185-471: Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop ", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century . Over a four decade career, his world record music achievements and publicized personal life made him a global figure. Jackson's songs, stages and fashion proliferated visual performance for singers in pop music. His innovations changed
370-786: A country-and-western performer, and worked part-time at Sears . She was a Jehovah's Witness . His father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson , a former boxer, was a crane operator at US Steel and played guitar with a local rhythm and blues band, the Falcons, to supplement the family's income. Joe's great-grandfather, July "Jack" Gale, was a US Army scout ; family lore held that he was also a Native American medicine man . Michael grew up with three sisters ( Rebbie , La Toya , and Janet ) and five brothers ( Jackie , Tito , Jermaine , Marlon , and Randy ). A sixth brother, Marlon's twin Brandon, died shortly after birth. In 1964, Michael and Marlon joined
555-437: A favela of Rio de Janeiro [...] he used the favela people as extras in a visual super-spectacle [...]. The interesting aspect of Michael Jackson's strategy is the efficiency with which it gives visibility to poverty and social problems in countries like Brazil without resorting to traditional political discourse. The problematic aspect is that it does not entail a real intervention in that poverty." In 2009, Billboard described
740-399: A "music video subindustry of dancers and choreographers" such as Paula Abdul and Toni Basil . The "Thriller" video—which gained a commercial release as Michael Jackson's Thriller —was unusually long (at 15 minutes) and took the form of a short film presentation. It features Jackson dancing with zombies and cost more than $ 1 million to produce. The film sealed MTV 's position as
925-478: A "spotted cow". She said he had received more than the two cosmetic surgeries he claimed and speculated that he had become addicted to them. In 1986, it was reported that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow aging. He denied the story, although it was alleged that Jackson leaked an image of him sleeping in a glass chamber (according to Jackson, this was a promotional shot from an upcoming space opera featuring himself ) to The National Enquirer . It
1110-429: A $ 1.25 million program to assist children affected by the 1992 Los Angeles riots and, in a TV interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey , discussed issues related to his African-American heritage and the abuse he suffered under his father. The viewer ratings for the show were among the highest in the history of US television. In 1995 " They Don't Care About Us " was released as one of the singles from HIStory . In
1295-533: A 1993 interview, Jackson said he had had two rhinoplasty surgeries and a cleft chin surgery but no more than that. He said he lost weight in the early 1980s because of a change in diet to achieve a dancer's body. Witnesses reported that he was often dizzy, and speculated he was suffering from anorexia nervosa . Periods of weight loss became a recurring problem later in his life. After his death, Jackson's mother said that he first turned to cosmetic procedures to remedy his vitiligo, because he did not want to look like
1480-528: 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
1665-646: A Poland audience for the very first time. Upon his arrival at Okęcie International Airport , Michael Jackson was met with a heartwarming welcome: children dressed in traditional Polish attire presenting him with bouquets of flowers. As he traveled to his hotel, a police motorcade escorted him, and thousands of fans lined the streets, cheering and waving with excitement. Throughout his stay, the Polish fans continued to show their unwavering support. In return, Jackson frequently interacted with them by exchanging words, signing autographs, and engaging in playful conversations. Before
1850-532: A bid of $ 46 million (equivalent to $ 135 million in 2023) on November 20, 1984. When Jackson and McCartney were unable to make a joint purchase, McCartney did not want to be the sole owner of the Beatles' songs, and did not pursue an offer on his own. Jackson's agents were unable to come to a deal, and in May 1985 left talks after having spent more than $ 1 million and four months of due diligence work on
2035-521: A bit of a health fanatic." When Jackson took his pet chimpanzee Bubbles to tour in Japan, the media portrayed Jackson as an aspiring Disney cartoon character who befriended animals. It was also reported that Jackson had offered to buy the bones of Joseph Merrick (the "Elephant Man"). In June 1987, the Chicago Tribune reported Jackson's publicist bidding $ 1 million for the skeleton to
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#17327719882882220-456: A child star since the height of Shirley Temple in the 1930s. In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular culture and the first African-American entertainer to have a strong crossover fan base on music television . As he became a rising solo star, 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
2405-501: A committee. In 2023, the award was renamed from "Early influence" to "Musical influence". ^ A. Previously nominated as a performer: Wanda Jackson in 2005 and 2009; Freddie King in 2012; The "5" Royales in 2002 and 2004; Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 2016; Kraftwerk in 2003, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020; and Link Wray in 2014 and 2018. The non-performer category honors "songwriters, producers, disc jockeys, record executives, journalists and other industry professionals who have had
2590-528: 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". In January 1970, " I Want You Back " became the first Jackson 5 song to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 ; it stayed there for four weeks. Three more singles with Motown topped the chart: " ABC ", " The Love You Save ", and " I'll Be There ". In May 1971,
2775-663: A cultural force, helped disassemble racial barriers for black artists, revolutionized music video production, popularized the making-of documentaries, and drove rentals and sales of VHS tapes. It has been described as the most influential music video in history; according to Edmondson, the "Thriller" video "is credited with single-handedly revolutionizing the landscape of pop music". Former MTV executive Nina Blackwood said, "[After 'Thriller'] we saw videos get more sophisticated—more story lines, way more intricate choreography. You look at those early videos and they were shockingly bad." Music video director Brian Grant credited "Thriller" as
2960-513: A distillation of the disco era. According to musician and journalist Bob Stanley , Off the Wall presented Jackson as "a new kind of alpha male" with "an air of super-confidence" reminiscent of Elvis Presley before the latter's army service. The album's commercial success ensured that Jackson's standing surpassed that of the Jackson 5. In the description of author and pop culture critic Joseph Vogel , Jackson's 1982 album Thriller changed
3145-620: A fucking genius." List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , established in 1983 and located in Cleveland , Ohio , United States, is dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential musicians, bands, producers, and others that have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in the area of rock and roll . Originally, there were four categories of induction: performers , non-performers , early influences , and lifetime achievement . In 2000, " sidemen "
3330-498: A global solo star with his 1979 album Off the Wall . 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 art form and promotional tool. He helped popularize MTV and continued to innovate with videos for his albums Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995), and Invincible (2001). Thriller
3515-570: A lack of evidence without Jordan's testimony, the state closed its investigation on September 22, 1994. Jackson had been taking painkillers for his reconstructive scalp surgeries, administered due to the Pepsi commercial accident in 1984, and became dependent on them to cope with the stress of the sexual abuse allegations. On November 12, 1993, Jackson canceled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour due to health problems, stress from
3700-700: A larger spectacle." In December 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry . "Thriller" has become closely associated with Halloween . The dance is performed in major cities around the world; the largest zombie dance included 12,937 dancers, in Mexico City. A YouTube video of more than 1,500 prisoners performing the dance in the Philippines had attracted 14 million views as of 2010. Director Guillermo del Toro cites “Thriller” as an early inspiration. He saids “It
3885-437: A major influence on the development of rock and roll". Several of the inductees in this category were in fact prominent performers as well. The inductees in this category are selected by the same committee that chooses the early influences. In 2008, this category was renamed the "Ahmet Ertegun Award". Established in 2000 as "Sidemen", the category "honors those musicians, producers and others who have spent their careers out of
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#17327719882884070-513: A male act", and the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time", among other awards . Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana , on August 29, 1958. He was the eighth of ten children in the Jackson family , a working-class African-American family living in a two-bedroom house on Jackson Street. His mother, Katherine Esther Jackson ( née Scruse), played clarinet and piano, had aspired to be
