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    • Jackson where. personal life, religion

    05.03.2019

    Michael Joseph Jackson

    On August 29, 1958, a boy was born into a poor and unremarkable African-American family of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, in the town of Gary, lost in the state of Indiana. He was the seventh child in a family that lived in a small house, so small it looked like a garage. The boy was named Michael. Thus, the greatest and most unsolved artist of the late twentieth century, Michael Jackson, was born.

    Hundreds of biographies, books, studies have been written about the phenomenon of Michael Jackson, and none of them has been able to cover his entire image so far. In this short biography, we will be even less able to do this. But still, let's try, for those who are just entering the magical world of the artist, to write a short biographical article. Based on it, it will be easier to understand Michael Jackson's autobiography "Moonwalk", and other books, interviews, stories of people who were friends and worked with him over the years.

    Childhood in Gary, Indiana

    The town of Gary, in which Michael was born, is a small settlement in Indiana, in the East Chicago area. 80% of the town's inhabitants are African Americans - simple workers living in poor houses and working at a local steel plant. And Michael's father, Joseph Jackson, worked at that time in the foundry at this plant. After Michael, two more children were born in the family, and six boys had to sleep in a tiny bedroom on three-story beds. The family barely made ends meet, but thanks to Michael's mother Catherine, a zealous Jehovah's Witness, the children grew up in an environment of strict rules, and the house was kept as tidy as possible. Children from infancy were taught to clean up on their own and take care of themselves.

    Michael's house in Gary

    In addition, music was constantly played in the house. “We sang a lot at home, mostly popular blues songs like ‘Mustang Sally’. Katherine and I loved to sing with the kids and she also played the piano and sometimes the clarinet. I could play some songs on my guitar too, and every spare minute we had, we played R&B records, singers such as Little Richard, Chi-lites, Chuck Berry, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Fats Domino, Joe Tex, Big Maybell, The Impressions and Major Lance,” the father of the family, Joseph, later wrote in his book. It was he, according to Michael himself, who played a decisive role in his development as an artist - despite the fact that the relationship between father and son could hardly be called harmonious.

    Joseph was not a timid man, with a strong temper and great ambitions. In his youth, he had to change many occupations - he visited, including the boxing ring, worked as a sleeper stacker, and picked cotton on the plantations of the South. "Someday I'll be at the top too, I promised myself," Joe later wrote in his autobiography. But it is unlikely that in his youth he could have imagined who would take him to this peak, although show business clearly occupied his thoughts very much: the Falcons (Falcons) group he created with his friends played all over the city, and also performed in clubs and colleges of northern Indiana and Chicago.

    The first memories of Michael's childhood do not describe his disposition in infancy in too much detail. Everyone agrees only that the baby has always been full of inextinguishable energy. Mother recalls how, at the age of two, he famously danced to the sound of a washing machine; older brother Jermaine - about how agile he was before he even learned to walk - so that it was impossible to change his diapers; father said that it was impossible to take his eyes off him for a second, otherwise he would disappear, and then he would be found under the table or under the bed.

    Katherine Esther Scruse-Jackson

    The film "The Jacksons - American Dream", based on the history of the creation of the Jackson 5, describes the legend of its origin. According to her, it all started with the fact that one of the eldest sons, Tito, quietly took his father's guitar to learn how to play. One day, the father found that his son was taking his instrument without asking. Tito was punished, and severely punished: Joseph did not differ in humanity in raising children. However, at the same time, he was surprised to see that Tito learned to play very well. According to his own version, Tito broke a string on the guitar. “What did you do?” I asked him calmly. Tito looked at me incredulously. He thought I would be angry now. “Well, show me what you can do,” I said. I could hardly hide my joy. And he really knew how to play. He taught himself the blues songs that I always played on the guitar. Like me, he played by ear. I didn’t show Tito right away how proud I was of him, but after a couple of days I came home and brought him a gift: a new red guitar!” Joe recalls.

    From that moment on, the fate of the children was decided. The Falcons group gradually disappeared from the sight of its creator. Joseph created a musical group from older boys, with whom he rehearsed every day - for three hours or more. Michael was one of younger brothers, at the time of the creation of the group he was about 5 years old. This little tomboy was not noticed for some time: at first he just played the bongos, which, according to his father and brothers, he really liked. It is curious that even as an adult, Michael remained an excellent percussionist, and also performed excellent beatboxing. But one day during the rehearsal, according to legend, Catherine's mother heard Michael sing. “Listen to how he sings,” she told her husband. And Joe heard.

    Frontman of The Jackson Five

    Little Michael

    Everyone who remembers little Michael unanimously says that his talent was immediately visible. In his book Moonwalk, he talked about his first performance at a school concert: he sang the song "Climb every mountain" ("I will climb any mountain") from the musical "The Sound of Music". “The reaction of the audience when I finished singing shocked me. The hall burst into applause, people smiled, some stood up. The teachers were crying. I just couldn't believe my eyes. I gave them all happiness. It was such a wonderful feeling. But at the same time, I was a little embarrassed: I didn’t do anything special. I just sang like I used to sing at home every night,” Michael recalled. Life has confirmed: “I will climb any mountain” - this is really his motto.

    Joseph was astute: once convinced of how great the gift of his young son was, he made Michael the frontman of the group. Thus was the beginning of the artistic career of Michael Jackson. At the age of five, he became one of the most gifted child artists of the twentieth century. But the same talent that made Michael the most famous artist on Earth began to limit his freedom from childhood.

    From the age of five, the boy's life was subject to the most severe schedule of rehearsals and concerts. Over time, he, like his brothers, had to leave school: a teacher, Rose Fine, was specially hired to teach the boys, who traveled with the Jackson 5 group around the world. And there was simply no time left for things like socializing and playing with peers. So the theme of "lost childhood" has become one of the main "red lines" in the work, and in the whole life of the artist.

    Motown Artist

    In Moonwalk, he wrote: “I used to come home from school and, as soon as I left my books, I rushed to the studio. There I sang until late at night, in fact, when it was already time for me to sleep. Across the street from the studio<...>there was a park, and, I remember, I looked at the guys playing there. I looked at them and wondered - I just could not imagine such freedom, such a carefree life - and more than anything in the world I wanted to be so free that I could go out into the street and behave like them. So I had sad moments as a child. But this happens with all children who have become "stars". Elizabeth Taylor told me she felt the same way. When you work at a very young age, the world can seem terribly unfair. No one forced me to be little Michael the soloist - I chose it myself, and I loved it - but the work was hard. When we were recording for an album, for example, we would go into the studio right after school, and sometimes I would get a bite to eat and sometimes I wouldn't. There just wasn't time. I returned home exhausted, at eleven, or even at twelve at night, when it was long overdue to sleep.

    All this was complicated by the tough and cruel disposition of the main mentor, and then the producer of the Jackson brothers - Joseph. The rudeness and rigidity of his father, his tendency to solve problems with a belt and shouting, affected the boys in different ways, but for Michael, a gifted child with a fine mental organization, it was especially difficult to endure. The father drilled his children “excellently”, he instilled in Michael for life the concept of the importance of discipline and hard work, without which no talent can be realized; however, a vulnerable child with a wild imagination needed not only a strict coach, but also a loving person. “He trained me as a showman, and under his guidance, I could not take a single wrong step. But what I really wanted was for him to be a dad. I wanted a father who would show me his love, ”Michael later said.

    In adulthood, he managed to overcome childhood and youthful grievances, and Joe himself became softer over time, but nevertheless, the traumas experienced in childhood were never completely forgotten, and relations with his father remained tense until Michael's death. In many ways, this childhood tragedy of the artist-wunderkind repeated the fate of such geniuses as Paganini or Mozart, who were the same "star children" led by strict fathers. As an adult, Michael quickly found a common language with people with a similar fate - this is how his friendship with Elizabeth Taylor and tender attachment to the "girl star" of old Hollywood Shirley Temple began.

