Michael Joseph Jackson
b. August 29, 1958 d. June 25, 2009
The King of Pop
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary Indiana. Jackson is survived by his three children, Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II. He is also survived by his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy sisters Rebbie, La Toya and Janet and his parents Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale California.
Michael was his parent's seventh child. His parents subsequently had two more children (Randy and Janet).
In 1964, Jackson's older brothers Jackie, Tito and Jermaine started a music group with father Joe assuming the role of their manager. Michael and his older brother Marlon join the group and the group began to be known as the Jackson 5. In 1968, the Jackson 5 left their original record label and signed with Motown Records, where they achieved 16 top-40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Between Jackson 5 albums Michael released his own solo albums, the first being "Got to Be There" in January 1972 when Michael was 13 years old. Michael's sixth solo album, "Thriller" has been certified the selling album of all time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Michael officially split with his brothers follow the Victory Tour in 1984.
Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of late singer Elvis Presley May 26, 1994. In August of 1996 Jackson and Presley divorced. In November, of the same year Jackson married Debbie Rowe who was pregnant with their Jackson's first child, Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr. In April, 1998 Jackson and Rowe welcomed their second child, daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. Jackson and Rowe divorced in 1999. Michael Jackson's third child, son Prince Michael Jackson II was born to a surrogate mother in 2002.
In 2009, Jackson was in Los Angeles preparing for a series of comeback concerts. On June 24, Jackson participated in a rehearsal that went past midnight. The next morning Jackson's personal physician entered Jackson's bedroom and found Jackson in bed not breathing. After a seven-month investigation Jackson's personal physician was charged with involuntary manslaughter under suspicion that he improperly administered propofol, a powerful anesthetic.
Michael (solo) and Jackson 5 awards include-
Honored with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (1980)
Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1997)
13 Grammy Awards (solo)
13 Number-one singles in the US (solo)
Grammy Lifetime achievement Award (solo)
26 American Music Awards (solo)
Jackson 5 1972
