Michael Jackson

The following singles reached the Top Five on either the Billboard US Hot 100 and R&B singles charts or UK pop singles charts:. USA Releases. For a detailed list of singles, see List of Michael Jackson singles.. On the animated series Family Guy, Peter is obsessed and portrayed as one of the ultimate KISS fans in the episode "Road to Europe". For a detailed description of each album, see List of Michael Jackson albums.. (See accompanying image). At some stage in April, officials in Namibia expected him, but that was due to miscommunication. The German KISS logo has S's that resemble backward Z's, and all the band's albums and German merchandise use it.

The countries he would visit would include Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Senegal. The KISS logo had to be redesigned for the German market because of the similarity of its two S's to the symbol of the SS, Adolf Hitler's paramilitary troops, which it is illegal to display in Germany. Jackson has been considering a tour of Africa in May or June 2004 to raise money to fight AIDS, if the court will let him. Peter Criss left the band again in late 2003, and was replaced with Eric Singer, who along with Tommy Thayer performed during KISS' 2004 "Rock The Nation" Tour, with 80's hair band Poison as the opening act. This film would feature Jackson as a man with the ability to transform into an automobile, and an as-yet-uncast adolescent male companion who rides Jackson everywhere while he is in his car state. In 2003, KISS released "KISS SYMPHONY" with Gene Simmons,Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Tommy Thayer, backed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 2004, film director Kevin Smith told Playboy magazine that Jackson wanted to make a feature movie entitled Hot Rod. The tour was mildly successful, but the band continued to dominate the rock world.

Jackson continues to be plagued with seemingly press-invented rumours; partly they are unrelated with his current court case; tabloids allege that he is in Colorado seeking treatment at an in-patient addiction clinic. In 1998, the band released "Psycho Circus", and departed on the ensuing 3-D tour, with a circus as the opening act. The incident led to nothing as he was pulled over, asked to reveal his identity, and then left to go on his way. In 1997, the original band reunited after 17 years apart, and launched their wildly successful reunion tour. Employees found this suspicious and called the police with a description of his vehicle. KISS has four official book releases:. Jackson had been shopping at a Wal-Mart earlier in the day wearing a ski-mask. KISS starred in a made for NBC television movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978).

On February 27, 2004, Jackson was stopped by police while vacationing with his children near Aspen, Colorado, where he went because his children wanted to see snow. On New Years' Eve 1975, Blue Öyster Cult opened for KISS at Nassau Coliseum, two years to the day after KISS opened for them. See also Jackson's finances in connection to the trial. On a similar note, only three of KISS' albums are without reference to unrepentant libido:. of South Korea, who claim that Jackson owes the firm $12 million in fees and expenses and that Jackson's extravagant spending may lead to his bankruptcy. While both albums are arguably quite good, the world was not ready to consider KISS outside of its "3-minute song about lusting for women" reputation. He has been involved in a legal dispute with his former financial adviser, Union Finance and Investment Corp. As an example, compare the ethereal arpeggios of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" with KISS' "Under The Rose".

Jackson lost the case, and is appealing. Ezrin's production on Music from The Elder is clearly similar to his work on Pink Floyd's The Wall, released two years earlier. That same month, concert promoter Marcel Avram sued Jackson in a court in Santa Maria, California, claiming that he reneged on a deal to perform on a series of millennium concerts crossing the International Date Line on the evening of December 31, 1999 - January 1, 2000. The first two were concept albums, with the former being less conspicuously so. In October 2002 various international banks claimed that Jackson was in financial debt into the tens of millions of dollars due to various unpaid loans. Destroyer (1976), Music from the Elder (1981) and Revenge (1992) were produced by Bob Ezrin. One possible reason was that producer Marc Schaffel has worked as a producer of homosexual pornography (his house was searched by the police in 2004; it is not clear whether this was related to Jackson). The result was Destroyer, KISS' most commercially successful album, which included the hits "Beth", "Detroit Rock City," and "Shout It Out Loud.".