    Jackson 5

    In the meantime, the "Jackson Five" gained recognition in their city and surrounding areas in three or four years. Children performed wherever the opportunity presented itself - in schools, at different competitions talents that invariably won, in nightclubs and strip bars, where little Michael, already at the age of seven or eight, got acquainted with the whole “wrong side” of show business. Often, the group performed "as a warm-up act" for strippers, and then remained in the hall or came home late at night- and the next day she rehearsed and performed again.

    The next step was the conquest of Chicago. Success awaited the boys everywhere - primarily thanks to the amazing baby soloist, who masterfully performed covers of songs by Motown artists - the first "black" music label in the United States, which brought out a whole galaxy of brilliant soloists and R&B bands. After some time, the group was invited to the oldest "black" Musical Theatre in the USA - to the famous New York Apollo Theater in the heart of Harlem, the cradle of such world-famous talents as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, Nina Simone, James Brown. The exacting and capricious New York audience was literally subdued: the triumph of the Jackson five was deafening. After that, the brothers were invited to television, to the David Frost show - but suddenly, at the very last moment, Joseph refused the invitation. The boys couldn't believe their ears when they heard about it, but the father explained, "They called from Motown."

    Growing up. Motown and Epic

    Jackson 5 on the cover of Life magazine

    The Jackson Five were invited to audition for a famous label, and for many years this audition determined their fate. They joined the team of studio stars on equal terms at the very zenith of its history, when artists such as bands The The Supremes (with Diana Ross), The Temptations, The Four Tops, singers Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson and young prodigy Stevie Wonder.

    The main idols of young Michael were the famous black stars James Brown and Jackie Wilson. Sitting backstage for hours, Michael looked and looked at them while his brothers rested nonchalantly, and learned from these masters the art of keeping the audience's attention, absorbing their expression, assimilating dance techniques. Michael was a master at imitating his idols, and this touched the audience, but Michael's vocal talent was not just an object of affection. The boy, who had never studied music or vocals, sang his parts in the purest voice, easily memorizing any melody, one had only to sing it to him. Throughout his career, Michael Jackson remained "musically illiterate", that is, self-taught in everything. However, ignorance of the notes did not prevent him from composing music, and ignorance of vocal techniques did not prevent him from recording songs from the first take.

    In the US, there are fans of Michael Jackson who are older than himself. These are the ones who saw the resounding success of the Jackson Five. All of America fell in love with these boys. The Jackson Five broke records in attendance The Beatles. They were the idols of a young audience, and the paparazzi began to hunt for them.

    Michael, age 12 Michael's life has changed dramatically and forever. He became a superstar at the age of 11 and at the same time grew into the only artist in the history of music who, having matured, not only did not lose the love of the audience, but also multiplied the success of his childhood years.

    In the early 1970s, thanks to the talent of the Jackson brothers and the tenacity of Joe, the whole family moved to live in California, where the Motown label also moved. The Jacksons collaborated with Motown for several more years, but then they parted ways, mainly because the brothers wanted to write their own songs, which Motown did not allow them to do. Michael, at the age of 16, discussed the termination of the contract with the management of the label. It should be noted that even at such a young age, when it came to business, Michael behaved decisively and uncompromisingly. As a result, the group moved to another label - Epic - and changed their name to The Jacksons. And little Michael, imperceptibly for everyone, has grown a lot.

    17 years Describing his growing up in his autobiography, Michael recalls that it became a great stress for him. When you grow before your eyes whole country and you don't leave the covers of magazines, people want to see you the way they initially liked you, he said. A cute little boy with an Afro hairstyle, bright perky eyes and dimples on his cheeks was the favorite of millions. And as it turned out, no one recognized the thin teenager with youthful acne on his face. Sometimes in search of "little Michael" people passed him, and when they realized that Michael was standing next to them, they did not hide their annoyance.

    Joseph also added fuel to the fire, pointing out to his son his huge wide nose, insisting that this feature was inherited from his mother. Both brothers and cousins ​​teased Michael - no one missed the opportunity to humiliate the favorite of the public. Perhaps the stress experienced in adolescence and youth was not the last factor that influenced the subsequent artificial changes in Michael's appearance. However, these changes are explained by many other things - both the state of his health, and his understanding of art as, among other things, the art of sculpting oneself and one's life to one's own taste.

    Off The Wall. Thriller. Conquest of the summit

    Michael, 21 Michael started his official solo career when he was 21 years old. He refused his father's services as a manager, terminated the contract with him and took control of his creative destiny V own hands. His first solo album off the wall, which consisted of songs in the then popular disco style, was released in 1979 and was a phenomenal success - much more than the work of Michael and his brothers, released shortly before. This disc was recognized at that time as the most successful album by a black artist. in history. Many music critics, especially in America, still consider him the pinnacle of Michael Jackson's work.

    However, Michael himself was not satisfied. The album received a string of awards but failed to win the music industry's most influential award, the Grammy Album of the Year Award. “I felt that my colleagues ignored me, and it was painful,” Michael later recalled. “This experience lit a fire in my soul,” he wrote in his autobiography. - I was only thinking about the next album and how I would create it. I wanted him to be truly great."

    And he fully realized his idea. Michael's next album is usually referred to as greatest achievement in the history of modern sound recording. Album Thriller received such a success that it is virtually impossible to repeat. The best-selling album, the Guinness book record holder, the peak, which was climbed by only one person and only once. The album took seven grammy awards at the 1984 ceremony, including the Album of the Year award, Michael's revenge was resounding.

    In his cult film "Thriller" It was from this album that the triumphant march through the world of Michael Jackson's video clips began. To work on his musical films, Michael decided to invite filmmakers. He himself did not call his videos "video clips" - he called them "short films". And in general, he was right, because the video clip genre neither before Michael nor after him reached such perfection and sophistication.

    In addition, Michael completely reinvented his own image. Moonwalk. Shiny glove. The famous black fedora hat ... All these most recognizable features of the appearance of Michael Jackson entered the world popular music precisely in the era Thriller.

    Michael invested his profits from record sales of the album in a strategically important acquisition. On the advice of his colleague Paul McCartney, he bought the ATV music catalog, which contained the rights to songs by many famous artists (including, ironically, the songs of The Beatles themselves). Buying the catalog turned out to be a wise investment: Michael had control over where and how songs from the catalog were used, and throughout his later life received royalties whenever those songs generated commercial revenue.

    Michael is taken to the hospital with a burn

    A succession of successes, however, was overshadowed by an accident. In 1984, on the set of a commercial for PepsiCo, sparks hit Michael's head as a result of an explosion of pyrotechnics, and his hair caught fire. Michael's bodyguard, Miko Brando, extinguished the flames with his hands, Michael was immediately taken to the hospital. He had severe burns on his skin. It took several operations to restore the scalp. The procedures were long and painful. Recovery dragged on for several years and was complicated by the appearance of keloid scars that grew and prevented normal hair growth. As Michael's nurse and future wife, Debbie Rowe, later said, he had to deal with this problem for decades. It was from that time that Michael began to wear a black hat so often - at first it performed a cosmetic function, and then became an integral part of the image.

    bad. "Crazy Jacko" neverland

    25 years after resounding success Thriller Michael again plunged into work: he rarely gave interviews, spoke little about his hobbies outside of music, and even more so about his private life. He carefully guarded his personal space. In addition, this was his PR strategy: he believed that in order to succeed, you need to intrigue the public and give it time to miss the "star", and not bother, an eyesore on television screens and secular parties. He carefully created a persona that made people guess and discuss him.

    Thus, he soon became known as a strange "hermit", leading a reclusive life in the company of his animals (Michael had a small zoo at home). Rumors spread. Michael sometimes appeared in public in the company of singer and actress Diana Ross, then accompanied by film actress Brooke Shields, then with Elizabeth Taylor. But in these appearances, romance could not be discerned, and Michael began to be accused of hiding his true sexual orientation. Some said he was gay. And when people noticed that Michael changed the shape of his nose and began to use makeup off the stage, the conviction that there was “something wrong” with him only grew.