4255-439: A member of the nominating committee. "There had always been conversations about why the groups weren't included when the lead singers were inducted. Very honestly, nobody could really answer that question – it was so long ago... We decided we'd sit down as an organization and look at that. This is the result." ^ Note 7. Although Pat Benatar is a solo artist, her husband, guitarist and primary musical partner Neil Giraldo
4440-467: A musician have defined a category of contemporary popular music that is characterized by fusions of different eras, styles, media and genres, but is also rooted in R&;B and soul music . The album Off the Wall (1979) was generally categorized as a disco album, yet music critic Rob Sheffield described it as one that "invented modern pop as we know it". The album has been called a turning point and
4625-531: A name he came to despise. Other tabloids and media outlets soon followed. The nickname stayed with Jackson for the rest of his career. Stories about him gradually turned negative. In Vogel's description: "Critics maligned him for buying the Beatles catalog [in 1985], mocked his changing appearance, called him a sissy, questioned whether he actually wrote his songs, reduced his art to commercial ephemera." His marriage to Lisa Marie Presley and rumours of him undergoing skin-whitening and other cosmetic surgery furthered
4810-520: A new home, Neverland Ranch , at a cost of $ 17 million (equivalent to $ 44 million in 2023). 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 . Jackson became known as the " King of Pop ", a nickname that Jackson's publicists embraced. When Elizabeth Taylor presented him with
4995-512: A notable style that includes sequined gloves, a fedora , red leather jackets, sequined jackets, aviator sunglasses , black high-waisted pants , white socks, and leather penny loafers . Jackson was also interested in British royalty and military history, which resulted in his adoption of regalia and military jackets . His jackets often had a single-colored armband on one sleeve. At the height of his fame, Jackson inspired fashion trends around
5180-694: A reception that people described as being far bigger than the one received by the Pope earlier that year according to locals who likened Jackson's welcoming to Yuri Gagarin returning home after landing on the Moon, with thousands of fans welcoming the King of Pop as he landed at the Airport. Other people climbed on trees and upon the roofs of buildings in effort to get a glimpse of Jackson, whose security force and associates caused multiple traffic jams and took up 5 floors of
5365-487: A sold out audience of 70,000 in a effort to raise funds to provide jobs for young people in the state of Maharashtra. Jackson proved to be so popular that the public reception to his arrival was described as unprecedented frenzy as 15 km of Bombay's streets were filled with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Michael Jackson who was escorted to his hotel by a 30-car police motorcade. In a market where Western pop music accounts for less than 5% of physical music sales, Jackson
5550-598: A song dedicated to White, and "Heal the World" at the gala. Jackson visited Africa in early 1992; on his first stop in Gabon he was greeted by more than 100,000 people, some of them carrying signs that read "Welcome Home Michael", and was awarded an Officer of the National Order of Merit from President Omar Bongo . During his trip to Ivory Coast, Jackson drew larger crowds than Pope John Paul II on his previous visits. He
5735-422: A terrible, pitiful corruption of what a twenty-nine-year-old human being really should be ... His neurotic obsession with perfecting his physical appearance apparently knows no bounds. And his inability to enjoy meaningful relations with anyone except animals, small children and cartoon characters has become ridiculous. This is, in short, a singularly maladjusted young man." The Rolling Stone editors also attribute
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5920-503: A version of " Who's Lovin' You ". 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 — partly to bolster her career in television — sending off what was considered Motown's last product of its "production line". The Jackson 5 made their first television appearance in 1969 in the Miss Black America pageant, performing
6105-566: A video sequence and the music, including live vocals, ceded to visual imagery such as dance. Jackson is credited with helping to spread dance to a global audience. Nigel Lythgoe , executive producer and judge on the TV dance competition So You Think You Can Dance , said that "countless" applicants had begun dancing because of Jackson. Ronni Favors, a director at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater , said Jackson
6290-522: A wealth of imagery to explore in their work, and that as a muse he was "an inspiration, a model, a tragedy". Dick Zimmerman's portrait of Jackson used for Thriller is cited as "the world’s largest distributed portrait in history". Most of statues and sculptures depicting Jackson are monuments dedicated to the music artist located across the world. Notable among them is the statue located in Favela Santa Marta , Rio de Janeiro , whose creation
6475-569: A year. They lasted a year and a half." Presley later said she and Jackson had attempted to reconcile intermittently for four years following their divorce, and that she had traveled the world to be with him. Jackson composed music for the Sega Genesis video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994), but left the project around the time the sexual abuse allegations surfaced and went uncredited. The Sega Technical Institute director Roger Hector and
6660-531: Is familiar with the name Michael Jackson, There is no musician who can replace MJ. " Sony Music Entertainment India stated that millions of Jackson's records had been distributed in the country with Jackson accounting for 26% of all music downloads in India following his death. Famous Bollywood Actor Shah Rukh Khan stated that he was a huge fan of Jackson who was his only knowledge of western music and that he cried upon hearing news about Jackson's death, stating that
6845-524: Is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th and 21st century, and one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time. Often referred as the " King of Pop ", his achievements helped to complete the desegregation of popular music in the United States and introduced an era of multiculturalism . His career upsurge to becoming the best-selling solo music act of all time would break barriers to how pop music
7030-563: Is seen as western pop. According to Nikhil Gangavane, anyone in India who dances well is compared to Michael Jackson who stated that "The moonwalk made Michael reach from the classes to the masses in India." British-born hip-hop star Hard Kaur said that Jackson had a huge influence on Bollywood with everyone from "Actors, established choreographers, aspiring composers, kids in dance shows" taking inspiration from Jackson's work. While discussing Jackson's popularity in India, Kaur said that "Go to any village, any corner in India and you'll find everyone
7215-415: Is the best-selling album of all time , while Bad was the first album to produce five US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. From the late 1980s, 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; Jackson
7400-454: Is the most successful entertainer of all time, the most depicted cultural figure of the century, has the biggest selling album of all time (Thriller) , the most watched interview ever the most watched music video of all time , along with being the most awarded artist in history. Jackson first visited Africa in 1974 with the Jackson 5, a visit that inspired his Bad single " Liberian Girl ". Along with Jackson compositions such as " Heal
7585-602: The Bemowo airport in front of a crowd of over 120,000 according to local law enforcement, which makes it one of the largest concerts of all time and to date the biggest concert in Poland's history. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 wrote a Rolling Stones column titled " Michael Jackson Remembered " declaring that "I never met him, but he was probably the single most important musical influence for me." Adele , during her Adele's Music Video Playlist segment for MTV Hive 2009, chose
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7770-490: The Billboard charts, MTV initially refused to play the video because of the network's commitment to rock music. When CBS Records executive Walter Yetnikoff threatened to remove all of their products off MTV and expose its discriminatory policies, the network gave in. According to Edmondson, "The video [for 'Thriller'] is often cited as the musical phenomenon that completed the racial integration of popular music begun in
7955-512: The Channel Seven Perth Telethon . His purchase of ATV Music was finalized on August 10, 1985. Jackson's skin had been medium-brown during his youth, but from the mid-1980s gradually grew paler. The change drew widespread media coverage, including speculation that he had been bleaching his skin . His dermatologist, Arnold Klein , said he observed in 1983 that Jackson had vitiligo , a condition characterized by patches of
8140-684: The East Coast , they won a weekly amateur night concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem . The Jackson 5 recorded several songs for a Gary record label, Steeltown Records ; their first single, " Big Boy ", 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
8325-724: 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 $ 210 million in 2023); Jackson performed for over 3.5 million people in 70 concerts, all of which were outside
