Everette stephens biography of michael jackson

His donations were often substantial; for example, he donated the entire profit from his Victory Tour to charity in the s. His support extended to massive fundraising efforts, including his role in the song We Are the World , written along with Lionel Richie. This single generated millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa and is one of the best-selling singles of all time, demonstrating how Jackson leveraged his popularity for charitable causes.

His estate continues to donate to causes he cared about, maintaining his legacy of philanthropy. Michael Jackson died on June 25, , at the age of The official cause of death was acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which led to cardiac arrest. The circumstances surrounding his death were highly controversial, leading to the conviction of his personal physician, Dr.

Conrad Murray, for involuntary manslaughter. If he were alive today, Michael Jackson would be 65 years old. In his final years, Michael Jackson faced numerous challenges, including significant health problems, ongoing legal battles, and mounting pressures related to his planned comeback tour titled This Is It. His health issues were often discussed in the media, with reports of severe insomnia and physical pain that he managed with prescription medications.

These issues were partly due to the physical demands of his years of performing. In preparation for his comeback tour, it was reported that Jackson was rehearsing rigorously, which further strained his already fragile health. Legally, Jackson continued to confront allegations and lawsuits. Despite being acquitted of child molestation charges in , the legal battles took a financial and personal toll, impacting his public image and causing significant stress.

Financial pressures also loomed large during this period, as Jackson faced debts reportedly running into hundreds of millions of dollars. These financial and legal issues compelled him to stage the comeback he hoped would revive his career and alleviate his financial distress. The announcement of the This Is It tour was met with tremendous enthusiasm, demonstrating that his popularity remained high despite the controversies.

Tickets sold out within minutes; however, the stress of preparing for such a demanding tour, coupled with his health and legal issues, created a storm that ultimately led to his untimely death. News channels and social media platforms were flooded with reactions as fans and fellow artists alike struggled to process the sudden loss. Major networks interrupted their regular programming to cover the news.

Many fans found themselves revisiting his music, videos, and performances, causing a significant surge in sales and streaming of his catalog. Fans also turned to online forums and social media to share their memories and discuss the mark he left on their lives. One of the most notable memorials was the public service held on July 7, , at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which was broadcast live around the world, drawing millions of viewers.

During the service, performances and speeches by family members and celebrities highlighted his influence on music and pop culture, reflecting the depth of his impact. Additionally, fans across the globe organized flash mobs, vigils, and tribute concerts, celebrating his life and contributions to music. The Michael Jackson memorial also saw fans gathering at significant landmarks related to his life, such as his childhood home and the famed Jackson Street, to pay their respects.

His innovative approach to music production, stage performances, and his distinctive vocal style continue to be studied and emulated. He took the world stage on January 31, And he stood there — for what seemed like an outrageously long time for live television. He was allowing us to take in the King of Pop, who, by , had faded from glory.

But then he earned that title all over again with a fast-paced, TV-history changing show. Until , halftime entertainment was corny, mostly lead by marching bands. Jackson's solos on the album, and his gold-brocade black jacket in the video, still stand out as the highlight of the ultimate supergroup. In , the musical The Wiz was pivotal for Jackson's career.

It showed his versatility and kept alive his post-Motown status as a national entertainer, playing the Scarecrow opposite Ross as Dorothy. More importantly, it introduced him to Jones, who produced The Wiz and was already a major record producer, notably of Frank Sinatra. But with Jones, Jackson found a partner to take him to the next level. Their albums started with Off The Wall , then Thriller and Bad — and entertainment history was never the same.

The 13 Most Memorable Inauguration Performances. Martin Luther King Jr. Nikki Giovanni. Now calling themselves the Jacksons, the group signed a new recording deal with Epic Records. By the release of its third album for the label, Destiny , the brothers had emerged as talented songwriters. Jackson began his solo career while simultaneously performing with the Jackson 5.

He released his debut solo album at age 13 with Got to Be There , making the charts with the title track. He had his first solo No. Jackson followed those albums with Music and Me and Forever, Michael , the latter of which was his last album with Motown Records. Jackson achieved his solo career breakthrough with Off the Wall , his first album with Epic Records and his first produced by Quincy Jones , whom he met while working on The Wiz.

Critics felt the album moved Jackson from the pop music of his youth into a more complex sound, and some have called it one of the best pop albums ever made. Jackson was still performing with his brothers at this time, and the overwhelmingly positive response to Off the Wall helped the Jacksons as a group. Their album Triumph sold more than 1 million copies, and the brothers went on an extensive tour to support the recording.

At the same time, Jackson continued exploring more ways to branch out on his own. In , Jackson embarked on his final tour with his brothers to support the album Victory Jackson achieved unparalleled success with the release of his six solo album Thriller , which as of August was still recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling album of all time, having sold 67 million copies worldwide and 34 million units in the United States alone.

The album stayed on the charts for 80 weeks after its release, holding the No. Pretty Young Thing. The album garnered 12 Grammy Award nominations and notched eight wins, both records at the time. Following its debut on MTV on December 2, , it was hailed as one of the greatest music videos of all time and became the first music video to be selected for the National Film Registry in On a television special honoring Motown, Jackson performed his No.

The much-lauded dance performance further boosted sales for the already-successful Thriller album. Jackson had surgery to repair his injuries and is believed to have begun experimenting with plastic surgery around this time. His face, especially his nose, would become dramatically altered in the coming years. Five years after Thriller , Jackson released his highly-anticipated follow-up album Bad Although unable to duplicate the phenomenal sales of Thriller , Bad still reached the top of the charts and became the first album to feature five No.

Jackson spent more than a year on the road, playing concerts to promote the album. Named after the fantasy island from the Peter Pan story, it included a zoo, train, Ferris wheel, and seat movie theater. Around the late s, rumors began swirling that Jackson was lightening the color of his skin to appear more white and sleeping in a special oxygen chamber to increase his lifespan.

In , Jackson agreed to a rare television interview with Oprah Winfrey to quell rumors. He explained that the change in his skin tone was the result of a skin condition known as vitiligo, and he opened up about the abuse he suffered from his father.

Everette stephens biography of michael jackson

In , Jackson released his eighth solo album Dangerous , his first without Quincy Jones in 16 years. The final minutes of the video featured Jackson making sexual gesturing and violently damaging cars and buildings, which drew criticism from some viewers. Jackson issued an apology and edited the video to remove these elements. However, also saw the first of several child molestation allegations against Jackson, when a year-old boy claimed that the music star had fondled him.

Jackson was known to have sleepovers with boys at his Neverland Ranch, but this was the first public charge of wrongdoing. The police searched the ranch, but said they found no evidence to support the claim. In the television documentary Living with Michael Jackson, British journalist Martin Bashir spent several months with the singer, even getting him to discuss his relationships with children.