    Michael with Diana Ross, American Music Awards, 1980

    However, many rumors were fueled by Michael and his manager Frank Dileo intentionally. They seemed to be playing with the press and public opinion— assuming they have the situation under control. So, rumors that Michael "sleeps in a pressure chamber" and that he bathes only in Evian water were deliberately spread. “It all depends on the rhythm and the right choice of moment,” Michael once explained his tactics of working with the public, as if talking about a real stage performance. - You need to clearly know what you are doing ... It's like a fever: people are waiting, waiting. It is very important to wait. Preserve, cherish this feeling... If you remain mysterious, people's interest will grow.

    However, the game has gone too far. “Suddenly, in an instant, all of Jackson’s eccentricity, which only a few months ago was considered intriguing or completely insignificant, began to be called strange, wonderful and amazing,” writes Joseph Vogel in his book The Man in Music. - It became difficult for the artist to withstand ruthless attacks, interference in his life, annoying questions and attention.<…>He was isolated from the world more than ever. As soon as he left the house, a crowd of fans and paparazzi immediately attacked him.<…>Every aspect of an artist's life was viewed under a microscope. People wanted to know everything about him. Why does he have such a high voice? Did he take hormones? Did he have sex reassignment surgery? Is he homosexual? Is he asexual? Why does he live in seclusion and fairy tale surroundings? Why obsessed with animals and children? Why does he wear masks and costumes? Is he out of touch with reality? Is he even human?"

    The already shy and isolated Michael almost completely stopped appearing in public. In the vacuum created by the artist's absence, gossip spread and multiplied. Soon, the label "Crazy Jacko" firmly stuck to him, and streams of fabrications poured out of the floodgates of human slander. Some of the stories seemed harmless if strange: rumors of a supposed "sanctuary" he had built in honor of Elizabeth Taylor, of Bubbles the chimpanzee, and even that he had bought the bones of the Elephant Man.


    Bad-period

    “By 1987, for the public, the Jackson-man seemed to have ceased to exist,” writes Vogel. “He transformed into the creature they were trying to mold from him. Even those to whom he seemed perfectly normal noticed the effects. “One day in the studio I saw Michael sitting on the bathroom vanity, behind the control room,” says assistant engineer Russ Ragsdale. “He was sitting with his feet on the tabletop, his shoulder against the mirror, and he was almost in a trance, like an animal in a cage.”

    The public opinion about the artist has changed so much that his new album Bad, despite very strong material, a number of hits and strong worldwide sales, was voted by the readers of Rolling Stone magazine as the "worst album". Later that year, during the Bad world tour, Jackson wrote a desperate letter to the press from his hotel room. It said, “As the old Native American saying goes, don't judge a man until he's walked two moons in his moccasins. Many people don't know me, so they write things like this, most of which are not true. I often cry because it hurts… Animals attack not out of anger, but because they want to live. And the same goes for those who criticize: they need our blood, not our pain ... But show mercy, because I have been bleeding for a very long time.

    Michael in "Chaplin" image

    In fact, Michael devoted most of his time to hard work. Unprecedented album success Thriller set an unattainable bar for him, which the artist, nevertheless, tried to surpass with each subsequent album. He carefully studied the weekly charts, tracked the latest and trends in modern music to know what resonates with the audience the most. He attracted the most talented producers and musicians to cooperate. When preparing the albums, Michael worked on dozens of songs, the best of which were then selected for the final tracklist. And he was constantly learning.

    Michael Jackson was an avid reader and collected his own library, which eventually grew to 20,000 volumes. His collection included books on world art, history, biology and psychology. He was deeply interested in the biographies of the great people of the past and drew life lessons from their destinies. He was fond of auto-training techniques and developed programs for mentally targeting the result. In addition, he not only, like any American, loved movies and cartoons, but seriously studied cinema, admired Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin.

    Rich Gateway to Neverland During this period, Michael also purchased a new home, a picturesque 2,800-acre ranch two and a half hours from Los Angeles. He named the ranch "Neverland" - in honor of the fairy-tale land from his favorite story about Peter Pan. After moving from his parents' home to Neverland, Michael refurbished the ranch to his liking and turned it into a truly magical, fairy-tale place for guests - especially for children. “I wanted to create a place where there would be everything that I lacked in my childhood,” Michael said about Neverland. There appeared a zoo with exotic animals, an amusement park, a cinema, an arcade with video games and a railway with a real steam locomotive. Having equipped the ranch, Michael opened it to visitors. He invited friends, admirers and children from the surrounding schools to visit. Every few weeks, sick and needy children were brought in by bus to the ranch so they could spend the day in "fairytale land." The rural idyll of Neverland also gave Michael solitude and a sense of harmony with nature - the necessary components of creative inspiration.

    Dangerous. Accusations and international scandal

    Although the commercial success of the album Thriller Michael (like no one else to this day) failed to surpass, all his subsequent albums invariably ended up at the top of the charts. With the release of the album Dangerous and the world tour of the same name in 1992-93, Jackson expanded the geography of his performances, including countries of Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. This elevated him to an already great global popularity to an unprecedented level. In the countries of the "third world" hysteria according to Michael Jackson was not inferior to the American and British. He won the title of the most famous person in the world - even in perestroika Russia. His arrival in Moscow with a Dangerous concert in September 1993 became one of the landmark events of the era of change for Russians.

    But such fame, like a snowball, "wound" more and more rumors on the artist's reputation. It seemed that people could not find a place for themselves with curiosity, burning with the desire to find out what he eats, what he sleeps in, with whom he dine, what color are his socks, why is he wearing a hat, why is he white, why is there makeup on his face, why is there a bandage on his sleeve Who is his girlfriend, why are there children around him.

    Michael and Oprah, 1993 In February 1993, for the first time in ten years, Michael decided to give big. The interview was intended to dispel the rumors around the star and lift the veil of mystery that hid him. true life. The world saw a light-skinned man with a high voice, long black hair and makeup on his face, who sat in the living room of his luxurious mansion on the territory of a huge ranch with the magical name "Neverland" and answered questions that excited the public for almost an hour. Much of this interview was a revelation to the public. In particular, it was then that Michael first spoke about the fact that he suffers from a skin disease (vitiligo), as a result of which his skin loses its natural pigment and becomes light. The interview received a record high rating, with 85 million Americans watching it live, according to the network. It caused a new wave of interest in the artist's work and had a positive effect on Michael's image in the eyes of the townsfolk.

    Unfortunately, the effect of the interview was short-lived. In the same 1993, the madness around the name of Michael Jackson reached a "boiling point". All the misunderstanding that accumulated around his image, everything that attracted attention to Michael, all his resounding success and mega-popularity turned out to be a breeding ground for the most terrible accusation that he himself could only think of. In August, Evan Chandler, the father of the family with whom Michael became friends, filed a civil lawsuit accusing the artist of "inappropriate behavior" towards his minor son. The news that the King of Pop is a pedophile spread around the world in a matter of days.

    It is difficult to imagine what Michael himself experienced during that period. According to his relatives and friends, the accusation was a terrible blow for him. After all, exactly what Michael considered his mission, the meaning of his life - helping children - was distorted and turned against him. His best aspirations and most important life principles misinterpreted. When the global scandal broke out, Michael was on tour. Every evening he had to go on stage in different countries and cities, not knowing how the new audience will meet him and what the thousands of people who have gathered for the concert actually think about him. During a short visit to Russia, he wrote a poignant song about loneliness "Stranger In Moscow": "I wandered in the rain, hiding behind the mask of life, feeling like I was going crazy ..." Strong stress, coupled with an exhausting performance schedule, jet lag and pain from the operation transferred before the start of the tour, they made themselves felt - Michael's insomnia worsened, and he was forced to turn to painkillers and sleeping pills in order to maintain efficiency.