However, the song was never released. Following it, the group decided to expand their musical horizons and make a more venturesome album. Jackson also recorded a song featuring various celebrities on vocals in an attempt to raise funds for disaster relief following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. The album was a huge success. Instead of blaming this on what was, by most fans and critics, considered mediocre music, he blamed his record label and industry executives, most notably the legendary producer Tommy Mottola, whom Jackson likened to Satan. In 1975, they released the live album Alive!, a lion's share recorded at Detroit's Cobo Hall. His most recent album, Invincible, had disappointing sales figures. The album included two important songs in the group's career; "C'mon And Love Me," their first big radio hit, and "Rock And Roll All Nite," which became their first hit single.

In late 2002, new scandal arose surrounding Jackson. Trading in the rawer sound of KISS and Hotter Than Hell for a more clean, produced sound with Dressed To Kill. Jackson is planning a world tour — provisionally called Celebration — with music mogul Charles Koppelman, to start if he is acquitted, a few months after that. In 1975, having achieved recognition, but no big hit single, Casablanca Records head Neil Bogart stepped in to produce their next album. The song was also featured as a montage video on the CBS TV special "Michael Jackson Number Ones." The special was then released on DVD as "The One.". The album did less well than their debut, reaching just #100 on the Billboard album chart. "One More Chance" went on to become the #1 track on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart for three straight weeks. Topping at #87 in the charts, the album did feature a few chestnuts in the group's career; "Strutter," "Deuce," "Cold Gin," and the closer "Black Diamond." The follow-up, Hotter Than Hell featured a Japanese influenced cover, an attempt to make people think the group were well-known worldwide.

It was the only new track on his Number Ones greatest hits album. At the time, no one really knew what to make of the group's look. Kelly. The cover of their debut, KISS, showed the group in their makeup, mimicking the cover of the Beatles' With the Beatles album. On November 21, 2003, Jackson released a new song, "One More Chance," written by R. The group released their first two albums in 1974, both produced by Kenny Kerner and Ritchie Wise, (KISS and Hotter Than Hell). The awards recognise outstanding personalities and performances in various fields, including show business, film, politics and sport. Their next show, February 6, 1974 was in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

In November 2002 Jackson received in Berlin Germany's Millennium Bambi 2002 award, in recognition of his status as the world's "greatest living pop icon". a girl with Purple and Green Hair, who is credited on his solo album. "Butterflies" was a top 20 hit in America as well as a #2 hit on the R&B charts, but did not reach the top 10, despite a popular radio remix featuring rapper Eve; the song's relative lack of success also allowed no budget for a music video. This is always where Gene encountered his first groupie... "You Rock My World" managed the top ten in America, but only for a week, and its big-budget, 14-minute music video received only sparse airplay on MTV, VH1, MTV2, and BET, usually in a shortened, 5-minute version. KISS' first Canadian tour started on February 5, 1974 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. "Cry" was also issued as a third single in Europe. The first ever KISS performance was in 1973 to an audience of 10 at the Popcorn Club (renamed Coventry shortly afterwards) in New York City.

As opposed to his earlier albums which each spawned at least six singles, most of which were generally worldwide smashes, Invincible produced only the singles "You Rock My World" and "Butterflies" in America. Ace designed the infamous lightening bolt logo, and the rest is KISStory. While the numbers seemed impressive, the sales figures were nonetheless disappointing, considering Jackson's previous success and the cost of the album. Paul has also stated that the band name is not an acronym (the original name of the band was Wicked Lester, 1969-1972). charts, selling 2 million copies in the United States and 5-6 million worldwide. Simmons states that Paul Stanley suggested the name on the spur of the moment while they were stopped at a traffic light. Jackson's 2001 album Invincible, the most expensive album ever produced, debuted at number one on the U.S. The band's name was rumored to stand for "Knights In Satan's Service" or "Knights In Service of Satan" but this is an urban legend - propagated in the 1970s by Minnesota-based evangelists the Peters Brothers - which Gene Simmons has denied in his book.

The short film "Ghosts" is occasionally played as an hour-long special, with space made for commercials, on MTV and VH1, especially during the Halloween season. Other lead guitarists between 1982 and 1996 (when the original four members reunited):. However, Jackson also produced "Ghosts", a 40-minute short film, which was shown in several movie theaters and uses the songs "Ghosts" and "2 Bad" in the film. 1982 saw Ace Frehley officially leave the band to pursue a somewhat successful solo career. The album only had one single and official music video, the title track, which failed to catch on in America, and again proved a far more popular hit in Europe. Other drummers between 1980 and 1996 and 2001 and 2004. In 1997 Jackson released Blood on the Dance Floor, a remix album of several of the tracks off of HIStory, which also included 5 new songs and has since become the biggest-selling remix album of all time. 1980 saw Peter Criss's departure for 3 'commercial flop' solo albums.