8510-493: The InterContinental hotel with a crowd of over 5,000 people blocking the streets waiting to see Jackson from his Hotel suite. Jackson's concert at Prague is one of the largest in history with a estimated 125,000 in attendance and thousands more watching behind the fences. During the duration of his visit before the concert Jackson was welcomed to Prague Castle for a meeting with President Václav Havel , and toured
8695-624: The Library of Congress added Thriller to the National Recording Registry for its "stratospheric national and international success". Jackson's music has been extensively covered by other artists of various styles, including Mariah Carey , Miles Davis , Willie Nelson , and Alien Ant Farm . Artists who often mention Jackson in their music include Kanye West , Lil Wayne , LL Cool J , Rick Ross , and Drake . According to Edmondson, writing in 2013, Jackson "redefined
8880-620: The London Hospital Medical College on his behalf. The college maintained the skeleton was not for sale. DiLeo said Jackson had an "absorbing interest" in Merrick, "purely based on his awareness of the ethical, medical and historical significance." In September 1986, using the oxygen chamber story, the British tabloid The Sun branded Jackson "Wacko Jacko", a name Jackson came to despise. The Atlantic noted that
9065-640: The Sly Stone collection included "Everyday People" (1968), Len Barry 's " 1-2-3 " (1965), and Dion DiMucci 's " The Wanderer " (1961) and " Runaround Sue " (1961). In 1984, Robert Holmes à Court announced he was selling the ATV Music Publishing catalog comprising the publishing rights to nearly 4,000 songs, including most of the Beatles' material. In 1981, McCartney had been offered the catalog for £20 million ($ 40 million) (equivalent to $ 134 million in 2023). Jackson submitted
9250-514: The Sonic co-creator Naoto Ohshima said that Jackson's involvement was terminated and his music reworked following the allegations. However, Jackson's musical director Brad Buxer and other members of Jackson's team said Jackson went uncredited because he was unhappy with how the Genesis replicated his music. Cultural impact of Michael Jackson American singer Michael Jackson (1958–2009)
9435-462: The Studio 54 nightclub, where he heard early hip hop ; this influenced his beatboxing on future tracks such as " Working Day and Night ". In 1978, Jackson unsatisfied with his nose, decided to have a rhinoplasty . He was referred to Steven Hoefflin , who performed Jackson's operations. Jackson's fifth solo album, Off the Wall (1979), established him as a solo performer and helped him move from
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#17327719882889620-716: The Vocal Group Hall of Fame , the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame (making him the only recording artist to be inducted). His honors include 15 Grammy Awards including the Grammy Legend Award , six Brit Awards , 24 American Music Awards , a Golden Globe Award and 39 Guinness World Records , including " Youngest artist to top the Hot 100 ", "Longest span of number ones for
9805-561: The White House at Hillary Clinton 's final campaign rally during the 2016 U.S. presidential election . Also in 2016, Beyoncé honored Michael Jackson at Super Bowl 50 by wearing a Jackson-inspired outfit, a black and gold military jacket similar to the one Jackson wore in his Super Bowl halftime show in 1993. Jackson has been depicted by a large number of contemporary artists, including Jeff Koons , Michael Craig-Martin and Grayson Perry . The silkscreen image of Jackson used on
9990-600: The best-selling music artists of all time , with estimated sales of over 500 million records worldwide. He had 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles ( the chart's fourth-highest of any artist ) and was the first artist to have a top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. Jackson's inductions include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice), the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame ,
10175-666: The bubblegum pop of his youth to more complex sounds. It produced four top 10 entries in the US: " Off the Wall ", " She's Out of My Life ", and the chart-topping singles " Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough " and " Rock with You ". The album reached number three on the US Billboard 200 and sold over 20 million copies worldwide. In 1980, Jackson won three American Music Awards for his solo work: 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
10360-511: The moonwalk , and attracted a cult of impersonators throughout the world. He is credited with helping to spread dance to a global audience and having an influence comparable to dance icons such as to Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis Jr . With an aesthetic borrowed from the musical film tradition, the Thriller videos created a subindustry of choreographers as other pop artists sought to produce sophisticated dance-oriented promotional films. In
10545-518: The robot , and his signature move, the moonwalk . Professor of performance studies at NYU Tavia Nyongo said that "No dancer has done as much to popularize the art form since Fred Astaire ." Jackson first performed the moonwalk when miming to "Billie Jean" at the close of the Motown 25 TV special, which aired in May 1983. The performance was viewed by an international audience of around 50 million and, according to Rolling Stone , "energize[d]
10730-496: The robot dance . The Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, signing with Epic Records and renaming themselves the Jacksons. Their younger brother Randy joined the band around this time; Jermaine stayed with Motown and pursued a solo career. The Jacksons continued to tour internationally, and released six more albums between 1976 and 1984. Michael, the group's main songwriter during this time, wrote songs such as " Shake Your Body (Down to
10915-525: The "King of Pop, Rock & Soul", a moniker that was widely accepted as accurate. Michael Jackson has been regarded as one of the most famous figures in recent history around the world, even being known by uncontacted tribes in the Amazon. In 2006 Michael Jackson was named the world's most famous human being by Guinness World Records, following his death the publication stated that Jackson's fame had exceeded that of Confucius . In addition to his fame, Jackson
11100-449: The "real Michael Jackson" to remain elusive. In an article for Popular Music & Society , Brian Rossiter commented: "The media, aware of the marketable potential of Jackson's ambiguities, consistently used them to manufacture the notion of an authentic or private self behind his public persona. […] Audiences were always given liberty to select which Michael Jackson they deemed to be the real or authentic one […]." Susan Fast, writing for
11285-438: The $ 160,000 budget for Jackson's "Beat It" video was considered an "exorbitant" amount; the video for his 1995 single " Scream " cost an estimated $ 4 million, making it the most expensive clip in pop music history at that time. MTV's premiere of Jackson's " Black or White " single was broadcast simultaneously in 27 countries on November 14, 1991, and was watched by an estimated 500 million people. As of 2006, this remained
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#173277198828811470-401: The 1980s, Jackson's personal idiosyncrasies and changing appearance became the source of fascination for the tabloid media , a phenomenon furthered by the child abuse accusations leveled against him in 1993. These eccentricities and controversies inspired a wealth of pictures and other artworks exploring his public image, some of which were presented in the 2018 exhibition Michael Jackson: On
11655-439: The 1980s, however, Jackson had betrayed his African-American roots, especially in his musical collaborations with former Beatle Paul McCartney —a point of criticism that Stanley says Jackson sought to address with his 1987 album Bad . The video for "Black or White" showed Jackson dancing with dancers of various ethnic groups and traditions, and the lyrics plead for racial tolerance and understanding. In early 1993, he launched
11840-412: 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 bestselling album worldwide in 1987 and 1988. By 2012, it had sold between 30 and 45 million copies worldwide. The Bad World Tour ran from September 12, 1987, to January 27, 1989. In Japan, the tour had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling
12025-632: The Bala Brothers , likened Jackson's impact to Nelson Mandela and said that as a black boy growing up in a township, "you either wanted to be Michael Jackson or a freedom fighter . Today Michael remains a extremely popular figure in Africa with stories of his fame spread across the continent. In 1996 Jackson visited Santa Marta , a favela in Rio de Janeiro , to film one of the videos for " They Don't Care About Us ". Initially, Rio's local government
12210-461: The Grammy for Best Engineered – Non Classical. In August 1993, Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy, Jordan Chandler, and his father, Evan Chandler. Jordan said he and Jackson had engaged in acts of kissing, masturbation and oral sex . While Jordan's mother initially told police that she did not believe Jackson had molested him, her position wavered a few days later. Evan
12395-660: The Ground) " (1978), " This Place Hotel " (1980), and " Can You Feel It " (1980). In 1977, Jackson 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. The film was a box-office failure. Its score was arranged by Quincy Jones , who later produced three of Jackson's solo albums. During his time in New York, Jackson frequented
12580-690: The Ivory Coast than the Pope, "From his sunset arrival in Gabon, where more than 100,000 people greeted him with spiritual bedlam". While in Ivory Coast , he was crowned king of the Agni people in the Kingdom of Sanwi . Later that year, he established the Heal the World Foundation to raise awareness of social issues related to children. In 2016 John Mahama , then President of Ghana, referred to "Heal