    By November, his condition had become critical: the remaining dates of the Dangerous tour had to be canceled and Michael's girlfriend, Elizabeth Taylor, took him to a rehab clinic in London. Michael spent about a month there, restoring his health and strength.

    Was there anything rational about the charges leveled against Michael? This was discussed a lot by both the singer's fans and his ill-wishers, but it is worth looking first of all at the facts. Evan Chandler, a dentist divorced from his wife and very modestly involved in his son's life, was a man of great ambition and dreamed of a career in Hollywood. When his son Jordan met superstar Michael Jackson, Evan was initially sympathetic to the friendship and even tried to form a friendship with Michael. However, Jordan began to spend more and more time with Michael, clearly seeing him as a father figure, and Evan, by his own admission, got jealous and felt that he was losing his son. Yes, and the boy's mother, June, sympathized with Michael more than her own ex-husband. In the summer of 1993, Evan, allegedly having received a confession from Geordie, first turned to Michael demanding money and threatening to start a public scandal. In a published private telephone conversation, Evan admits that he has conceived a plan and his goal is to get his own or ruin Michael's career. He also says his son's interests in the case "do not matter." This probably explains why Evan did not file a police report, as a truly angry parent would, but instead tried to extort material compensation from Jackson. When Jackson refused to meet his terms, Chandler put his threats into action and filed a civil suit.

    Michael proclaims his innocence on TV Michael Jackson has always vehemently defended his innocence. At first, he intended to fight for his honor to the end and did not agree to make concessions. However, the scandal undermined his health and jeopardized his career. The legal proceedings threatened to drag on for several years, which would have had a detrimental effect on music sales and the artist's public image. In addition, despite the fact that the Chandlers never went to the police, the Santa Barbara County Attorney, on his own initiative, opened an investigation with the intention of filing criminal charges against Michael. If he succeeded, Jackson would have to defend himself "on two fronts" at once. The situation was extremely stressful for Michael.

    The last straw was the humiliating body search to which Michael was subjected: he, a shy man who was extremely scrupulous about his public image, was forced to strip naked in the presence of investigators and doctors and photographed his genitals to compare with the description given by the boy. Soon after this traumatic event, Michael, succumbing to the persuasion of his advisers and the insurance company, agreed to a peace agreement with the Chandlers. "We wanted to leave this horror behind," he later explained in a TV interview. The amount his insurer paid out to Evan Chandler was $15 million.

    Prime Time interview, 1995 The peace agreement with the Chandlers in a civil suit did not affect the investigation led by the prosecutor's office - and the investigation continued for several more months. However, the police did not find any evidence or reliable evidence that would point to Michael's criminal behavior. The description given earlier by Jordan was not confirmed by the photographs, and Jordan himself did not want to testify against Michael. The two grand juries assembled on the matter ultimately declined to indict Jackson for lack of evidence.

    Michael was left alone, but this scandal and the cash payment extremely negatively affected his reputation. PepsiCo, which sponsored his world tour, decided not to renew his contract. Many former friends suddenly disappeared from his life. And the question forever remained in the minds of the public: “If he was innocent, then why did he pay?”

    HIStory. King of Pop and Princess of Rock. Second marriage and children

    Michael himself publicly commented on these events only twice - in a statement of his innocence on TV and later in. However, personal experiences poured abundantly into his work: most of the new, released in 1995, became his response to the accusations. So, for example, in the song "This Time Around" Michael throws to unnamed offenders: "This time I will not let myself be stung, although you really want to get to me!" In the song “Money”, he accuses the enemy of self-interest: “You will do anything for money ...”, and in the song “D.S.” openly convicts the district attorney who started hunting him: "Tom Sneddon is a heartless person."

    Michael and Lisa Marie Just a few months after the scandal subsided, the world was shocked by another unexpected news: Michael Jackson got married. Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' daughter and heiress, has announced to the world that she is the legal wife of the King of Pop. "I am truly in love with Michael and want to dedicate my life to him," she said in a statement to the press.

    At that moment, the general public did not know anything about the history of the relationship between Michael and Lisa Marie, so this news was received with skepticism by many. The young people were quick to accuse that the marriage was fictitious, that its purpose was to help Michael restore his reputation after the accusations and demonstrate his heterosexuality. Over time, however, it became increasingly clear that this was not the case.

    Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley The first joint photo session Michael and Lisa met in 1992 through a mutual friend: Lisa wanted to invite Michael to produce her debut album. Later, she admitted that at the first meeting she was fascinated by Michael: he denied the rumors about himself and turned out to be completely different from what the press portrayed him. “I forgot that he was a superstar after 20 minutes - he was so open and simple with me,” she said. Michael and Lisa began to communicate often, and an affair began between them. At that time, Lisa was still married to her previous husband, Danny Keu, but this did not stop Michael from continuing courtship, and Lisa from accepting them.

    Michael and Lisa Marie, February 1998 At first, the couple seemed really happy, but the marriage lasted only a year and a half - in early 1996, Lisa Marie filed for divorce. According to her, she could not live "in the ivory tower" built around Michael. She, like any woman, wanted attention and marital understanding - Michael was used to existing in the mode of public performance, played out by himself. The dissolution of the marriage was an impulsive decision (“a stupid move,” as Lisa Marie later called it). The couple's relationship continued for several more years after the divorce. Lisa did not hide the fact that she loved Michael for many years, and although the breakup left her bitterness and doubts about the reciprocity of these feelings, after Michael's death she admitted: "And he loved me as much as he could."

    For Michael, a serious disappointment in marriage was the fact that Lisa Marie did not give birth to a child for him. Having grown up in a large family and seeing a source of inspiration in children, Michael really wanted to become a father, but Lisa, who already had two small children from her first marriage, was in no hurry to conceive, and the marriage ended up being childless.

    Michael and Debbie A year and a half after the divorce of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, it was reported that Debbie Rowe, a nurse and an old acquaintance of Michael, was expecting a child from him. Soon - in Australia during the HIStory world tour - Michael and Debbie got married. The news was met with even more criticism than Jackson's first marriage. Most people heard the name Debbie Rowe for the first time and knew nothing about her friendship with Jackson. “An unknown nurse of ordinary appearance is not a couple for a world-famous superstar,” the public reasoned. The marriage was again called fictitious, and this time it seemed that even Michael himself did not try to deny it.

    Perhaps this relationship really was not built on romance, but Debbie Rowe was far from a random person in Michael's life. Michael met Debbie back in the early 80s at a dermatologist's appointment, where he underwent medical and cosmetic procedures to improve his skin condition. For more than a decade, Debbie has helped Michael cope with vitiligo, a disease that caused his skin to lose its natural pigment, as well as the effects of a burn received on the set of commercials. In the early 90s, when Michael underwent painful scalp surgery, Debbie lived with him for several weeks, helping him through the post-surgery period.

    Michael with his first child, Prince Michael

    Michael seen in Debbie devoted friend She truly loved him and didn't hide it. After noticing how Michael was worried about his failed marriage to Lisa Marie, Debbie offered to help in the performance of his own cherished dream- to become a father. And Michael gratefully accepted her offer. February 13, 1997 Debbie gave Michael, probably the most precious gift in his life - she gave birth to his son Prince, and a year later - daughter Paris.

    Shortly thereafter, the couple filed for divorce. The children stayed with Michael and Debbie only saw them occasionally. Many condemned the couple for this decision and blamed Debbie for abandoning her children. But according to her, this was the plan from the very beginning: she did not want to become a mother, but only wanted to give children to Michael, to make him happy. She gave birth to children for him.

    Michael with his three children According to Michael himself, the appearance of children radically changed his life. The children gave it a new meaning, became inspiration and support for him. From now on, they were more important to him than anything in the world, and even music faded into the background. According to all acquaintances, friends and colleagues of Michael without exception, he was an exemplary parent. He himself took care of his children from infancy: changed their diapers, did the laundry, cleaned up after them, cooked for them, taught them good manners and took care of them. diversified development. He studied parenting books and aspired to be the best father in the world. “My biggest dream is that one day Prince and Paris would say about me: “He was the most best dad!” Michael confessed to his friend in a private conversation published later. Wherever he traveled, on whatever projects he worked, he always took care of the needs of his little ones and always found time for them.