On the other hand, the album spawned his biggest hit ever in the UK, "Earth Song" stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks and sold over a million copies. They felt that the feminine look did not work for them. Executives and Jackson hoped it would stay at #1 throughout the summer, yet it only spent 2 weeks at the top with unspectacular sales. Originally inspired by the New York Dolls, The Harlots of 42nd Street, and other New York glam scene bands. It was branded a failure very quickly. Sean Delaney was the group's first road manager and creative director. Apart from the video for "Scream," singles and videos from HIStory nowadays garner little airplay in America, making the album a failure overall by Jackson's standards, though it has sold over 18 million double albums as of 2004. Doc McGhee is the current manager.

The lyrics "Jew me, sue me/ Kick me, kike me" were modified on the album's official release in reponse to the criticism. William 'Gui' Aucoin was the original manager 1973-1981. This caused American MTV and VH1 to ban the song's music video, even though it garnered heavy airplay on many of America's Boxnetworks. Ace The Space), lead guitar/vocals; and Peter Criss (The Catman), drums/vocals. "They Don't Care About Us" caused a stir when it was released due to controversial lyrics which were considered by some to be anti-Semitic. The original members of KISS (and their made-up personas) are Paul Stanley (The Starchild), rhythm guitar/vocals; Gene Simmons (The Demon), bass/vocals; Ace Frehley (The Spaceman a.k.a. "Childhood" is notable for having been the theme song to Free Willy 2. KISS put it back on in 1996 for their Alive Worldwide Reunion Tour.

The album's other singles and videos, "Childhood", "Earth Song", "Stranger In Moscow", and "They Don't Care About Us" had limited success in America, and performed far better in Europe. They had to remove the makeup to be a viable band of the oblivious 1980s (platform shoes died with disco). The album produced two new hit singles and videos in America: "Scream", a duet with his sister Janet, whose futuristic music video, with a seven million dollar price tag, is the most expensive music video ever made; and "You Are Not Alone", the first song to ever debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and whose video had a cameo from Jackson's then-wife, Lisa Marie Presley. The band first appeared without their make-up in 1983 on a MTV news special. Its first disc had fifteen of his greatest hits and second disc contained fifteen new songs. Until 1983 the band never appeared in public without their make-up (which disguised their real identities). HIStory, a double-disc album, was released in 1995. The band is known for its elaborate stage shows, loud music, and extravagant costumes.

A few years ago, VH1 Europe aired them in daytime but now cuts them out. Although "heavy metal" did not exist when the band was formed in 1972 it can be said that they invented a big part of the sound and style which now belong to heavy metal. To date, the final four minutes of the "Black Or White" video has only since re-aired in America on MTV2 between the hours of 1 AM and 4 AM, as part of their special uncensored airing of the "Most Controversial Music Videos" of all time, however the extended version is available on Jackson's DVDs. KISS was born out of the ashes of Wicked Lester. MTV and other music video stations decided to cut out the last four minutes of the video for all subsequent airings, and Jackson issued an apology statement to anyone who had been offended. KISS is a New York City-based heavy metal band that became famous in the mid 1970s. It finally ended with a cameo appearance by Bart and Homer Simpson. However, Jackson's rampage and crotch grabbing caused a good deal of controversy with many parents of young children who watched the video's premiere. Gold (2005).

The last four minutes depicted Jackson doing his infamous crotch-rubbing, smashing store windows, and destroying a car with a metal crowbar. Gold: 1974-1982 - Sound+Vision (W/Dvd) (2004; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace, Eric C, Vinnie V) —. The original video for "Black Or White" then continued, even after the song itself ended, for another four minutes. 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection 2 (2004; Gene, Paul, Eric C, Vinnie V, Mark, Bruce, Eric S). Thanks in part to "Black Or White", as well as the development of computer technology, the morphing effect has since become somewhat common in music videos today, and can now be done much cheaper than in the early 1990s. 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection 1 (2004; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace, Eric C). Although this was not the first music video to feature morphing technology — former 10cc members Godley & Creme used morphing even more extensively in the 1985 video to their song "Cry", though in a less technologically polished way — it was the first exposure many people had to the technology, and this effect amazed those who saw the video for the first time. Alive IV - Kiss Symphony (2003; Gene, Paul, Peter, Tommy).

