’s philanthropic work has earned recognition in the Guinness World Records. Simply put, he heart was bigger than his talent.
Music – 1958 To 2009 – Special Documentary – “Humanitarian: The Real Michael Jackson”
Jackson was influenced by musicians including James Brown, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Diana Ross, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly and David Ruffin…..while Little Richard had a substantial influence on Jackson….. but Brown was his greatest inspiration…..when he later said that as a small child, his mother would wake him whenever Brown appeared on television….. to which Jackson described being “mesmerized”. Jackson’s vocal technique was influenced by Diana Ross…..with his use of the oooh interjection from a young age was something Ross had used on many of her songs with the Supremes……for she was a mother figure to him…..and he often watched her rehearse. He said he had learned a lot from watching how she moved and sang…..and that she had encouraged him to have confidence in himself. Choreographer David Winters, who met Jackson while choreographing the 1971 Diana Ross TV special Diana!, said that Jackson watched the musical West Side Story almost every week…..and it was his favorite film…..which he paid tribute to it in “Beat It” and the “Bad” video.
Music & Dance – 1958 To 2009 – Special – Video Comparisons of Michael Jackson And His Influences In Music and Dance – With Fred Astaire + James Brown Et Al
Music & Dance – 1958 To 2009 – Special – “Michael Jackson’s Inspired Dance Steps and Influencers”
Jackson sang from childhood…..and over time his voice and vocal style changed…..when between 1971 and 1975, his voice descended from boy soprano to high tenor. He was known for his vocal range…..and with the arrival of Off the Wall in the late 1970’s…..that’s when his abilities as a vocalist were well regarded…..as Rolling Stone compared his vocals to the “breathless, dreamy stutter” of Stevie Wonder…..and wrote that “Jackson’s feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that’s used very daringly.” By the time of 1982’s Thriller, Rolling Stone wrote that Jackson was singing in a “fully adult voice” that was “tinged by sadness”…..then with the turn of the 1990’s came the release of the introspective album Dangerous…..which The New York Times noted that on some tracks, “he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth”…..and he had a “wretched tone”…..albeit when singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to “smooth” vocals. Of Invincible, Rolling Stone wrote that, at 43, Jackson still performed “exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies”. Joseph Vogel notes Jackson’s ability to use non-verbal sounds to express emotion. Neil McCormick wrote that Jackson’s unorthodox singing style “was original and utterly distinctive”. Jackson had no formal music training and could not read or write music notation. He is credited for playing guitar, keyboard and drums…..but was not proficient in them. When composing, he recorded ideas by beatboxing and imitating instruments vocally. Describing the process, he said: “I’ll just sing the bass part into the tape recorder. I’ll take that bass lick and put the chords of the melody over the bass lick and that’s what inspires the melody.” Engineer Robert Hoffman recalled that after Jackson came in with a song he had written overnight…..when MJ sang every note of every chord to a guitar player…..and Hoffman also remembered Jackson singing string arrangements part by part into a cassette recorder.
Music – 1970 To 2009 – Special – “The Evolution of Michael Jackson’s Voice”
Jackson danced from a young age as part of the Jackson 5, and incorporated dance extensively in his performances and music videos. According to Sanjoy Roy of The Guardian, Jackson would “flick and retract his limbs like switchblades, or snap out of a tornado spin into a perfectly poised toe-stand”. The moonwalk, taught to him by Jeffrey Daniel, was Jackson’s signature dance move and one of the most famous of the 20th century. Jackson is credited for coining the name “moonwalk”; the move was previously known as the “backslide”. His other moves included the robot, crotch grab, and the “anti-gravity” lean of the “Smooth Criminal” video.
Music & Dance – 1970 To 2009 – Special – “Michael Jackson’s 10 Best Dance Moves” – Part 1
Music & Dance – 1970 To 2009 – Practice Practice Practice Special – “Michael Jackson’s 10 Best Dance Moves” – Part 2
Music & Dance – 1970 To 2009 – Special – “Michael Jackson’s 10 Best Dance Moves” – Part 3
Michael Jackson’s Ghosts, a short film written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston, premiered at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. At over 38 minutes long, it held the Guinness world record for the longest music video until 2013…..when it was eclipsed by the video for the Pharrell Williams song “Happy”. The 2001 video for “You Rock My World” lasts over 13 minutes, was directed by Paul Hunter, and features Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando. It won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video in 2002.