12765-574: The Jackson Brothers—a band formed by their father which included Jackie, Tito and Jermaine—as backup musicians playing congas and tambourine . Michael said his father told him he had a "fat nose", and physically and emotionally abused him during rehearsals. 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. Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped Michael. Katherine said that although whipping came to be considered abuse, it
12950-458: The Jackson family moved into a large house at Hayvenhurst , a 2-acre (0.81 ha) estate in Encino, California . During this period, Michael developed from a child performer into a teen idol . Between 1972 and 1975, he released four solo studio albums with Motown: Got to Be There (1972), Ben (1972), Music & Me (1973) and Forever, Michael (1975). " Got to Be There " and " Ben ",
13135-436: The Jacksons and other Motown stars. Jackson's solo performance of "Billie Jean" earned him his first Emmy Award nomination. 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. Jackson had originally turned down the invitation to the show, believing he had been doing too much television. But at
13320-662: The Jacksons and showcased Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans. It was the last tour he did with his brothers. Following controversy over the concert's ticket sales , Jackson 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, Jackson announced his split from the Jacksons during "Shake Your Body". With Lionel Richie , Jackson co-wrote
13505-555: 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 1980s. In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $ 65 million (equivalent to $ 145 million in 2023), a record-breaking deal , beating Neil Diamond 's renewal contract with Columbia Records . In 1991, he released his eighth album, Dangerous , co-produced with Teddy Riley . It
13690-687: 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". At the 38th BMI Awards in 1990, Jackson was the first person to be honored with an award named after its recipient. From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $ 455,000 to the United Negro College Fund , and all profits from his single "Man in
13875-549: The Time"), and was the first 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. He attended the award ceremony with Brooke Shields . Dangerous was nominated for Best Vocal Performance (for "Black or White"), Best R&B Vocal Performance ("Jam") and Best R&B Song ("Jam"), and Bruce Swedien and Teddy Riley won
14060-531: 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. Following the death of HIV/AIDS spokesperson and friend Ryan White , Jackson pleaded with the Clinton administration at Bill Clinton's inaugural gala to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research and performed " Gone Too Soon ",
14245-636: The Wall at London's National Portrait Gallery . Jackson influenced a wide range of subjects, from celebrity studies to visual culture to gender and sexuality studies, and many more including ones not directly related to his profession. According to a study published in The Journal of Pan African Studies in 2010, his influence extended to academia , with references to the singer in literature concerning mass communications , psychology , medicine , engineering and chemistry . The British Council named Jackson on their list of "80 Moments that Shaped
14430-436: The World " and " We Are the World ", fans from Liberia found the song uplifting and his message resonated there in a climate of civil war and human atrocities . In 1992, Jackson carried out a five-nation African cultural tour, intent on visiting "orphanages, children's hospitals, churches, schools and playgrounds". Jackson's trip was a huge success as his visit drew more spectators in Gabon than Nelson Mandela and more in
14615-619: The World" in a speech at the UN General Assembly to encourage globalization and acceptance of refugees, and to denounce xenophobia . Until 1994, with the fall of apartheid in South Africa, Jackson was the only artist whose songs were played on white pop stations and black R&B stations there. According to Metro FM presenter Lupi Ngcayisa, his lyrics "forced black families to debate issues surrounding individualism and race". South African R&B artist Loyiso Bala, of
14800-417: The World" with regard to international cultural relations. Since Jackson's death there have been countless tribute shows performed by fans around the world in concert, Cirque De Solei or Broadway theater which have sold millions of tickets worldwide. As the lead singer and youngest member of the Jackson 5 from the late 1960s, Michael Jackson was the group's focal point for the media. They became one of
14985-653: 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 during his stay in the city as part of the Bad World Tour . On July 20, he became the first commoner in history to enter London's Guildhall through
15170-406: The accused and the attacked". The lyrics were eventually edited out with muffles. The Michael Jackson cacophony is fascinating in that it is not about Jackson at all. I hope he has the good sense to know it and the good fortune to snatch his life out of the jaws of a carnivorous success. He will not swiftly be forgiven for having turned so many tables, for he damn sure grabbed the brass ring , and
15355-610: The advertisement, and suggested using his song "Billie Jean", with revised lyrics, as its jingle . 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. 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
15540-516: The album's artist and Jones as its co-producer), and the single won Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) award for Jackson. "Beat It" won Record of the Year and Best Rock Vocal Performance (Male). "Billie Jean" won two Grammy awards: Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance (Male), with Jackson as songwriter and singer respectively. Thriller won the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording (Non Classical), acknowledging Bruce Swedien for his work on
15725-406: The album's significant achievements was to integrate a diverse collection of talents from different races, cultures, and countries, and to coalesce them seamlessly into the record. "Billie Jean" was one of the first music videos by a black artist to be shown on MTV , which hitherto had been a channel directed toward a white, rock-oriented audience. Although the song was already a number one hit on
15910-498: 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. He also won Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, and Favorite Pop/Rock Artist. "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
16095-493: The allegations and painkiller addiction. He thanked his close friend Elizabeth Taylor for support, encouragement and counsel. The end of the tour concluded his sponsorship deal with Pepsi. In late 1993, Jackson proposed to Lisa Marie Presley , the daughter of Elvis Presley, over the phone. They were married in La Vega, Dominican Republic , in May 1994 by civil judge Hugo Francisco Álvarez Pérez. The tabloid media speculated that
16280-576: The area as "now a model for social development" and claimed that Jackson's influence was partially responsible for this improvement. Jackson first visited India in 1996 during his History World Tour where he was greeted by thousands of fans with the media noting that his security force larger than that of the Prime Minister. His show in Mumbai was performed in front of a sold out audience of 35,000, later he returned to India to perform in front of
16465-554: The award, it was reported that the crowd chanted "Nobel for Michael, peace for Children and Michael we Love you". The President of the Bucharest fan club at the time proclaimed that "Jackson deserved the Nobel Peace Prize because he did more to help Children then any politician". Jackson's visit to Bucharest was described as one of the most important moments in the country's history as hundreds of thousands participated in
16650-447: The bands they played for, but were not inducted as members of one (or more) other bands. For example, Neil Young was inducted with Buffalo Springfield and as a solo artist, but was left out when Crosby, Stills & Nash were inducted. In 2019, Stevie Nicks became the first woman to be inducted twice, after having been inducted with Fleetwood Mac in 1998. She was later joined by Carole King and Tina Turner . In 2021, Carole King
16835-607: The bestselling album of all time in the US and the best-selling album of all time worldwide , selling an estimated 70 million copies. It topped the Billboard 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to produce seven Billboard Hot 100 top-10 singles, including " Billie Jean ", " Beat It ", and " Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' ". On March 25, 1983, Jackson reunited with his brothers for Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever , an NBC television special. The show aired on May 16 to an estimated audience of 47 million , and featured
17020-431: The blotches, 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, 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 . Rowe later became Jackson's second wife and the mother of his first two children. In his 1988 autobiography and
17205-596: The bones of the Elephant Man, slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, or bleached his skin, and stated for the first time that he had vitiligo. After the interview, Dangerous re-entered the US albums chart in the top 10, more than a year after its release. The interview itself became the most-watched television interview in United States history to date, with more than 90 million viewers. In January 1993, Jackson won three American Music Awards : Favorite Pop/Rock Album ( Dangerous ), Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("Remember
