Happy Birthday To The Late, Great Artist Michael Jackson

Aug 29, 2021

Michael Jackson is known the world over for his music and entertainment legacy — he isn't named the "King of Pop" for nothing. His long career full of hit songs, show-stopping performances and celebrity collaborations has made him a household name. And although his life wasn't without controversy, there's no denying that Michael left an indelible mark on music history.

In fact, Guinness World Records awarded Michael multiple awards, such as the outstanding title of “most successful entertainer of all time,” a designation based on the recording artist’s more than 1 billion worldwide record sales. If you’ve been living under a rock — or are simply part of a different generation — Michael’s career skyrocketed into the stratosphere of pop music with his 1982 album “Thriller,” his sixth solo release. All of the singles from the album, which includes "The Girl Is Mine,” "Billie Jean,” "Beat It,” "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' ,” "Human Nature,” "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” and "Thriller,” made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart’s top ten list. And today, it remains the best-selling album of all time, having sold 70 million copies worldwide. As one might imagine, such a momentous album completely changed the music industry forever, which is why Michael remains one of pop music’s most important figures.

Unfortunately, however, Michael’s career was cut short on June 25, 2009, when the pop star had a heart attack and passed away. With that said, his legacy lives on. And today, on what would have been his 63rd birthday, we’ll take a look back at his incredible career and life.

Michael Jackson needs no introduction. Born on Aug. 29, 1958, into a family of ten children, Michael was the eighth child, and his position as one of the youngest would affect how he was treated by his father, Joe Jackson. The patriarch of the family would taunt Michael, as he was one of the youngest. 

By 1964, when Michael was just 6 years old, he and some of his brothers formed a band named the Jackson Brothers, later changing their name to the Jackson 5. They were led by their father and began performing around the Midwest, before moving to Los Angeles in 1968, when Michael was just 10.

Their success only continued to grow, with Michael, the youngest of the group, becoming a standout. Years later, Rolling Stone named him "a prodigy," explaining that he "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer" of the Jackson 5.

Michael stayed performing with the Jackson 5 but at the same time was emerging as a solo artist, releasing his own albums with Motown, the label the group was signed to. By the late '70s, Michael, who was becoming a young man in his late teens and early 20s at this point, began to be even more independent after moving to New York to appear in the musical film "The Wiz." While there, he was influenced by other music genres such as hip hop which, helped to refine his sound into a more complex one. His fifth, solo album "Off the Wall," which came out in 1979, pushed him into a new direction and really established him as a solo performer.

Michael kicked off the '90s by releasing "Dangerous" in 1991, which featured hits such as "Black or White," "Heal the World" and "Remember the Time." Musically, he was at the top of his game, but his personal life was garnering more controversy. He began to build his ranch Neverland around this time, which featured a Ferris wheel, carousel, a zoo and movie theater.

Then, in 1993, he married Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie Presley. Their union would only last a year and a half, with some suggesting it was simply a publicity stunt. But just a few years later, Michael would get married a second time with Debbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant he had known for some years. Rowe was six months pregnant with Michael Joseph, who is commonly referred to as "Prince," at the time of their wedding. He was born on Feb. 13, 1997. Just over one year later, the couple had their second child Paris, who was born on April 3, 1998. Sadly, their relationship wasn't meant to last either, as they divorced in 1999, with Michael retaining custody of the kids after an $8 million settlement.

Around the same time, Michael was gearing up for the release of his final studio album: “Invincible.” With features from music greats, such as Carlos Santana, The Notorious B.I.G. and Slash, the album had the appearance of being a great album, but the record received mixed reviews.

Regardless of the critiques it received, the King of Pop still has a legacy of celebrated and well-reviewed records that music lovers will play for years to come. As The New York Times wrote in its obituary for the musician, “At the height of his career, he was indisputably the biggest star in the world.” 

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. What’s your favorite Michael Jackson song? And how will you remember his legacy?