    In February 2002, Michael had a third child - a son, Prince Michael Jackson II. The kid received from his father the affectionate nickname "Blanket", which stuck to him as the main name. Nothing was publicly reported about the boy's mother (as Michael's personal assistant later said in his memoirs, Blanket was born from a surrogate mother).

    Invincible. Bashir film. New charges and trial

    Action against Sony In the fall of 2001, the long-awaited new album of Michael Jackson was released Invincible. The release was accompanied by two shows in New York; there were rumors that Michael would go on tour again. However, the promotional campaign for the album was abruptly cut short when Sony Music stopped releasing music videos and media promotion of the album. Sony executives explained this by the fact that huge funds had already been invested in the album (only $ 30 million was spent on recording and mixing the songs), and sales did not pay off further costs. Michael, who had devoted several years of hard work to this project, was hurt and angry. He believed that Sony had sabotaged the promotion of the album and began to suspect that the label's management was plotting to leave him in debt and force him to sell his stake in the Sony/ATV catalog, a joint venture that Michael by this time owned half-and-half with Sony. Michael broke off relations with the head of the label, Tommy Mottola, and began to openly oppose Sony. Many fans of the singer supported him with protests. The album ultimately failed to live up to commercial expectations, and although Michael has since worked with Sony on several more releases, he has never forgiven the label for this betrayal.

    Unfortunately, this betrayal was not the last and not the most difficult in the life of Michael Jackson. In 2003, Michael made another attempt to overcome the image imposed on him by the yellow press and find understanding among the general public. He invited British journalist Martin Bashir to make a documentary about his private life off stage. Relying on recommendations from friends, Michael trusted Bashir and agreed to give him unlimited access to his home and his life for eight months.

    Michael in Bashir's film Bashir spent almost a year next to Michael. He communicated with his children, lived in Neverland, accompanied him on his travels. However, the film that ended up on the screens turned out to be not at all what Michael expected. Out of eight months of filming, Bashir carefully selected moments to illustrate the most controversial topics. Michael's lines were skillfully edited to add sensationalism to the film, the most innocent scenes being provided with ambiguous voiceovers. Michael was portrayed as an asocial, deranged individual with megalomania and paranoia, and a threat to his own and others' children. Relatives and friends did not recognize him in this film.

    Many viewers and even celebrities criticized Bashir's film. Michael released a rebuttal program exposing the duplicity of the journalist. However, the damage has already been done. by the most terrible consequence The film was a new attempt to accuse the artist of inappropriate communication with a child. The film showed a teenager from a poor Hispanic family, whom Michael helped to cope with a severe cancer. The negative presentation of this story and Bashir's insinuations led to the fact that Michael's relationship with the boy's family deteriorated, and the boy's mother contributed to the initiation of a criminal case against Michael.

    In the days of judgment. 2005 Santa Maria This time District Attorney Tom Sneddon (who failed to indict Jackson in 1993) got a formal charge filed. Michael was arrested and in front of the camera lenses was escorted in handcuffs to the police station. His Neverland Ranch was raided without ceremony by 70 police officers. All his plans for the implementation of new projects (including the creation of a designer clothing brand and producing films) were crossed out.

    The investigation into the case lasted two years, after which the trial took place, which turned into a global media spectacle. Reporters were not allowed into the courtroom, and they, like a flock of vultures, surrounded the courthouse, filming Michael's daily arrival to and exit from the hearings. There were fans at the courthouse who supported the artist, and haters who shouted threats to him. Michael Jackson went through this three-month public ordeal with quiet dignity. According to the stories of his close associates, for him these were the hardest months of his life, a period of despair, during which he drew strength only from his children, the support of his fans and faith in God. On June 13, 2005, Michael was unanimously acquitted by a jury of fourteen counts.

    Last years. This Is It

    Although the jury found the artist innocent, this trial itself had a strong impact on his state of mind. According to relatives, Michael became more withdrawn, stopped trusting people, and preferred to avoid public appearances. Immediately after the end of the process, he left Neverland, saying that he could never live there again, and left the country. For the next year and a half, he and his children wandered around the world: for some time he visited the Prince of Bahrain, then he moved to a quiet estate in Ireland. And only in December 2006, he finally found the strength to return to his homeland.

    By this time, his financial situation had become critical. Jackson hadn't released any new music or performed for seven years, and his career seemed to have fallen into oblivion. With no new sources of income, he increasingly lived in debt. By 2008, the size of his loans reached the value of the mortgaged property: Michael almost lost the Neverland Ranch and was on the verge of bankruptcy. The only way out of the situation was to return to the stage.

    Announcement of concerts This Is It And in January 2009 a contract was signed with one of the largest concert promoters AEG Live for 10 concerts at the O2 arena in London. The concerts were called This Is It - "That's it." Michael announced them as his " last bow". According to eyewitnesses, he was forced to accept this contract. It was psychologically difficult for him to return to the stage - Bashir's film, the accusations and the trial had an extremely negative impact on his image: many people by that time considered Michael Jackson crazy, if not a criminal. He didn't know how the public would take him. However, contrary to fears, the demand for tickets was unheard of: within a day after the announcement, applications were received from almost a million people. The number of concerts hastened to increase to fifty.

    The upcoming "marathon" of fifty performances and intensive preparation for it turned out to be a great stress for Michael. He was afraid that at the age of 50 he would not be able to withstand such a load, he was worried that he would disappoint the fans, that the show would fail. Too much was at stake. The insomnia that usually accompanied him on tour worsened. Michael was forced to resort to potent drugs to get enough sleep before rehearsals. His health deteriorated sharply, he lost weight - the team members who worked on the preparation of the show, and even the fans sounded the alarm. But the tragedy could not be prevented.

    On the morning of June 25, 2009, a week before flying to London and three weeks before the start of the concerts, Michael Jackson died from an overdose of an anesthetic administered to him by his attending physician. Dr. Conrad Murray was subsequently found guilty of manslaughter of the artist and sentenced to four years in prison.

    Fans see Michael off at the Apollo Theatre, New York Michael Jackson's death was an event that caused even more public outcry than his failed grandiose return to the stage. On June 25, 2009, the news of his death brought down the servers of Twitter and a number of news sites, unable to cope with the explosion of traffic as a result of this news. Google reacted to millions of search queries about Michael Jackson as a cyberattack. Wikipedia has registered a record number of visitors to a single article for the entire existence of the service. The artist's Facebook page gained 10 million subscribers in a matter of hours. The leaders of the Internet corporation America Online called the death of Michael Jackson "a significant milestone in the history of the Internet."

    Many people, who were not even ardent fans of the artist, cried when they heard about his death. Others admitted that it was difficult for them to grasp the news: Michael Jackson became such a bright and integral part of modernity for his generation that it was difficult for people to imagine a world without him. A wave of tributes swept the globe: from Stockholm to Taipei, from Mexico City to Hong Kong, young people took to the streets and danced to Michael's songs. Hundreds of obituaries, memoirs and articles appeared in the press and blogs, rethinking the personality and work of the "King of Pop". His songs, which were rarely heard on the radio in last years his life, returned to active rotation. Documentary"This Is It", edited from rehearsal footage from canceled shows, broke box office records and received unanimous critical acclaim. Album Invincible voted by Billboard readers best album decades. A re-evaluation of Jackson's work began: people began to discover his lesser-known and commercially successful works.