17390-476: The books' content and claimed if they were there, someone had to have sent them to him and he did not open them. Jordan Chandler gave police a description of Jackson's genitals. A strip search was made, and the jurors felt the description was not a match. In January 1994, Jackson settled with the Chandlers out of court for a reported total sum of $ 23 million. The police never pressed criminal charges. Citing
17575-449: The brothers' contribution to American youth culture. Amid this recognition, according to the editors of Rolling Stone ' s Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll , Jackson captivated the nation on a level not seen in a child star since Shirley Temple in the 1930s. Author Peter Doggett describes the pre-teen Jackson as "America's most instinctive soul singer" and the reason that, aided by Motown founder Berry Gordy 's presentation of
17760-474: The building's Royal Entrance. In October, Jackson released a film, Moonwalker , which featured live footage and short films starring Jackson and Joe Pesci . In the US it was released direct-to-video and became the bestselling video cassette in the country. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it as eight times Platinum in the US. In March 1988, Jackson purchased 2,700 acres (11 km) of land near Santa Ynez, California , to build
17945-527: The candidates and vote on who should be inducted. The performers that receive the highest number of votes are inducted. This number varies; for example, seven were inducted in 2019. Starting in 2012, fans could vote on a fan ballot with an equal weight to the other ballots. As of 2017 , new inductees are honored at an annual ceremony held alternately in New York and at the Hall of Fame in Cleveland; prior to that,
18130-480: The capital city also visiting children's hospitals along the way. The Visit was capped off by a large statue of the singer being erected in the place once occupied by Joseph Stalin . Michael Jackson arrived in Poland on September 18, 1996 for a three day visit which would be concluded with a concert where he would perform songs from the HIStory album as well as his older greatest hits from previous albums in front of
18315-588: The category is "a recognition of the excellence of the singles that shaped rock 'n' roll, kind of a rock 'n' roll jukebox, records by artists not in the Rock Hall – which is not to say these artists will never be in the Rock Hall. They just are not in the Rock Hall at the moment." However, The Isley Brothers, whose song "Twist and Shout" was inducted in 2019, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as performers in 1992. In 2023, Link Wray , whose song " Rumble "
18500-409: The ceremonies rotated between Cleveland, New York, and Los Angeles. The performers category is meant for recording artists and bands that have "influence and significance to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll". ^ Note 1. These backing bands were inducted by a separate committee, and not by the ballot voting used for all other performer inductees. ^ Note 2. This artist
18685-440: The charity single " We Are the World " (1985), which raised money for the poor in the US and Africa. It earned $ 63 million (equivalent to $ 178 million in 2023), and became one of the best-selling singles of all time , with 20 million copies sold. It won four Grammy Awards in 1985, including Song of the Year for Jackson and Richie. Jackson, Jones, and the promoter Ken Kragen received special awards for their roles in
18870-516: The concert, Jackson was welcomed to the Presidential Palace where he had a scheduled meeting with then President Aleksander Kwasniewski who welcomed the king of pop with his wife Jolanta Kwaśniewska , afterwards Jackson had a meeting with the mayor of Warsaw along visits to local orphanages who were later invited on stage during the concert to sing Heal the World. On the final day of Jackson's three day visit, he performed his concert at
19055-550: The controversy surrounding Jackson's image and made him the subject of sensationalist biographies. Writing in British Vogue in 1987, Barney Hoskyns said that Jackson occupied a "superstar stratosphere of his own" and part of the public's misunderstanding of the star was "because we so want to know him – as we want to know anyone that famous". Hoskyns described the tabloid image of Jackson as "despicable ... distortions", but nevertheless opined: "Michael Jackson represents
19240-590: The country with the largest number of statues dedicated to Jackson is China. There are also some statues dating from before Jackson's death, such as the 10-foot sculpture of Jackson by Diana Walczak depicted on the cover of Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album, currently located in the lobby of the Mandalay Bay in Paradise , Nevada . On the other hand, there are other sculptural artworks depicting Jackson that are not monuments, such as
19425-582: The cover of Time in 1984 was created by Andy Warhol . The final portrait Jackson commissioned before his death, by Kehinde Wiley , portrayed him as Philip II of Spain in the manner of a painting by Pieter Paul Rubens . In June 2018 the National Portrait Gallery in London opened an exhibition titled Michael Jackson: On the Wall , featuring art inspired by Jackson and created by many leading artists. The curators stated that Jackson
19610-488: The dance. Gordy described being "mesmerized" by the performance. At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards , Thriller won eight awards, and Jackson won an award for the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial storybook. Winning eight Grammys in one ceremony is a record he holds with the band Santana . Jackson and Quincy Jones won the award for Producer of the Year (Non-Classical). Thriller won Album of the Year (with Jackson as
19795-452: The direction of popular music. Jay Cocks , writing for Time magazine in 1984, said the album was "a thorough restoration of confidence, a rejuvenation [and] its effect on listeners, especially younger ones, was nearer to a revelation". It reintroduced black music to mainstream American radio; until then the so-called "restrictive special-format programming", a genre-driven radio content philosophy which segregated music by race introduced in
19980-595: The end of 1992, Dangerous was the bestselling album of the year worldwide and "Black or White" the bestselling single of the year worldwide at the Billboard Music Awards . In 1993, he performed "Remember the Time" at the Soul Train Music Awards in a chair, saying he twisted his ankle during dance rehearsals. In the UK, " Heal the World " made No. 2 on the charts in 1992. Jackson founded
20165-437: The end of its rock-only policy and, due to the popularity the film gained for the network, of concerns for its commercial survival. Bob Pittman , MTV's co-founder and CEO, said that "'Thriller' brought people to MTV for the first time, and it made them stay and watch it again and again. Now everybody was into MTV." This development ensured an upswing in the economics of the music industry after its sharp decrease in revenue since
20350-574: The fact that he created highly heterosexual art like "Black or White" and " In the Closet "; and that this idea extended to the public perception of Jackson's alleged child molestation . Ben Beaumont-Thomas, music editor for The Guardian , said Jackson "ushered in a global culture" and that his impact extended into "areas previously untouched by Western pop culture". At the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards , actress Elizabeth Taylor dubbed Jackson
20535-518: The family. To many African-Americans, his youth and energy were a source of inspiration in the aftermath to Martin Luther King 's 1968 assassination, at a time when the country's black-power and civil rights movements were in disarray. Jackson became a notable figure in the desegregation of US popular culture and music. Off the Wall succeeded at a time when disco was perceived as inferior to rock by critics. According to Vogel, one of
20720-792: The group's name was changed to the Jackson 5 . In 1965, the group won a talent show; 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 ; 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
20905-477: The group, the Jackson 5 surpassed contemporaries such as the Osmonds to become the foremost sibling act. Gordy instilled in Jackson an ambition to make crossover, chart-topping, universal music during Jackson's time at the label. His musical influences varied widely, from the R&B of his father's band to Western classical . With the combination of artistic diversity and mass appeal, Jackson's achievements as
21090-511: The height of his fame, during the 1980s, Jackson began to embrace and perpetuate the public perception of his strangeness. Jackson (and his publicity team) and the media worked in tandem to cultivate this image. Early tabloid stories of his being obsessed with the Elephant Man 's bones and sleeping in an "oxygen chamber" were possibly publicity stunts . Around this time, the tabloid newspaper The Sun began nicknaming Jackson "Wacko Jacko",
21275-662: The hysteria produced by Jackson on the Streets. Jackson's arrival was likened to that of a head of state on a official visit, Ion Iliescu whose public image and popularity were declining in the impoverish country began to improve thanks to the Singer. After his death, Romanian fans erected a statue for him in Bucharest. Jackson first arrived in Czech Republic during the beginning of the History World Tour with
21460-407: The largest audience to view a music video. The Rolling Stone editors describe Jackson as "one of the most intriguing personas (sic) in popular music, at once childlike and obsessed with control" and comment on his ubiquitous presence, "spotlit in his trademark red zippered jacket and white sequined glove". Jackson often asked tailors to make him clothes that defied convention. His defiance led to
