Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was one of the most beloved, influential and intriguing stars to have ever been involved in music. As is well-documented Michael Jackson’s career in music began at the age of eight as a member of the Jackson Five alongside his brothers Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon.

It was not long before he became the groups lead vocalist, they were signed to Steeltown in 1967 a released their debut single Big Boy. Regional success with their early singles saw them picked up by Berry Gordy’s Motown in 1968 having been recommended by Gladys Knight.

At the label hits such as ABC, I’ll Be There and Blame it on the Boogie saw them appeal to black and white audiences alike. Michael Jackson kicked off his legendary solo career in 1971, reaching the Top 5 with his debut single Got to be there before bettering it with the song, Ben becoming America’s number one the following year. His involvement in the Jackson Five (subsequently renamed The Jacksons) continued as he became the group’s main songwriter penning classics such as Can You Feel It.

Jackson released arguably his first classic solo album in 1979 with Off the Wall. The collection (his fifth) featured tracks such as Rock with You and Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough selling fifteen million copies. This was only to be a preview to his greatest work however as in 1982 Jackson unleashed Thriller. The album is believed to have sold more than a hundred million copies worldwide and another 100,000 copies in the week that followed his death. Among the seven singles released from the album were the mega-hits, Billie Jean, Beat It and of course Thriller.

Although he did not achieve the near impossible task of bettering Thriller’s achievement subsequent albums Bad, Dangerous and HIStory were critical and commercial hits featuring number ones such as Black and White and Earth Song.

His final album in 2001, Invincible received only a mixed response despite having a top ten hit in You Rock My World.

Having got through the much-documented courtroom dramas of his personal life Jackson announced that he was to play a mammoth fifty date residency at London’s O2 Arena, he never made the shows. He died of heart failure on the 25th June 2009; the outpouring of grief following his death has arguably not been seen since the death of Elvis Presley.