Michael Jackson Facts: Michael Jackson, born on August 29, 1958, and often referred to as the “King of Pop,” was an iconic American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He was one of the most influential and successful entertainers in the history of popular music. Jackson’s contributions to the music industry, along with his unique style and groundbreaking music videos, have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.
His Early Life and Career: Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, into a large family of musicians. He showed early talent and passion for music, and at a young age, he became the lead singer of the Jackson 5, a Motown group comprised of him and his siblings. The Jackson 5 achieved significant success during the late 1960s and early 1970s with hits like “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “I’ll Be There.”
Solo Career and Thriller: In 1971, Michael Jackson began his solo career while still a member of the Jackson 5. In 1979, he released his fifth studio album, “Off the Wall,” which marked a turning point in his career, gaining critical acclaim and commercial success. However, it was his sixth studio album, “Thriller,” released in 1982, that propelled him to unparalleled fame. “Thriller” became the best-selling album of all time, and its music videos, notably the title track’s video, revolutionized the music video industry.
Innovative Music Videos and Dance: Michael Jackson’s music videos were groundbreaking and redefined the art form. His videos often featured intricate dance routines, impressive special effects, and storytelling elements. Some of his most famous videos include “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Smooth Criminal,” and “Black or White.”
Michael Jackson Facts
1- “Certain radio stations refused to play songs from a black artist and it was reported that Beat It was only played due to Van Halen’s guitar solo on the track.”
2- “Janet Jackson was on an early version of ‘Billie Jean.'”
3- “Thriller spent 37 weeks at number one in the US Billboard chart.”
4- “Michael Jackson was a big animal lover and his most famous pet was Bubbles the chimpanzee”
5- “On the day he passed away (June 25th, 2009) Wikipedia, Twitter and AOL all simultaneously crashed at 3:15PM.”
6- “Before live performances he would drink Ricola throat lozenges that were dissolved in hot water. “
7- ” His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah’s Witness, but also worked part-time at a departmental store”
8- “Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana”
9- “His marriage to Lisa-Marie Presley lasted only 19 months”
10- “Thriller is the world’s best-selling record of all time with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide”
11- “Michael Jackson is The Most-Awarded Artist Of All Time”
12- “The costumes for the “”Thriller”” video came from the Salvation Army.”
13- “‘Blood on the Dance Floor’ was dedicated to Sir Elton John”
14- “He slept in an oxygen tent to live longer and for cosmetic purposes”
15- “He popularised dance moves including the robot and the moonwalk”
16- “His song “Billie Jean” has earned the tag of being the first song by a black artist to be aired on MTV”
17- “The Thriller video was narrated by Vincent Price.”
18- “His father, Joseph Jackson, was a boxer, steelworker, and a guitarist but to provide for his family, he worked as a crane operator”
19- “The original title for the ‘Thriller’ song was ‘Starlight.'”
20- “Michael Jackson purchased the Beatles catalog of songs creating a rift between himself and his friend Paul McCartney”
21- “In 1965, Michael’s father made a band called “Jackson Brothers” with him and Marlon and included his brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine as backup musicians.”
22- “The Glove was to Hide a Skin Condition”
23- “Over One Billion People Watched Michael’s Memorial”
24- “He Promised to Write a No. 1 Single… for Bart Simpson”
25- “He Was Secretly Bald”
26- “Michael Jackson showcased his acting chops with a role in ‘Men in Black II.'”
27- “Britney Spears was a big fan of Michael Jackson and took inspiration from the Thriller music video for her “”It’s Britney, Witch”” comedy skit with Radio 1.”
28- “Michael Jackson had a Patent for Special Shoes”
29- “Jackson described his own voice on early Jackson 5 records as “like Minnie Mouse””
30- “MC Hammer once challenged him to a dance off.”
31- “Eddie Van Halen, a famed and extremely skilled guitarist, recorded his guitar solo on ‘Beat It’ for free”
32- “He gave his first public performance at the age of 5 singing Climb Every Mountain”
33- “He has 23 Guinness World Records, 40 Billboard Awards, 13 Grammys, and 26 American Music Awards.”
34- “He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (one for himself and one as part of the Jackson Five)”
35- “Michael was a huge philanthropist. He was a supporter of 39 listed charities with over $300 million in donations, some will remember Jackson purely for his generosity. With his Heal the World Foundation, MJ was dedicated to helping a range of causes from domestic drug and alcohol addiction to starvation and famine abroad.”
36- “Michael Jackson fancied himself as Spiderman! When Marvel Comics filed for bankruptcy in the 90s, Michael tried to buy the company so he could fulfil his dream to play the leading role. However, it didn’t go to plan and Tobey Maguire stepped up to play Peter Parker instead. “
37- “In 1983, his album- Thriller proved to be a worldwide hit by selling around 65 million copies.”
38- ““Pretty Young Thing (P.Y.T.)”The song has a tempo of 126 beats per minute, making it one of Jackson’s fastest songs”
39- ” Michael Jackson’s famous dance move, the moonwalk, is said to have been based on the routine of mime artist Marcel Marceau.”
40- ” Billie Jean is based on a true story. Michael claims an obsessive fan tried to say he was the father of her child.”
41- ” Michael Jackson’s favourite animated character was Pinocchio”
42- “He is an Exeter City fan”
43- “The residents of Gabon, Ivory Coast gave Michael Jackson a royal title – which effectively made him a king in the village.”
44- “He is one of the most awarded artists of all time.”
45- “Michael Jackson was the first black artist to air on MTV with his music video for Billie Jean.”
46- “MJ was a big fan of “The Three Stooges” “
47- “Jackson was very fond of Mexican food”
48- “He had some famous godchildren, Lionel Ritchie’s daughter Nicole and Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb’s son Michael”
49- “Jackson was a vegetarian”
50- “Michael Wanted to Advertise with a Giant Robot”