21645-409: The late 1970s and, with the expansion of MTV's reach in 1984, new music stars being created through the video medium as well as established acts such as Bruce Springsteen embracing high-production music videos. The Rolling Stone editors state that Jackson's breakthrough was the "turning point" for MTV, initiating a transformation in which the network "not only revolutionized virtually every aspect of
21830-528: The late 1990s, it returned to the theme park for several years after Jackson's death. In 1987, Ebony reported that Jackson had disassociated himself from the Jehovah's Witnesses. Katherine Jackson said this might have been because some Witnesses strongly opposed the Thriller video, which Michael denounced in a Witness publication in 1984. In 2001, Jackson told an interviewer he was still a Jehovah's Witness. Jackson's first album in five years, Bad (1987),
22015-559: The lines " Jew me, sue me / Everybody do me / Kick me, kike me / Don’t you black or white me " as "pointedly critical of Jews". Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center described the lyrics as "deeply disturbing" and potentially harmful to young people. Jackson issued statements saying that his lyrics were about "the pain of prejudice and hate" and that the song was "a way to draw attention to social and political problems". He described himself as "the voice of
22200-476: The man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo has nothing on Michael. All that noise is about America, as the dishonest custodian of black life and wealth; the blacks, especially males, in America; and the burning, buried American guilt; and sex and sexual roles and sexual panic; money, success, and despair—to all of which may now be added the bitter need to find a head on which to place the crown of Miss America. At
22385-424: The media speculation partly to the singer's elusiveness and obsession with privacy, and add: "the massive public soul-searching the [1993] allegations against Jackson inspired were but one indication of the almost inestimable role he has played in shaping not only pop music but pop culture." Scholars have described the widely acknowledged and often polarizing perception of Jackson as a postmodern spectacle, causing
22570-455: The medium into an art form and promotional tool. The popularity of these videos helped bring the television channel MTV to fame. Jackson's success at this time was credited with rescuing the music industry from its late-1970s recession, and revolutionizing it by initiating a marketing focus on blockbuster albums and video presentation. Through his videos and live performances, Jackson popularized street dances , particularly his signature move
22755-465: The mid-1970s, limited airplay of black music. Jackson, whose success was compared to that of Elvis Presley and the Beatles , appeared on the cover of Time . The album established Jackson as the world's top entertainment star and, in Stanley's recollection, "you'd expect to see a copy in the corner of any room, in any town, in any country in the world." Its unprecedented commercial success also provided
22940-836: The mid-2010s, the track was used as an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. The song, originally recorded as part of the Dangerous sessions, was inspired by the Rodney King beating , which had led to the 1992 LA riots. The lyrics became more personal after Jackson felt dehumanized by the Santa Barbara County police's behavior during the investigation into the child sexual abuse accusations brought against him in 1993 . "They Don't Care About Us" attracted controversy over its supposedly antisemitic lyrics. Bernard Weinraub of The New York Times cited
23125-432: The model for record companies recovering from the economic downturn of the late 1970s, whereby they focused on promoting a blockbuster album at the expense of releases by their lesser-known acts. Amid his description of the cultural phenomenon that Jackson represented in 1984, Cocks deemed him "A one-man rescue team for the music business ... A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style, and color too." In 2008,
23310-477: The moonwalk and the zombie, Jackson became "the most significant mainstream dance icon since the mid-century heyday of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Sammy Davis Jr." Jackson was posthumously inducted into the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame in 2010. Jackson had a lasting influence on the music video medium, starting with the clips for his Thriller singles "Billie Jean" and "Beat It". At
23495-406: The most popular family acts in pop music, with many hit records, a self-titled cartoon series and, from 1976, a self-titled variety show . He and his brothers were widely viewed as role models for contemporary society; the press celebrated them as a family founded on core religious beliefs and a strong work ethic, and in 1972 the Jackson 5 received a commendation from US Congress in recognition of
23680-438: The music business, from promotion to concert tours, but changed the way listeners/viewers related to music and to artists". According to Landis, the "Thriller" video project was the subject of a course at Harvard Business School , although he said this study incorrectly highlighted the role of business and legal professionals rather than Jackson's creative vision. According to The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll ,
23865-427: The music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit. Jackson recorded with Queen 's lead singer Freddie Mercury from 1981 to 1983, recording demos of " State of Shock ", "Victory" and " There Must Be More to Life Than This ". 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, and Jackson
24050-416: The music scene once again and set in motion all the forces that would go on to shape the popular culture of the 1980s". Media studies academic Jaap Kooijman writes that, although the moonwalk was an additional element in his routine at Motown 25 , Jackson's replication of his dancing from the already popular "Billie Jean" music video presented a new phenomenon whereby a concert performance involved re-creating
24235-412: The music video "Thriller" as "the best video, [my cousins and I] copied the dance", also adding "Thriller is the best album as well". Amy Winehouse , who died in 2011, is quoted in a 2004 interview talking about the type of house she grew up in, "For me it was Michael Jackson. I could never decide whether I wanted to be Michael Jackson or marry him. I don't care what people say about him now because he's
24420-627: The music video as an art form and popularized street dance moves including the moonwalk , which he named, the robot , and the anti-gravity lean . As part of the Jackson family , Michael at age six made his public debut in 1964 with his older brothers Jackie , Tito , Jermaine , and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons). The Jackson 5 signed with Motown in 1968 and achieved worldwide success with Michael as lead singer. Jackson began his solo career in 1971 while at Motown and recorded multiple successful singles. He became
24605-664: The name "Jacko" has racist connotations, as it originates from Jacko Macacco , a monkey used in monkey-baiting matches at the Westminster Pit in the early 1820s, and "Jacko" was used in Cockney slang to refer to monkeys in general. 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 . After having been removed in
24790-596: The negotiations. 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; in early August, Holmes à Court contacted Jackson and talks resumed. Jackson's increased bid of $ 47.5 million (equivalent to $ 135 million in 2023) was accepted because he could close the deal more quickly, having already completed due diligence. Jackson agreed to visit Holmes à Court in Australia, where he would appear on
24975-603: The other two are in the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art , respectively. Early in his career, Jackson and his family were often portrayed in the press as having risen out of black ghetto culture . This stereotype reinforced their standing as role models for American youth but, as a fabrication by Motown's publicity department, it displeased
25160-414: The performers category: King Curtis in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1996; LL Cool J in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021; Judas Priest in 2018, 2020, and 2022; Chaka Khan in 2016, 2017, and 2021; MC5 in 2003, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022; and Dionne Warwick in 2021 and 2022. At the 2018 ceremony, a new induction category for singles was announced by Steven Van Zandt. According to Van Zandt,
25345-528: The porcelain sculpture Michael Jackson and Bubbles by the American artist Jeff Koons . It was created in 1988 within the framework of Koons's Banality series . Apart from the artist's proof, which is currently on display at The Broad in Los Angeles , three copies were made; one of them was sold at Sotheby's on 15 May 2001, when it was auctioned off to the record price of 5.6 million dollars, and
25530-473: 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 . In 1988, Jackson released his autobiography, Moonwalk , with input from Stephen Davis and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis . It sold 200,000 copies, and reached the top of the New York Times bestsellers list. Jackson discussed his childhood, the Jackson 5, and
25715-459: The release of an extended music video, Michael Jackson's Thriller , which sees Jackson dancing with a horde of zombies. The success transformed Jackson into a dominant force in global pop culture. Jackson had the highest royalty rate in the music industry at that point, with about $ 2 for every album sold (equivalent to $ 6 in 2023), and was making record-breaking profits. Dolls modeled after Jackson appeared in stores in May 1984 for $ 12 each. In