As the song ends, the video features a morphing effect, whereby the faces of several different people of different ethnicities' (including Tyra Banks and voice actor Cree Summer) are morphed one into another, as a symbol of global unity. The Very Best of Kiss (2002; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace, Eric C., Vinnie, Bruce, Eric S.). The music to "Black Or White" then starts, and Jackson proceeds to take viewers on a trip around the world, from country to country and culture to culture. Psycho Circus Live (1999; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace) — 'Import Only'. Culkin's character, instead, decides to bring his speakers into the living room and cranks the speakers to full blast, which sends the father flying through the roof, in a manner somewhat similar to that used in an earlier Twisted Sister music video. He ends up landing in the middle of some exotic location. Psycho Circus (1998; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). The original video begins with Macaulay Culkin playing a young Jackson fan whose father (played by George Wendt) tells him to turn his music down. Carnival of Souls (1997; Gene, Paul, Bruce, Eric S.).

The original video is over ten minutes long, and premiered simultaneously on November 14, 1991, on MTV, VH1, BET, and ABC, becoming one of the most-watched music video premieres in history. Greatest Kiss (1997; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). Of all the album's groundbreaking and popular videos, "Black Or White" probably remains the most aired and most remembered today. You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best (1996; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). This was hardly bad, but it was certainly nowhere near 100 million. MTV Unplugged (1996; Gene, Paul, Bruce, Eric S., Peter, Ace). But after a relatively small stay in the top 10, the album fell out and sold 7 million in the US and 29 million worldwide. Kiss My Ass (1994; Gene, Paul, Bruce, Eric S., various artists).

Again, Michael had high hopes, and planned to sell 100 million copies of Dangerous. Alive III (1993; Gene, Paul, Bruce, Eric S.). Jackson and Naomi Campbell played lovers in "In The Closet". Revenge (1992; Gene, Paul, Bruce, Eric S.). Jackson's singing and dancing is the thing that finally makes Iman's character happy, in the seven-minute long video. Hot in the Shade (1989; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Bruce). Magic Johnson played the king's chief guard. Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits (1988; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Bruce) — Greatest Hits compilation with 2 new songs and Eric Carr's vocal on Beth.

The video for "Jam" showed Jackson and Michael Jordan playing basketball and dancing together, while "Remember The Time" was set in a Egyptian palace and starred Eddie Murphy as the king of the palace who was trying to entertain his wife, played by Iman. Crazy Nights (1987; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Bruce). Several of the other videos had complex storylines and dance sequences, and featured cameo appearances by celebrities. Asylum (1985; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Bruce). "Will You Be There" showed Jackson singing in front of scenes from Free Willy. Animalize (1984; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Mark). The video for "Heal The World", to correspond to Jackson's charity of the same name, featured children and adults from throughout the world. Lick It Up (1983; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Vinnie) — first album cover without face paint.

"Give In To Me" featured Slash from Guns n' Roses in its video. Creatures of the Night (1982; Gene, Paul, Eric C., Vinnie). As was becoming the standard for Jackson, the album's music videos were among the most costly, creative, and innovative of their time. Killers (1982; Gene, Paul, Ace, Eric C.) — unavailable in North America. But the album's most successful and memorable singles and videos were "Jam", "Remember The Time", "Black Or White", "In The Closet", and "Heal The World". (Music from) the Elder (1981; Gene, Paul, Ace, Eric C.). Dangerous contained the singles and music videos "Who Is It", "Give In To Me", "Gone Too Soon" (a tribute to young AIDS victim Ryan White), and "Will You Be There", which would later become the theme song to the movie Free Willy. Unmasked (1980; Gene, Paul, Ace, Anton Fig).

During the Dangerous world tour Jackson announced the creation of his Heal the World Foundation. The Best of Solo Albums (1980; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace) — 'Import only' 3 tracks each from each solo album. Jackson was awarded a record breaking $890 million contract by Sony and released an album Dangerous in 1991. Dynasty (1979; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace, Anton Fig). Michael actually hoped Bad would do BETTER than Thriller. Ace Frehley (1978; Ace). While Thriller moved 25 million in America, Bad "only" moved about 8 million. Peter Criss (1978; Peter).