Music & Film – 1996 – Special Music Video Film – Michael Jackson’s “Ghosts”
Music – 1993 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Will You Be There”
In December 2009, the Library of Congress selected “Thriller” as the only music video to be preserved in the National Film Registry…..as a work of “enduring importance to American culture”. Huey wrote that Jackson transformed the music video into an artform and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameos, while breaking down racial barriers.
Music – 2007 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Thriller”
Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists in history…..with sales estimated by various sources up to $500 million to $1 billion. He had 13 # 1 singles in the US in his solo career…..which is more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era…..while the RIAA regards him as the biggest-selling music artist of all time worldwide. He was invited and honored by a Presidents of the United States at the White House three times…..when in 1984, he was honored with a “Presidential Public Safety Commendation” award by Ronald Reagan for his humanitarian endeavors…..then in 1990, he was honored as the “Artist of the Decade of the 1980’s” by George H. W. Bush…..and in 1992, he was honored as a “Point of Light Ambassador” by Bush for inviting disadvantaged children to his Neverland Ranch. He won literally hundreds of awards…..which was more than any other popular music recording artist. His awards include 39 Guinness World Records, including the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time…..13 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award…..and a record 26 American Music Awards, including the “Artist of the Century” and “Artist of the 1980’s”. He also received the World Music Awards’ Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium and the Bambi Pop Artist of the Millennium Award. Jackson was inducted onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980 as a member of the Jacksons…..and in 1984 as a solo artist. He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and 1999, respectively…..and again as a solo artist in 2001. In 2002, he was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2010, he was the 1st recording artist to be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame….. and in 2014, he was posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. In 2021, he was among the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Music – 2009 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “One More Chance” – MJ’s Last Video
Music – 2011 – Official Video – Michael Jackson – “Hollywood Tonight”
Music – 2013 – Ohio State Marching Band Presents – Tribute To Michael Jackson
In 1989, Jackson’s annual earnings from album sales, endorsements, and concerts were estimated at $125 million…..then Forbes placed Jackson’s annual income at $35 million in 1996 and $20 million in 1997. Estimates of Jackson’s net worth during his life range from negative $285 million to positive $350 million for 2002, 2003 and 2007. Forbes reported in August 2018 that Jackson’s total career pretax earnings in life and death were $4.2 billion. Sales of his recordings through Sony’s music unit earned him an estimated $300 million in royalties. He may have earned another $400 million from concerts, music publishing (including his share of the Beatles catalog), endorsements, merchandising and music videos. In 2013, the executors of Jackson’s estate filed a petition in the United States Tax Court as a result of a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over US federal estate taxes. The executors claim that it was worth about $7 million, the IRS that it was worth over $1.1 billion. In February 2014, the IRS reported that Jackson’s estate owed $702 million; $505 million in taxes, and $197 million in penalties…..when a trial was held from February 6 to 24, 2017…..and in 2021, the Tax Court issued a ruling in favor of the estate…..while ruling that the estate’s total combined value of the estate was $111.5 million…..and that the value of Jackson’s name and likeness was $4 million…..and not the $61 million estimated by the IRS’s outside expert witness. In 2016, Forbes estimated annual gross earnings by the Jackson Estate at $825 million…. which was the largest ever recorded for a celebrity…..which was mostly due t o the sale of the Sony/ATV catalog…..then in 2018, the figure was $400 million…..which was the 8th year since his death that Jackson’s annual earnings were reported to be over $100 million…..thus bringing Jackson’s postmortem total to $2.4 billion. In 2020, Forbes recognized Jackson as the top-earning dead celebrity each year since his death except 2012.