    Paris Jackson at the memorial service But perhaps the key event that marked the beginning of a new, eternal life for Michael Jackson was the words of his daughter Paris, uttered by her at the farewell ceremony, which was watched live by about a billion people. When Michael's family took the stage, his 11-year-old daughter suddenly, in a fit of emotion, asked for a microphone and, barely holding back tears, uttered into the hall and into the TV cameras the very words that Michael once dreamed of hearing: “From my very birth, dad was the best a father you could imagine. I love him so much…” This simple short panegyric did what Michael had been unable to achieve for many years – as if in an instant he allowed millions of people to throw off their blinders and finally see a person in the hero of the scandalous gossip column. Death, alas, took this man away, but it also freed his personality and genius from the burden of social prejudices.

    Even 8 years after his death, Michael Jackson is still the most successful pop artist in the history of the music industry. The total number of albums, compilations and singles sold by the singer is one billion copies. Through his work, the artist has made an invaluable contribution to world development video clips, music, choreography and fashion. In addition, Michael Jackson in his youth took part in the film adaptation of the musical "Wiz", feature films"Miss Robinson", "Moonwalk" and "Men in Black 2".

    Childhood

    The boy, who was born on August 29, 1958 in the family of Katherine, decided to name Michael. The future musician was born in the town of Gary. In 2003, his father publicly admitted to the moral and physical humiliation on his part, which faced all ten of his children, including Michael Jackson. The child suffered beatings, intimidation and insults, which turned into nightmares. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michael said that interacting with Joseph made him vomit and cry from feelings of helplessness and loneliness. Despite this, the singer tried to justify his father's cruel actions by saying that he wanted to accustom his son to discipline, which helped him become the best of the best.

    In 1964, the brothers of the future artist created the musical group The Jackson 5. The guys performed in the genre of disco, soul and rock and roll and played the tambourine and congo. Some time later in the same year, Michael Jackson also joined the group. The child had little experience of performing at Christmas concerts in front of his classmates. Later, Michael tried himself as a dancer and backing vocalist.

    The youth of the artist

    Since 1966, Jackson has been actively touring with his brothers in the Midwest. Four years later, The Jackson 5 singles top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Despite the fact that Michael was the youngest in the group, it was to him that the attention of the public was riveted due to dance moves and manner of performance unusual for that time.

    While he was involved with The Jackson 5, the singer managed to release four solo albums. Michael Jackson in his youth has achieved stunning results in the world of music. The ballad Ben from the second album, which he dedicated to his pet rat, took first place in the charts in the early 70s.

    personal life, religion

    The amazing talent of the artist brought him hundreds of awards, including 15 Grammy statuettes. Jackson is listed in the Guinness Book of Records 25 times. The artist was on friendly terms with many celebrities, including Whitney Houston, Macaulay Culkin, Elton John and Princess Diana of Wales.

    Michael was married to Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa-Marie from 1994 to 1996. After the divorce, they remained good friends, as evidenced by the HIStory tour, in which a woman accompanied the singer, despite the fact that he was married to Debbie Rowe. From his second marriage, the artist has a daughter and a son - Paris and Prince.

    Michael Jackson was a Jehovah's Witness in his youth. As a child, his mother Katherine encouraged him to study the Bible and attend sermons. In protest, Jackson refused to celebrate Christmas, Easter and his own birthday. The singer's brother, Jermain, is a supporter of Islam. He often gave Michael books about his religion in the hope that the faith would make it easier for him to fight many diseases.

    Solo career of the King of Pop

    The Thriller album is the best-selling album in the history of music. The album includes such hits as Billie Jean, P.Y.T., as well as song Girl Is Mine by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Albums Bad and Dangerous became almost as successful as Thriller.

    At the end of January 1984, Michael took part in the filming of Pepsi commercials. During this process, the artist's hair caught fire from pyrotechnic devices. He received 3rd degree burns. The horrific case was the impetus for the development of vitiligo. Michael Jackson, whose black skin color was one of his many features, began to partially turn white. But despite the next life difficulties, he continued to do the work of his life.

    After his death, the artist's family signed a contract with the Sony label for the release of ten records, the songwriter of which was Michael Jackson. Albums Michael (2010) and Xscape (2014) turned out much better than fans expected. The last disc included the composition Love Never Felt So Good, recorded in two versions: solo and in a duet with Justin Timberlake.

    Scandals

    Michael Jackson provoked negative comments about music videos in his youth with his explicit dance moves. After some time, the former cause for a stormy scandal became a feature and an integral part of the singer's choreography.

    In 1993, Michael was accused of sexual harassment in relation to thirteen-year-old Jordan Chandler. The situation was resolved with $22 million, which Jackson paid to the boy's family. After 10 years, the parents of thirteen-year-old Gavin Arvizo accused the artist of drugging and feeling children. In 2005, the court acquitted Jackson, as it was proved that the accusers sought to quickly get rich at the expense of the singer. After the death of the artist, Jordan Chandler said that his father forced him to slander Michael for the sake of huge compensation. By the way, after the failed deception, the negligent parent committed suicide.

    Appearance and plastic surgery

    Many problems with physical and mental health experienced Michael Jackson. The black color of the skin became pale due to the disease vitiligo, which was diagnosed in 1986. The disease forced the artist to hide from sunlight with layered clothing, umbrellas and masks.

    According to the singer's autobiography, apart from a rhinoplasty and adding a dimple to his chin, he did nothing else. Nevertheless, surgeons claim that Michael Jackson in his youth, before the operation, had a different shape of his forehead, lips and cheekbones. The artist's mother asked her son to stop adjusting his appearance and believed that he was addicted to plastic surgery. Michael himself explained the changes in facial features by weight loss, puberty and a change in hairstyle.

    Exhausting vegetarian diets brought Jackson's weight to 48 kg with a height of 175 cm. By the end of the 80s, the artist recovered a little, but in 1993, due to worries about the unfair accusation of child molestation, he practically stopped eating and lost even more weight. Two years later, he was hospitalized due to a panic attack, an abnormal heart rhythm, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, dehydration, and malfunctioning of the liver and kidneys. It should be noted that none of Jackson's doctors found drugs in his blood.

    The musician lived his last years with an addiction to painkillers, could not speak clearly and could barely remember the names of loved ones and the titles of his recent albums.

    Singer's death and funeral

    The favorite of millions died on June 25, 2009. As it was established by the investigation, death occurred due to an overdose of Propofol. Attempts to revive Michael lasted more than an hour and were unsuccessful. A post-mortem autopsy showed that Jackson had a strong heart and a normal weight for his height. The most serious problem turned out to be chronic pneumonia, although this was not the cause of death. Zeev Kane, a UCLA doctor, reviewed the autopsy and said that his health was generally within normal limits.

    On the eve of the death of the artist, Christopher Rogers, who was the head of a group of forensic experts, claimed that in Lately Jackson's health was good, and he was named a murder victim. The funeral ceremony took place on September 3, 2009 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.

    The death of outstanding artists arouses no less public interest than their life and work. In June 2009, the most commercially successful pop singer, Michael Jackson, passed away. The cause of the death of the idol of millions remains a mystery, despite two post-mortem autopsies and a coroner's inquest. The official document (certificate) says that the singer was killed. Another secret? On the basis of what was this recording made, and why, in this case, were the perpetrators not punished?

    Zenith of glory

    Over the fifty years of his life, Michael managed a lot, he became officially recognized as the king of pop music, received 15 Grammy awards, hundreds of other awards, recorded many songs published on vinyl records, CDs and other media sold in total over a billion. The vocals of the future idol were taught by a cruel father who did not stop before using all kinds of physical and moral humiliation.

    He made his first recordings as part of The Jackson (later renamed The Jackson 5) back in the sixties. The whole life of Michael Jackson, like many other successful pop artists, demonstrated the possibilities that a stubborn and hardworking talent can realize. He became another personification of the same as George Gershwin, Elvis Presley or Charlie Chaplin.

    The biggest breakthrough was his album "Thriller" in 1982, after which Jackson was recognized as a star on a planetary scale. And today this disc is considered the most massive in the history of pop music. An important role in achieving success was played by the performer's artistic plasticity, in particular, his famous "moonwalk". The spectacle of the stage action, excellent choreography, combined with unusual vocals, appealed to spectators and listeners from all over the world.