However, despite the success, many industry members were surprised about Bad's sales. Gene Simmons (1978; Gene). Of the 7 singles released in the USA, the first 5 went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, "Another Part Of Me" peaked at #11 (#1 on Billboard's R&B charts) and "Smooth Criminal" went to #7. Paul Stanley (1978; Paul). Nonetheless, he made history by becoming the first artist to generate 6 number one singles off of one album. Double Platinum (1978; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). The album's only relatively unsuccessful single, "Liberian Girl", remains to this day as one of Jackson's least seen music videos and least heard singles. The Originals II (1978; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace) — 'Japanese only' set of the second 3 studio albums.

Its singles and music videos "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man In The Mirror", "Dirty Diana", "Another Part Of Me", "Smooth Criminal" and "Leave Me Alone" provided Jackson with another string of hits. Alive II (1977; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). Bad was another smash success for Jackson. Love Gun (1977; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). The following year Jackson released a silly, playful movie entitled "Moonwalker" and a serious, personal autobiography titled Moon Walk. Rock and Roll Over (1976; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). He performed to sold out audiences at each concert. Destroyer (1976; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace).

In 1987, Jackson released Bad and began his first solo world tour. The Originals (1976; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace) — a set of the first 3 studio albums. The film contained the songs "We Are Here To Change The World" and "Another Part Of Me". Alive! (1975; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). Minute for minute it is the most expensive film ever produced, costing an estimated US $30 million to make. Dressed to Kill (1975; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). Jackson starred in the George Lucas/Francis Ford Coppola 3-D film Captain Eo in 1986, which was shown in Disney theme parks until 1998. Hotter than Hell (1974; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace).

"We Are the World" was sung by 44 different singers including Harry Belafonte, Cyndi Lauper, Diana Ross, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and sold 7 million copies in the United States, becoming the best selling single of all time (eclipsed by Elton John's "Candle In The Wind" in 1997), to raise money for USA for Africa – a charity working to raise awareness about and help starving people in Africa. Kiss (1974; Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace). Inspired by Band Aid, he was instrumental in organizing the single "We Are the World" (co-written with Lionel Richie) in 1985. The Early Years. Claude Hodson Medal of Freedom at the NAACP Image Awards, feted at the White House by President Ronald Reagan with the Presidential Special Achievement Award and in November was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Behind The Mask. In addition in 1984, he was also awarded the H. KISSTORY II.

In May, Thriller was certified by the Guiness Book of Records as the biggest selling popular music album of all time. KISSTORY. In February at the Grammy Awards Jackson was nominated for 12 awards and won a record-breaking 8 awards (now equaled by Carlos Santana's 1999 Supernatural) – 7 for Thriller and 1 for his narrative on The E.T. Storybook. Psycho Circus — songs explicitly referencing Rock music or KISS itself. In January 1984 at the American Music Awards, Jackson was nominated for 9 awards and won a record 8 awards (tied by Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack in 1994). Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions — introspective and serious songs. While performing "Billie Jean" during the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special on television on May 16, 1983, Jackson publicly performed the moonwalk (later his signature dance move) for the first time, stunning TV audiences. Music from The Elder — concept album about a youth's journey into heroism.

(Pretty Young Thing)", both of which were also hits, despite neither having music videos. Tommy Thayer, 2002- (new Spaceman). The album's other singles were "Human Nature" and "P.Y.T. Bruce Kulick, 1985-1996 (no character). "Billie Jean" and "Thriller", as well as "Beat It", were the three music videos released from the album, and have since become three of MTV's most significant videos in history, placing highly on several MTV and VH1 countdowns, and receiving substantial airplay on MTV2 to this day. John, 1983-1984 (no character). The "Billie Jean" music video, released to promote Thriller, became the first video by a black artist to be aired on MTV, and the "Thriller" short film, included with The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, became the world's best selling home video at the time. Mark St.