25900-408: 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". Jackson's performance drew comparisons to Elvis Presley 's and the Beatles ' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show . Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times praised the perfect timing and technique involved in
26085-616: The rock 'n' roll era." The success of Thriller not only broke down racial barriers in music but also in other areas of contemporary society. Critic Greg Tate said, "Black people cherished Thriller ' s breakthrough as if it were their own battering ram [against] apartheid ." Civil rights activist Al Sharpton commented, "Way before Tiger Woods or Barack Obama , Michael made black people go pop-culture global." He also attributed Obama's presidential win to "a process that Michael helped America graduate to" as crossover fans and imitators grew up to become voters. To some commentators in
26270-413: The same publication, gives a more sympathetic view of Jackson: "While some of [his] difference was demonstrated through what was viewed in the mass media as 'eccentric' behavior […] it was really his more substantive(sic), underlying differences that were most troubling—racial, gendered, able-bodied/disabled, child/teenager/adult, adult man who loved children, father/mother." She writes that Jackson's persona
26455-476: The same year, The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller , a documentary about the music video, 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
26640-903: The scars and had his third rhinoplasty shortly thereafter. Pepsi settled out of court, and Jackson donated the $ 1.5 million (equivalent to $ 4.4 million in 2023) settlement to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California ; its now-closed Michael Jackson Burn Center was named in his honor. Jackson signed a second agreement with Pepsi in the late 1980s for $ 10 million (equivalent to $ 26.8 million in 2023). The second campaign covered 20 countries and provided financial support for Jackson's Bad album and 1987–88 world tour. 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. The Victory Tour of 1984 headlined
26825-530: The singer was a wonderful creation of God. Khan later brought Bollywood together in order to pay tribute to Michael Jackson on his birthday following his death. Michael Jackson touched down on Romania in 1992 during the Dangerous World Tour . Upon his arrival in the country, Jackson was greeted by thousands of fans in what was described at the time as the biggest musical event ever in Romania. He
27010-458: The singer's death in 2009, Andy Gill of The Independent said that through Jackson's example, "the Eighties became the decade of dance stars like Prince and Madonna , neither of whom would have been able to establish themselves as quickly as they did had Jackson not moonwalked across the room and kicked down the door for them." Gill added that with thousands of dancers imitating his moves in
27195-408: The skin losing their pigment. He also identified discoid lupus erythematosus in Jackson. He diagnosed Jackson with lupus that year, and with vitiligo in 1986. Vitiligo's drastic effects on the body can cause psychological distress. Jackson used fair-colored makeup, and possibly skin-bleaching prescription creams, to cover up the uneven blotches of color caused by the illness. The creams would depigment
27380-448: The song's creation. Jackson collaborated with Paul McCartney in the early 1980s, and learned that McCartney was making $ 40 million a year from owning the rights to other artists' songs. By 1983, Jackson had begun buying publishing rights to others' songs, but he was careful with his acquisitions, 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
27565-498: The spotlight working with major artists on various parts of their recording and live careers". A separate committee, composed mainly of producers, chooses the inductees. In 2010, the category was renamed to the "Award for Musical Excellence". According to Joel Peresman, the president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, "This award gives us flexibility to dive into some things and recognize some people who might not ordinarily get recognized." ^ A. Previously nominated in
27750-403: The term pop star" and his cultural legacy is reflected "in the very landscape of the modern, genre-crossing, multimedia pop music scene". From the start of his performing career, Jackson incorporated dance moves into a stage presence that invited comparison with James Brown , Sammy Davis Jr. , Mick Jagger and Tina Turner . He went on to popularize street dances such as popping , locking ,
27935-640: The time most music videos had small budgets, low production values and little narrative. Jackson's videos began a transformation, replacing low-budget montage promos with elaborate short films consisting of in-depth narratives and sophisticated visuals, and taking the form of a mini musical . Jackson collaborated with several Hollywood directors on these works, including John Landis , Martin Scorsese , Spike Lee and John Singleton . "Beat It" featured unusually sophisticated choreography and, according to The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll , created
28120-426: The title tracks from his first two solo albums, sold well as singles, as did a cover of Bobby Day 's " Rockin' Robin ". Michael maintained ties to the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 were later described as "a cutting-edge example of black crossover artists ". They were frustrated by Motown's refusal to allow them creative input. Jackson's performance of their top five single " Dancing Machine " on Soul Train popularized
28305-469: The turning point when music videos became a "proper industry". Gill recognized the Landis-directed film as a work that "altered forever the balance of sound and vision in the entertainment industry", adding: "Prior to Jackson, music alone had been the premier conduit of cultural dissemination among young people; after Jackson, it was merely the accompaniment to a dance routine, one small element in
28490-519: The wedding was a publicity stunt to deflect away from 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
28675-484: The world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else". 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 $ 15.3 million in 2023). The first Pepsi campaign, which ran in the US from 1983 to 1984 and launched its "New Generation" theme, included tour sponsorship, public relations events, and in-store displays. Jackson helped to create
28860-489: The world. British Vogue called him "a fashion pioneer [...] who gave new meaning to moonwalking, immortalised solitary, sparkly gloves, initiated the trophy jacket trend in the Eighties and was brave enough to couple dress with Madonna on the red carpet". Others have been influenced by Jackson's fashion sense. In 2012, Lady Gaga named Jackson as an inspiration. She owns around 400 pieces from his personal collection. In 2016, she wore Jackson's jacket from his 1990 visit to
29045-409: The world. Up until his passing, Jackson was received by over 30 different world leaders. Becoming a child star in the 1960s, Michael Jackson's influence began as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 , a band formed with his older brothers. The group was recognized by U.S. Congress for their contribution to American youth culture, and Jackson was embraced by the American public to a degree not afforded
29230-466: Was convicted in 2011 of involuntary manslaughter for his involvement in Jackson's death. His death triggered reactions around the world, creating unprecedented surges of internet traffic and a spike in sales of his music. Jackson's televised memorial service , held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was estimated to have been viewed by more than 2.5 billion people. Jackson is one of
29415-456: Was "a trailblazer for his generation", setting the expectation that future pop stars, such as Britney Spears and Beyoncé , integrate dance in their performances. In Japan, as a result of him opening his 1987–89 Bad World Tour there, Jackson is credited with reshaping J-pop 's choreography. He also influenced India's Bollywood film scene, where dance sequences, films and soundtrack music all borrowed heavily from Jackson's work. Following
29600-529: Was "so unsettling to the hegemonic order that it had to be contained through ridicule, misinterpretation, sensationalism , and finally criminal indictment ". It is generally regarded as unusual for a man to want to be a single parent, Fast continues, to adore children like a mother; the thought of a man obsessed with cosmetics and appearance agitated the public to disbelieve the idea of him being an object of heterosexual desire. Fast argues that such perceptions, which stemmed from anxieties of masculinity , despite
29785-494: Was "the most depicted cultural figure in visual art". The exhibition included the Warhol and Wiley pieces, and culminated in a 2005 film by Candice Breitz in which 16 young people are shown dancing to "Thriller". Guardian art critic Adrian Searle wrote that the singer's eccentricities and the common characterizations of him as "Ariel of the ghetto", a modern-day Baudelaire and Frankenstein's monster had provided artists with
29970-404: 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 had a deeper impact on Michael because he was younger, kept them disciplined and out of trouble. Michael said that during his youth he was lonely and isolated. Later in 1965, Michael began sharing lead vocals with Jermaine, and
30155-507: Was also included as part of her induction. ^ Note 8. There was no induction speaker for the Spinners. Instead, New Edition performed a medley of three of their songs. Artists inducted into the early influences category were originally for those "whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock's leading artists". Unlike the performers category, these inductees are selected by