    The singer managed to know the joy of fatherhood. Debbie Rove, the second wife of Michael Jackson, gave birth to two children (a son and a daughter), and another son came from a surrogate mother.

    How did Jackson die?

    According to official version, the singer suddenly felt bad in the morning and fell unconscious. At the same time, according to the testimony of a personal doctor, the patient was found by him in bed, therefore, we are not talking about a sudden attack and fainting. The doctor tried to resuscitate the singer on his own, although it was immediately clear that things were bad, the pulse was felt only in the femoral artery, and there was no breathing. It took place in the western part of Los Angeles, Murray did not know the exact address. The house was temporarily rented by Michael Jackson. The cause of death, of course, is not that, but this circumstance still played a certain role. Murray did not find a landline phone, it was useless to call from a mobile phone, there was no one to find out the house and the street. The guard showed up only half an hour later (and they say that this is only a mess with us). The ambulance was finally called (it is not clear who did it), it rushed quickly, in three minutes, but it was already too late. Resuscitation failed, and doctors at the California State University Medical Center abandoned further attempts at resuscitation at 2:26 p.m. Two hours later, the coroner officially announced that Michael Jackson had died. The cause of death was not specified in this statement.

    Autopsy and its results

    Further events did not add clarity. According to executive producer Ken Ehrlich's Emmy Award Committee, the day before, on June 24, he met with Michael, talked with him and watched the rehearsals that took place on the eve of the big tour. He was shocked by the performance of the singer, his vigor and enthusiasm. Was Erlich telling the truth? The postmortem revealed many strange facts, in particular, at least the fact that the singer had not eaten anything for a long time, except for pills (at least there was nothing else in his stomach). Weight - 51 kg, which, with a height of 1 meter 78 cm, is a sign of extreme exhaustion. With such a state of health, it is hardly possible to talk about manifestations of cheerfulness. There were also broken ribs, but this is due to the efforts of resuscitators. And the singer's body was literally covered with scars, traces of surgical plastic surgery. Any ambiguity gives rise to rumors and speculation, and they appeared almost immediately.

    Hypoxia?

    Fans and spectators who have watched the singer's career, at least since the eighties, could see how much Michael Jackson changed outwardly. The cause of death can be directly related to the many surgeries the King of Pop has undergone. Why he did them is not entirely clear. Being ashamed of African-American descent has long been out of the question in the United States, and many black artists are proud of it. However, Michael's nose was corrected, the pigmentation was whitened, and other surgical manipulations were performed. Brian Oxman, the Jackson family lawyer, directly accuses the singer's entourage of condoning these costly and dangerous whims. It is easy to compare how Michael Jackson looked before and after the operation, and to understand that such serious scalpel interventions in the anatomy of the face do not pass without health consequences. A decrease in the cross section of the respiratory channels inevitably leads to difficulty in supplying the brain with oxygen and possible hypoxia.

    Overdose?

    The second version is directly related to the first. The pains (often occurring, and perhaps never letting go) were the result of surgeries and problems with the spine, and for their relief, Jackson often took the strong anesthetic Propofol. An overdose of this drug, combined with general weakness, could cause instant cardiac arrest. Similar versions arose about other great artists. contemporary scene(Anna-Nicole Smith, again Elvis Presley), literally healed by doctors who stuffed them with painkillers. It should be clarified that these drugs do not belong to drugs, but they cause an addictive effect, and therefore they are no less dangerous. I took a little more than I could, and that's it - hello ...

    And one more sad circumstance. Show business is cruel to newcomers, but it shows much more ferocity to well-deserved veterans of the scene. Tours are exhausting, the schedule is tight, it must be observed. At stake are tens, and sometimes hundreds of millions. Go ahead, the audience is waiting, it does not care about the health of its own idol!

    Last way

    The funeral of Michael Jackson differed in its luxury even from the farewell ceremonies of other prominent stars of our time. The tabloids were full of shocking figures:

    • A dozen fans killed themselves.
    • The coffin (Prometheus model) is gilded and cost $25,000. They took him in a carriage.
    • The ceremony was attended by a million fans. 11,000 free invitations were handed out to the most dedicated of them (I chose a computer), the rest had to pay $25 in cash.

    And many, many other details designed to create an atmosphere of universal sorrow, estimated at six-figure sums.

    Janet, sister of Michael Jackson and also famous singer, tried to give at least some sincerity to the enchanting mourning, saying that for her Michael was just a family member and brother, the loss of which was a terrible blow for her, but her voice again drowned in an enthusiastic enumeration of funeral expenses.

    Much attention has been paid to financial implications death of the performer. He made a will in advance, in which he set out in detail his last will. The children of Michael Jackson, in addition to a share in the main capital, received the rights to two hundred songs, recorded in secret and subject to publication now that their author has died. According to preliminary estimates, they will bring a hundred million dollars in profit.

    Michael Jackson, a legendary performer who has remained at the top of the musical Olympus for decades, was born on August 29, 1958 in the small town of Gary (Indiana, USA).

    Childhood

    The parents of the future star also devoted their entire lives to music, but did not achieve such recognition as their son. However, Michael's father, a black blues performer, was popular among local residents. But his mother, in whose veins Indian blood flowed, preferred country style. And she not only sang beautifully, but also danced well.

    In childhood

    Young Katherine fell in love with Joseph Jackson without looking back and married him at a very young age - she was barely 19 years old. But the popular bluesman at home turned out to be completely different from what she used to see him on stage. In addition, he was a fierce opponent of abortion, so Katherine was almost always pregnant.

    Michael was born the eighth in a row. By this time, the rigid “education system” in the Jackson family had already clearly manifested itself, where Joseph was an indisputable authority and could single-handedly execute and pardon. Often, physical punishments were also used, but more often the father publicly humiliated the children morally, believing that in this way tempers their spirit.

    Unable to resist the barbaric educational methods of her husband, who often entertained himself by frightening children at night, Catherine found an outlet in the church. She began regularly attending meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses and forced the children to study the Bible as well, according to their traditions.

    When Michael was six, Joseph had the good idea to create a musical ensemble from his own children. Moreover, most of them had pronounced artistic abilities and enjoyed playing musical instruments, of which there were several in the house.

    But now the game is over, and the tough drill has begun. Waving a belt, the father forced them to rehearse to the point of complete exhaustion. At first, only the elders were unlucky. But a couple of years later, Michael and his brother Marlon were also included in the main team, which was now called the Jaksons 5.

    His duties were dancing, backing vocals and playing the tambourine. And since 1966, Michael has been the soloist in the group.

    Carier start

    The pop star considers the beginning of her career to be the first tour that their family ensemble went on after winning the regional competition talents. About two years have passed on the road, and for Michael it was an excellent school of survival and work on stages of various levels.

    Participation in a concert tour brought them some fame, but the money received for it was not enough for such a crowd, and even more so for their father. Then the boys adapted to earn extra money in strip clubs as an opening act. Their task was to provoke and turn on the audience before the start of the main show, and the boys did a great job with it.

    Already in 1970, the Jackson group was known to everyone in the Southwest in the United States, and some of their songs began to sound in prestigious charts. By this time, Michael was very interested in dancing and came up with the very style that millions of his fans around the world later began to copy.

    In the meantime, he remained an eccentric talented black boy, completely different from those who were already on the stage.

    Solo career

    The brothers were lucky - they managed to conclude a contract with one of the leading American recording studios. But the unbearable nature of the father and his greed cost them their careers. Already in 1973, a scandal erupted, which resulted in a break in relations between the Jackson team and the producers.

    Not hurt, but rather benefited from this conflict, only 14-year-old Michael. Realizing that the boy has all the makings of a star and his own style of performance, the owners of the Motown studio signed an individual contract with him and released as many as four solo albums by the young singer in a few years.

    In 1978, already being famous performer, 20-year-old Michael first appears on the screens. The young artist got the role of the Scarecrow, which he performed with endless charm. While working, he met music producer Quincy Jones, who offered him cooperation and patronage.