Music – 2014 – Special – Beyoncé’s Tribute to Michael Jackson – Part 1 – “Where You Are” + “I Want You Back” + “I Can’t Help It”
Music – 2014 – Special – Beyoncé’s Tribute to Michael Jackson – Part 2 – “Beyoncé Being Michael Jackson’s Biggest Fan ♥ღ The Huge Inspiration”
As I have presented Michael Jackson’s life story herewith…..and after watching each and every piece of his video history that I posted in this live story of The King of Pop…..suffice to say, my entire perspective of this incredible artist has changed…..for I was definitely an influenced victim of what the media presented about him…..which honestly wasn’t very kind….. but I really wasn’t aware of who the real Michael Jackson was…..and furthermore, since I wasn’t a huge fan of his music…..albeit even in my younger years, I couldn’t deny his talent as a singer…..cuz I did enjoy his music…..as well as being mesmerized by his dancing moves….the simple fact is that I had no idea who the real Michael Jackson truly was…..heck, I even believed that he was the impetus behind change the color of his skin and wanting to look more white. However, the research that I did for this tribute to his legend has led me to the following conclusions about the undisputed King of Pop. His name is Michael Jackson. No, he wasn’t racist, he wanted peace. No, he didn’t bleach his skin, he had vitiligo. No, he didn’t abuse any child, he loved children and was simply more “child like than adult-like”. Yes, he was undisputedly the best entertainer of all time. Yes, he healed the World…..while being The King of Pop. He truly is one of the most amazing human beings to have ever lived…..for in my opinion, no one will ever be like him. God sent Michael Jackson to share his kind heart and his phenomenal musical talent…..along with some of the most creative and beautiful songs ever written and performed….but he was tortured by the media and killed by the illuminati. There will probably never be an artist that can match Michael’s energy…..while more importantly, there will never be such a kind hearted, pure, innocent individual as Michael…..for God sent him to heal the world…..but this world didn’t deserve him and ripped him apart. Take away all of the allegations whether true or not…..or even if I believe them or not…..or even take his character out of the question…..and any way you cut the pie, the man was an absolute genius…..while his music transcends time…..as this music doesn’t grow old…..while his music is amazing…..the fact remains that his voice, dancing and everything about his performance…..cuz he was the ultimate performer…..whereby the fever he created, his love for his fans and their love for him…..for that’s what the top end of talent looks like…..and I don’t think there will ever be anyone like him again. And I am not even a huge Michael Jackson fan…..as I like his music but I would say that I have ever been a massive fan…..cuz his music isn’t my genre…..but even I can tell that his talent was something special. Like in the Jackson 5, no offence to his brothers, I don’t think anyone would of noticed if they were gone, Michael was the Jackson 5. When Michael danced the entire stage grooved, not taking anything away from the rest of the group, he had so much swag, always in the spotlight…..as he was so agile, smooth and danced with such grace…..for he was a natural born leader…..and when he went solo, he wanted to save our planet…..but very few listened…..and look where we are in 2021. MJ’s “Rags to Riches Story” has often been forgotten and overlooked by people and media over his lifetime and since to the present….for his is one of the most inspiring stories ever written in the page’s of one person’s life….whereby a poor boy from Gary Indiana became the most famous celebrity in the world…..and one of the biggest influence ever in music industry. There will most likely never be anyone that will set the world on fire like Michael Jackson did….and still does…..albeit if you watch all his work depicted in the videos posted herewith…..then you will most certainly agree with me. No one will ever accomplish the things he did in the world….and nobody will be as famous as him. He was unique and so rare in each and everything he did…..as his spirit and legacy will live for generations to come…..for future generations will discover and explore the man, the myth and the legend known simply knew as Michael Jackson. I personally believe he was and he will always be the greatest showman to have ever lived. These videos seen within this post shows how much he cared for his fans…..as he obviously is aware that they are what helped him to get where he was…..while simultaneously it was his passion for his music that lifted many of his fans up and showed them that they had the opportunity to go out there and truly make something out of themselves by doing the things they love…..whether it’s in sports, science, art etc…..for in my opinion that is the core principle of Michael Jackson’s music…..was to show that everyone regardless of their ethnicity, race, nationality, beliefs and their circumstances that they were born into that they all have or should be given equal chances in becoming successful…..and by following the paths that they think is best to live a fulfilling existence. Here was an artist that brought about positive changes for many people and fans through his love for his work…..while producing many of his iconic pieces which will always be there…..as he was a one of a kind individual…..and his work will stand the test of time as one of the absolutely greatest ever…..as I am sure that his music will inspires future generations to climb up the ladder of success to create something remarkable for themselves…..as well and the community they live in…..while doing it out of pure passion for their work just like Michael Jackson. I will believe until the day I die that Michael built Neverland because he had no childhood. He always had kids there because he tried to make sure that no other child missed out on their childhood as he had. I will never believe that he ever did anything to hurt children. He just loved them and wanted to make them happy. The media took his home, catalog, reputation and his life…..however, they will never take the love and respect that his fans, old and new, have for him…..cuz that’s forever. With 19 Grammy awards, 39 charities, $500 million in donations, et al…..while breaking all records with Thriller…..and albeit the fact remains that almost 14 years after Michael Jackson’s death, he still remains a global phenomena and famous human being who is adored by fans worldwide as the ultimate popstar. This man was a gift to our world. He cared about people and the world we live in. His heart was full of love and generosity. Its a shame there were those who used him and hurt him deeply. His talent was so diverse and amazing. The world lost him and God gained an angel…..while we here at ImaSportsphile are simply grateful to have the honor of telling his story and sharing his life’s videos.
Music – 2009 – Live At The O2 Areana – Michael Jackson This Is It Concert – Full Show