30340-428: Was also reported that Jackson took female hormone shots to keep his voice high and facial hair wispy, proposed to Elizabeth Taylor and possibly had a shrine of her, and had cosmetic surgery on his eyes. Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo denied all of them, except for Jackson having a chamber. DiLeo added "I don't know if he sleeps in it. I'm not for it. But Michael thinks it's something that's probably healthy for him. He's
30525-783: Was announced the day after Jackson's death by the mayor of the city, with the intention of dedicating a memorial to the artist. Another significant example is the plaster and resin sculpture of Jackson that stood outside Craven Cottage in Fulham , London , the ground of Fulham Football Club , from 2011 until 2013, which was later moved to the National Football Museum in Manchester . Other countries and territories where statues dedicated to Jackson have been unveiled since his death include Hong Kong , Russia , Italy , Malaysia , India , China and Georgia . Currently,
30710-411: Was certified eight times platinum in the US, and by 2018 had sold 32 million copies worldwide. In the US, the first single, " Black or White ", was the album's highest-charting song; it was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and achieved similar chart performances worldwide. The second single, " Remember the Time " peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. At
30895-591: Was concerned that Jackson would show the world an unflattering picture of poverty, which might affect tourism, and accused Jackson of exploiting the poor. Others supported Jackson's wish to highlight the problems of the region, arguing that the government was embarrassed by its own failings. A judge banned all filming but this ruling was overturned by an injunction. Speaking of the music video in The New Brazilian Cinema , Lúcia Nagib commented: "When Michael Jackson decided to shoot his new music video in
31080-627: Was consumed and how artistic quality standards would be presented through dance , fashion and music videos . It was this integration that future generations of performers followed. He is credited for influencing various artists , while his songs are among the most covered and sampled in music history . Jackson's global brand resulted in the rise of celebrity products and commemorations such as dolls , video games , merchandise , museum exhibitions , television documentaries and erected monuments of Jackson . His influence extended to inspiring fashion trends and raising awareness for social causes around
31265-719: Was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief in the Ivorian village of Krindjabo , where he thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed documents formalizing his kingship, and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances. In January 1993, Jackson performed at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in Pasadena, California. The NFL sought a big-name artist to keep ratings high during halftime following dwindling audience figures. With 133.4 million viewers, it
31450-511: 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
31635-427: Was inducted in 2018, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Musical Influence inductee. As of 2024, twenty-seven performers have been inducted twice or more; fifteen have been recognized as a solo artist and with a band, and eight have been inducted with two separate bands. Eric Clapton is the only one to be inducted three times: as a solo artist, with Cream , and with The Yardbirds . Clyde McPhatter
31820-466: Was inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence category for her solo career in 2023. ^ H. In addition to this nomination for his solo career, Sting was inducted as a member of The Police in 2003. ^ I. Band member Eric Burdon was inducted as a member of The Animals in 1994. ^ J. In addition to this nomination for his solo career, Steve Winwood was inducted as a member of Traffic in 2004. As of 2024, there are 15 members of
32005-477: Was inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence category in 2017. ^ E. Band members Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson were both inducted as solo artists in 1987, and McPhatter was inducted a second time as a member of the Drifters in 1988. ^ F. In addition to this nomination for his solo career, Ben E. King was inducted as a member of The Drifters in 1988. ^ G. Band member Chaka Khan
32190-418: Was inducted with The Byrds in 1991, Stephen Stills with Buffalo Springfield in 1997, and Graham Nash with The Hollies in 2010. Beatles members John Lennon , Paul McCartney , and George Harrison were inducted as solo artists in the main performer category, while Ringo Starr was inducted in the Award for Musical Excellence category. There are several performers who were inducted with one (or more) of
32375-446: Was introduced as a category. The only category that has seen new inductees every single year is the performers category. Artists become eligible for induction in that category 25 years after the release of their first record. In order to be inducted, an artist must be nominated by a committee that selects a number of candidates, the highest being 16 for the 2020 class. Ballots are then sent to more than 1,000 "rock experts" who evaluate
32560-420: Was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after inducting someone else. ^ Note 3. This artist was already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when they inducted someone else. ^ Note 4. Dire Straits were the first artist in the hall's history to not have an official induction speaker. Band member John Illsley did the induction speech himself. ^ Note 5. John Gustafson
32745-491: Was later invited to meet with then President Ion Iliescu at the royal palace and Orphanages prior to his concert in front of 70,000 people at Bucharest. Over 22,000 security officers were assigned to protect Jackson during the proceedings. Shortly after his concert Hysteria exploded in the country as nearly 1000 young fans of Jackson stormed the city in protest over the Nobel Peace Prize as they believed he deserved
32930-426: Was not indicted due to lack of evidence. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. The Federal Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct by Jackson. In 2009, while he was preparing for a series of comeback concerts, This Is It , Jackson died from an overdose of propofol administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray , who
33115-432: Was only as a teenager, and watching ‘ Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller ,’ that I realized that the people actually making these monsters were not the men I saw in the old books in lab coats. It’s young guys with long hair and rock ’n’ roll shirts, who I could relate to.” With MTV's initial broadcast of the film, in December 1983, the debut of a new Jackson video became a major media event. MTV's belated support signaled
33300-399: Was originally included among the list of inducted members for Roxy Music; however, his name was dropped in the final list. ^ Note 6. In 2012, six additional bands and groups were inducted as performers by a special committee, due to the controversial nature of their band being excluded when their lead singer was inducted. "There was a lot of discussion about this," said Terry Stewart,
33485-545: Was recorded discussing his intention to pursue charges, which Jackson used to argue that he was the victim of a jealous father trying to extort money. Jackson's older sister La Toya accused him of being a pedophile; she later retracted this, saying she had been forced into it by her abusive husband. Police raided Jackson's home in August and found two legal large-format art books featuring young boys playing, running and swimming in various states of undress. Jackson denied knowing of
33670-529: Was the first Super Bowl whose halftime show drew greater audience figures than the game. Jackson played " Jam ", "Billie Jean", "Black or White", and "Heal the World". Dangerous rose 90 places in the US albums chart after the performance. Jackson gave a 90-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey on February 10, 1993. He spoke of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood, and said that he often cried from loneliness. He denied tabloid rumors that he had bought
33855-425: Was the first person to be inducted as both a performer and a non-performer. John Lennon and Dave Grohl are the only two multiple inductees who were inducted in their first year of eligibility on both inductions. The following is a complete list of artists that have been nominated at least once for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but have yet to be selected as an inductee. ^ D. Band member Nile Rodgers
34040-485: Was the first to ever be inducted twice and is one of three artists to be inducted first as a solo artist and then as a member of a band, the other artists being Neil Young and Rod Stewart . Stephen Stills is the only artist to be inducted twice in the same year. Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Beatles are the only two bands whose members were also each inducted separately, with other acts or as solo artists. In addition to their 1997 induction with CSN, David Crosby
34225-488: Was upset by Mercury's drug use. "There Must Be More to Life Than This" was released in 2014. Jackson went on to record "State of Shock" with Mick Jagger for the Jacksons' album Victory (1984). In 1982, Jackson contributed "Someone in the Dark" to the audiobook for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . Jackson's sixth album, Thriller , was released in late 1982. It was the bestselling album worldwide in 1983, and became
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