    In this creative tandem, Jackson's fifth solo album with strange name"Off the Wall". The title track from it and three more compositions, with the recording of which young Jackson was helped by Paul McCartney, broke into the top positions of music billboards and brought the singer a resounding success. The album has sold 20 million copies.

    Music king

    Everyone knew Jackson in the early 80s. His songs were heard in every home, and the release of the new album was eagerly awaited by millions of fans. And in 1984 he pleased the audience with the presentation of his new creation, for which he wrote several songs on his own.

    The circulation of this album with the intriguing title "Thriller" around the world exceeded 100 million and became one of the best-selling in the history of pop music.

    For the first time in US history, a black singer not only stayed on the top lines of the charts for several years and got on national television, but was also received by the President himself in the White House. And in the video for this super-successful album, Jackson first walked his famous " Moonwalk”, from which the whole world is still fanatic.

    In 1984, having made millions from his songs, Jackson became a co-owner of recording studio, with which it works, and even later - buys out a controlling share package. This led to a serious spat with Paul McCartney, who was actively involved in the promotion of the singer and also counted on high profits.

    Since 1985, the singer has been involved in charity work. His first major act of goodwill was the $61 million he earned from "We are the World", a duet with friend Lionel Richie, to help poor African children. In the future, the singer regularly listed large sums to help black children.

    In 1987, Jackson released his seventh album and went on a world tour. Countless crowds of fans gathered at each concert. It would seem that there is nowhere, but the popularity of the musician still continued to grow.

    And in 1993 he first appeared in Russia, where he gave a solo concert in Luzhniki. Second and last time Jackson visited Moscow in 1996, where then-mayor Luzhkov attended a concert at the Dynamo Stadium and met the singer personally.

    Until the early 2000s, the singer remained the recognized king of pop music. Until a scandal erupted over him. The singer was accused of child molestation. Although subsequently no evidence of this could be found, this affected the artist's career quite badly.

    He was just preparing to release a song dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrin, in the recording of which other world stars were supposed to participate, but they refused to cooperate with him.

    In 2008, a year before his death, the singer released his tenth anniversary album "King of Pop". And the one that he planned to present to the public in 2009 did not reach the viewer. On June 25, 2009, due to an overdose of drugs, the talented singer passed away prematurely.

    He was buried on 09/03/2009 in a suburb of Los Angeles, on famous cemetery Forest Lawn, where fans now constantly come to honor the memory of their favorite singer.

    Personal life

    Jackson was married twice. His first wife was the daughter of the famous musician Elvis Presley Lisa Maria. He met her for the first time in 1975, when he was 17, and little Lisa was only 8. But in 1993 they took place new meeting in London, during which they somehow immediately became close.

    With Lisa Marie Presley

    Less than a year later, the couple got married in a small church in the Dominican Republic. Moreover, Jackson made an offer to his beloved by phone. But they both found themselves quickly disillusioned with the marriage. Due to Michael's frequent travels, Lisa hardly saw him.

    He was a real star, and she wanted peace and a cozy home. They divorced two years later, maintaining lifelong friendships.

    With Debbie Rowe

    The second wife of the king of pop was an ordinary nurse, whom he met at the reception of his own dentist. Jackson was depressed at the time, and she asked what was the matter. He admitted that he was disappointed by the divorce and most of all by the fact that a child had not been born in marriage. Then Debbie Rowe offered to become a surrogate mother of his children.

    Since at that time the procedure of surrogate motherhood was not yet legalized, Jackson married her, and his first child was born in a legal marriage and two years later, a daughter. Soon, Jackson divorced Rowe, and she, observing the terms of the contract, renounced maternal rights. Jackson's third child was officially born to an unnamed surrogate mother.

    Illness and operations

    By the end of his life, the black singer became literally unrecognizable. At first, everything was attributed to unsuccessful plastic surgeries, which the artist was fond of, trying to make his appearance even more spectacular. But the problem turned out to be much more serious - he suffered from two serious diseases at once - vitiligo and lupus.

    Vitiligo disease manifests itself as a lack of pigmentation in some areas of the body. When it progresses, and anything can affect this, from overwork and stress to drugs, the whole body is gradually covered with white spots. Over time, Jackson was forced to apply several layers of makeup to his face so that his color was uniform.

    Lupus destroys not only the skin, but also internal organs, including connective tissues. This caused dramatic changes in the artist's facial features. His cheekbones sunk, lines became angular, the whole image - thin and haggard.

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    Legendary american singer Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, USA. He was the seventh of nine children in the Jackson family.

    At the age of five, Michael became a member of the Jackson Five family band and soon took over as lead vocalist.

    In 1968, the Jackson Five signed a contract with Motown Records and recorded such hits as I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save and I "ll Be There. In the mid-1970s, the popularity of the Jackson Five began to decline, and a solo career Michael began to gain momentum.

    In 1977, Michael Jackson made his debut in the film-musical The Wiz, which began his long-term collaboration with famous producer and composer Quincy Jones. Together with him, Michael released a solo album Off the Wall in 1979. The disc took the top lines of the US and UK charts, and for the song Don "t Stop" Til You Get Enough, Jackson received his first Grammy statuette.

    In 1982, the singer released his second album Thriller. The album became one of the most commercially successful in the history of pop music - its circulation amounted to 70 million copies worldwide. The Thriller disc brought Michael seven Grammy awards.

    A video clip was shot for the album's main song of the same name, which is considered to be the beginning of the active development of the music video.

    In 1983, at the Motown 25 years show, Michael Jackson walked his famous "moonwalk" for the first time.

    In 1987, the singer released the album Bad. All the singles from this album reached the first lines of the charts. The album was sold with a circulation of 29 million copies.

    In the same year, Jackson's autobiography Moonwalker was published.

    In 1991, Michael Jackson signed a major contract with Sony Music and released his solo album Dangerous.

    The singer finally secured the status of the first star in the world show business - his composition Black Or White became a number one hit on both sides of the ocean.

    In September 1993, a Michael Jackson concert took place in Moscow, at the Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Stadium.

    In 1995, Jackson released the double album HIStory, which paired a disc of 15 new songs with a greatest hits disc. The album has sold 7 million copies in the US (15 million worldwide).

    In 1996, Jackson's second performance in Russia took place at the Dynamo Stadium in Moscow.

    In 1997, an album of dance remixes for tracks from HIStory - Blood on the Dancefloor appeared in stores.

    The album Invincible, released in October 2001, contained 16 tracks, including the single You rock my world, in the video for which he starred legendary actor Marlon Brando. In the same year, Michael recorded the song What more can I give, the proceeds of which went to charity.

    In 2003 the album was released greatest hits Michael Jackson - Number Ones. The only original composition on this disc is one more Chance was at number one on the Billboard charts for three weeks.

    In 2004, Jackson released the anniversary edition of Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection, a five-disc collection that included his most famous hits, demos and an extra DVD of live footage from the Dangerous tour.

    In August 2008, Michael Jackson released the original studio album called King of Pop. The collection consisted of compositions based on poems by the great Scottish poet of the 18th century, Robert Burns.

    Jackson's album Thriller 25, released in February 2008 to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of the legendary Thriller album, was a great success. The new compilation includes nine original tracks from the old album, as well as remixes and new song For All Time.
    The disc went to number one on eight charts. European countries, peaked at number two in the US and number three in the UK charts. It was sold in the USA.

    As a forensic medical examination established, the king of pop music became an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol.

    July 7, 2009 at the Staples sports and entertainment complex in Los Angeles was held with Michael Jackson.

    Michael Jackson has been married twice. The first time was on Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. The marriage did not last long, from 1994 to 1996, but the stars remained friends. In 1996, Michael Jackson married former nurse Debbie Rowe. For three years of marriage, they had two children: a son, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Sr. (1997) and a daughter, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (1998). Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (2002), was born via a surrogate mother.

    The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources



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