His Thriller album was released in 1982, produced 7 Top 10 hit singles, broke records and quickly became the world's best selling album (as of 2003 it has sold over 50 million copies). Vinnie Vincent, 1982-1983 (The Egyptian Warrior). In what was perhaps the "Golden Age" of the video clip, some of Jackson's videos were virtually short films with considerable plots, impressive special effects, and featuring Jackson's distinctive dance style. Eric Singer, 1991-1996, 2001-2003, 2004 - (new Catman). In the 1980s, Jackson released a progression of solo albums of slickly-produced synthesizer-heavy pop. Eric Carr, 1981-1991 (The Fox, 1981-1982) (died of cancer on November 24, 1991, the same day as Freddie Mercury). A ballad, "She's Out Of My Life" reached the top 10 in 1980.

Michael Jackson's 1979 album Off the Wall was a worldwide hit and spawned the #1 hit singles and music videos "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Off the Wall, released in 1979, produced a record four Top 10 hits and sold seven million copies in the United States. It was here that he met Quincy Jones, the music producer for The Wiz, who would later produce Michael's three most acclaimed solo albums, Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. Jackson starred in the film The Wiz alongside mentor Diana Ross in 1978.

Now known as The Jacksons, and featuring younger brother Randy in Jermaine's place, the brothers continued their successful career, touring internationally and releasing 6 albums between 1976 and 1984. Hits during this period included "Enjoy Yourself" & "Show You The Way To Go" (1976), "Find Me A Girl" (1977), "Blame It On The Boogie" (1978), "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" (1979), "Can You Feel It?" & "Heartbreak Hotel" (1980) and "Torture" & "State of Shock" (1984). Additionally Jermaine, who had married Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel, opted to remain at Motown for a full-time solo career. By leaving Motown behind, they lost the rights to use the "Jackson 5" name and logo. The new deal with CBS provided more creative freedom and larger royalies that they were not allowed at Motown.

In 1976, the Jackson brothers signed a deal with CBS Records, first joining the Philadelphia International division and later moving over to Epic Records. Among Michael's early solo hits were "Got to Be There" (1971, his solo debut); and "Rockin' Robin", "I Wanna Be Where You Are", and the #1 hit "Ben" (all 1972). With Motown Records, the Jackson 5 made 14 albums, and Michael also recorded four albums as a solo artist. Most of the Jackson 5 hits were produced by The Corporation, a collective of songwriters and record producers including Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, and Deke Richards.

Later hits included "Mama's Pearl" & "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1971), "Lookin' Through the Windows" (1972), "Get It Together" (1973) and "Dancing Machine" (1974). The group's first four singles, "I Want You Back" from 1969, and "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There" from 1970 all became #1 hits in the US. In fall 1969, The Jackson 5 were presented to the public by Diana Ross and were officially launched as the next big Motown act. Gordy then moved the Jackson family to California, and proceeded to turn them into international stars.

Label head Berry Gordy bought out the Jackson 5's Steeltown contract and signed the group to Motown in March 1969. The Jackson 5 were discovered by both Gladys Knight & the Pips and Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, who brought them to Motown Records in 1968. The Jackson 5 signed their first recording contract with the local Steeltown label in 1967, and had a regional hit with "Big Boy". It is alleged that they were beaten and abused by their father if they performed poorly.

With Michael as the lead singer, the group built up a following and a buzz by playing at clubs and bars throughout the Midwest, and even winning an Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Five of the Jackson brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, formed the Jackson 5, an R&B musical act, in the mid 1960s. Main entry: The Jackson 5. Rumours in 2003 claimed that Jackson had another son, seventeen-year-old Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., who apparently has an almost identical resemblance to Jackson as a young man.

Jackson however, strongly denied the allegations. The mother is said to be a "struggling actress". In July 2004 news was released that Jackson is to be the father of quadruplets, via artificial insemination. In March 2004 it was confirmed there was an unspecified family matter between Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, to be handled in mediation.

Reportedly the children have been interviewed by social workers. In December 2003 Jackson's parents promised they would look after the three children if they were taken away from their son. In what Jackson explains as a security measure against kidnapping, the children's faces are masked or veiled when they are in public. In late 2002, Jackson stirred up controversy while staying in a hotel in Berlin by briefly suspending him over the edge of the railing of a balcony.

Around February 2002 Jackson had another son, Prince Michael II, also called "Blanket", with a surrogate mother whose identity has not been disclosed. They were divorced in 1999. Rowe later said that she let Jackson have the children as a "gift". In 1996, he married Debbie Rowe, with whom he had a son, Prince Michael, and a daughter, Paris Katherine. In 1994 Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley; the marriage lasted less than two years, ending in divorce.

Jackson has insisted, however, that he only uses heavy makeup to mask the effects of vitiligo, a condition that causes white patches on the skin. Some critics have characterized his plastic surgery and purported "skin bleaching" as an attempt to hide his African-American ancestry. It has been rumored that Jackson has used extensive plastic surgery to modify his appearance, although he claims to have had only three operations: Two rhinoplastic surgeries (the first of which he claims was to repair a broken nose resulting from a dancing accident in 1978, and the second to correct imperfections in the first surgery) and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin (Jackson often omits mentioning the cleft when listing his cosmetic surgery, but he confirms the surgery in his 1988 autobiography Moon Walk). (For the related song and video "Heal the World" see below.) Michael is also the godfather of Lionel Richie's adopted daughter Nicole Richie.

He has also been friends with rabbi Shmuley Boteach, with whom Jackson founded the now defunct "Heal the World" and "Heal the Kids" foundations. He is also friends with paranormalist Uri Geller. Both Taylor and Culkin are godparents to Prince Michael and Paris. Jackson's celebrity friends have included Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Rick James, Usher, Marlon Brando, comedians Steve Harvey and Chris Tucker and actress Elizabeth Taylor and former child actors Emmanuel Lewis and Macaulay Culkin.

He likes climbing trees; he has written several songs sitting in his favorite tree at Neverland, which he calls Giving Tree, because, he says, it is so inspiring. His is a vegetarian. Bubbles was moved from the ranch after reaching maturity because adult chimpanzees are very strong and can be dangerous. Jackson kept a chimpanzee, Bubbles, in Neverland, which he valued highly, treating him more like a friend than a pet.

He has publicly stated he will no longer have them with children not related to him. However, he now supposedly feels that it violates a social norm in the eyes of many people and places him in a vulnerable position with regard to suspicions and allegations of sexual abuse. Also he has had sleepovers with children. having water balloon and water gun fights, and having rides with them in his golf carts (which children are often allowed to drive themselves), small steam train, and the other rides of the amusement park, and having long telephone conversations with young friends.

His favorite pastimes include playing with children, e.g. About once a week he has been inviting a bus full of (especially sick and poor) children there to have a day of fun. Neverland contains a small zoo and amusement park. He says he compensates for his "lost childhood", during which he always had to practice and perform.

He says that, like Peter Pan, he does not want to grow up. He says that they do not give the complications that adult people often do, like negatively judging him, and betraying him. Jackson feels a strong connection to both children and animals. He now lives in Beverly Hills in a $70,000-a-month rented home.

In December 2003, he said that after it had been searched by police (see below), it no longer felt like a home, and is now a house he just visits. Jackson has been living at his 11 km² (2600 acres) Neverland Ranch in Santa Ynez, California, named after the magical kingdom featured in the children's story Peter Pan. However, the children would sneak out of the house to their neighbours where they practiced singing and playing music. Eventually, Joseph found out about their musical abilities and decided to capitalise upon it in order to leave Gary for sunny Los Angeles. Due to Joseph Jackson's strict religious beliefs, the Jackson kids were kept locked in their house while he worked the night shift.

At one point, his sister LaToya was shunned by Jehovah's Witnesses, and in 1987, he formally left the religion. It was said that in 2003 he embraced Nation of Islam. His career and flamboyant style led to friction with congregation elders. Jackson continued to do so after becoming famous, but then in disguise. At the behest of their mother Katherine, the Jackson children were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses and practiced door-to-door evangelization.

Jackson broke down and wept during a television interview when asked about this, and said that even as an adult just meeting his father often made him physically ill. Jackson and his sister LaToya both claimed that their father was cruel and physically abusive to his children. The entire family--including older siblings Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, LaToya, and Marlon, and younger siblings Randy and Janet--lived in a tiny two-bedroom house, and Jackson's father Joseph Jackson earned a meager living working in a steel mill. Jackson was born the seventh of nine children in Gary, Indiana to Joseph Jackson and Katherine Jackson.

It is second to The Eagles' greatest hits collection Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975), which has sold 28 million copies. The album is also the best-selling album containing all-original material in terms of domestic US sales--26 million copies sold). His hit album Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time worldwide with over 50 million copies sold. MTV and Rolling Stone magazine recently named four of his songs ("Billie Jean" #5, The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" #9, "Beat It" #23, and "Rock with You" #82) among the 100 greatest pop songs of all time.

His Thriller video is considered one of the greatest music videos of all time and a large step forward in artistic quality for music videos. Estimates of his album sales worldwide range from 200 million to well over 300 million. Jackson, who rose to fame in childhood as the lead singer of the Motown act The Jackson 5, has received numerous music industry awards including 18 Grammys. The trial is in Santa Maria, California.

He denies the charges. He is a generous children's friend, but he has also repeatedly been accused of sexual abuse of children and is, as of March 2005, on trial for alleged child molestation and other offenses. Jackson's successful career has gained him legions of devoted fans, yet he has been dogged by media fascination with his changing physical appearance and what some perceive as an "eccentric" lifestyle, which has led the tabloid press to dub him "Wacko Jacko" (which Jackson says he finds hurtful). He is also known as The King of Pop or the King of the Music Video.

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), is an African-American man who became one of the most successful popular music singers of all time. Space Channel 5 Part 2 is a dance game co-starring Michael Jackson, for the PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast. Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is an arcade game that was ported to the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis) and Sega Master System. 2004: Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls (Agent M.J.).

2002: Men in Black II (Agent M). 1997: Ghosts (Maestro/Mayor/Ghoul Mayor/Super Ghoul/Skeleton). 1988: Michael Jackson: Moonwalker (Himself). 1986: Captain EO (Captain EO).

1978: The Wiz (Scarecrow). 2003: "One More Chance" (#5 UK). 2002: "Butterflies" (#2 R&B). 2001: "You Rock My World" (#2 UK).

1997: "HIStory/Ghosts" (#5 UK). 1997: "Blood On The Dance Floor" (#1 UK). 1996: "Stranger In Moscow" (#4 UK). 1996: "Why" (3T featuring Michael Jackson) (#2 UK).

1995: "Earth Song" (#1 UK). 1995: "You Are Not Alone" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B, #1 UK). 1995: "Scream" (with Janet Jackson) (#5 Pop, #2 R&B, #3 UK). 1993: "Give In To Me" (#2 UK).

1992: "Heal The World" (#2 UK). 1992: "Remember The Time" (#3 Pop, #1 R&B, #3 UK). 1991: "Black Or White" (#1 Pop, #3 R&B, #1 UK). 1989: "Leave Me Alone" (#2 UK).

1988: "Smooth Criminal" (#2 R&B). 1988: "Dirty Diana" (#1 Pop, #8 R&B, #4 UK). 1988: "Man In The Mirror" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B). 1987: "Another Part Of Me" (#1 R&B).

1987: "The Way You Make Me Feel" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B, #3 UK). 1987: "Bad" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B, #3 UK). 1987: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B, #1 UK). 1984: "Thriller" (#4 Pop, #3 R&B).

1983: "Say Say Say" (Paul McCartney with Michael Jackson) (#1 Pop, #2 R&B, #2 UK). 1983: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" (#5 Pop, #5 R&B). 1983: "Beat It" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B, #3 UK). 1983: "Billie Jean" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B , #1 UK).

1983: "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney) (#2 Pop, #1 R&B). 1981: "One Day In Your Life" (#1 UK). 1980: "Off The Wall" (#5 R&B). 1980: "She's Out Of My Life" (#3 UK).

1980: "Rock With You" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B). 1979: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (#1 Pop, #1 R&B, #3 UK). 1972: "Ben" (#1 Pop, #5 R&B). 1972: "Rockin' Robin" (#2 Pop, #2 R&B #3 UK).

1971: "Got to Be There" (#4 Pop, #4 R&B, #5 UK). 2004: Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (box set). 2003: Number Ones. 1997: Blood on the Dance Floor.

1995: HIStory (double-album: disc one is a greatest hits collection, disc two is all-new material). 2001: Invincible. 1991: Dangerous. 1987: Bad.

1982: Thriller. 1979: Off the Wall. 1984: Farewell My Summer Love. 1975: Forever, Michael.

1973: Music and Me. 1972: Ben. 1972: Got to Be There.