Michael Jackson biography, kids, age and cause of death, family and heirs

Michael Jackson Biography

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer and dancer, who began his career performing in the family group "The Jacksons". In 1972, he launched his solo career and quickly achieved unprecedented success. His sixth studio album, "Thriller", has remained the best-selling album in history for over 30 years, cementing Michael Jackson's status as a pop music legend.

Childhood: Humiliation and First Fame

The boy who would become the King of Pop was born in the small town of Gary, Indiana. The boy's parents, Joseph Jackson and Katherine Scruse, were married in November 1949. Music brought them together: Joseph was a bluesman who played guitar, while Katherine, half Native American and half African American from rural roots, was passionate about country music.

At 19, Katherine quickly discovered that married life wasn't as rosy as she'd imagined. Joseph turned out to be aloof and even cruel.

By the time Michael was born in 1958, the Jackson family already had seven children. Joseph's parenting style was harsh: he humiliated his children both emotionally and physically. Michael's brother Marlon said their father would explode at the slightest mistake. To instill discipline, he'd put on a terrifying mask at night, sneak up to the children's windows, and roar at them (Michael later admitted he was constantly plagued by nightmares as a child). Meanwhile, Katherine forced her sons to study the Bible and dragged them to Jehovah's Witness meetings.

It wasn't until 1993 that Michael Jackson told Oprah Winfrey how he constantly cried and felt lonely during those years, and was literally sick of interacting with his father.

Young Michael Jackson already loved eccentric dances

In 1964, the brothers formed the band "The Jacksons". Initially, the older brothers—Tito, Jermaine, and Jackie—were the main act, while Michael and Marlon served as backup musicians, playing tambourine and conga. Later, Michael became a backup singer and accompanied every performance with dances. Their strict father watched the band's rehearsals with a belt in his hand, ready to use his leather weapon if he didn't like something.

The Jackson brothers rehearsed tirelessly, fearing their strict father

In 1966, it was decided to rename the band "Jackson 5", and Michael became the lead singer. The young musicians won a local talent contest with "I Got You (I Feel Good)," then embarked on a Midwest tour that lasted until 1968. Michael and his brothers performed in Black strip clubs, warming up audiences before the main acts took the stage.

In 1970, the Jackson 5 went national—their first singles shot to the top of the Billboard charts. Even then, Michael captured the audience's attention with eccentric dances that he copied from Jackie Wilson and James Brown.

Jackson 5 on the American Bandstand show, 1970

Beginning of Solo Career

In 1973, the Jackson 5 found themselves at odds with their record label, Motown Records. Despite the tension, Michael still managed to release four solo albums with the label: his debut album "Got to Be There" (1972), which sold over five million copies, "Ben" (1972), "Music&Me" (1973), and finally, "Forever, Michael" (1975).

Michael Jackson began his solo career in 1972

In 1976, the Jacksons signed a contract with CBS Records, after which they had to revert to the name "The Jacksons" - Motown retained the rights to "Jackson 5".

Michael Jackson as Scarecrow, musical 'The Wiz'

In 1978, Michael Jackson participated in the filming of the Broadway musical "The Wiz" alongside Diana Ross. On set, he met music director Quincy Jones, who took the talented singer—who played the Scarecrow—under his wing.

Producer Quincy Jones nurtured Michael Jackson's talent

Their collaboration first bore fruit in 1979, when Michael Jackson presented his fifth solo album "Off the Wall" to the public. Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder assisted the musician in recording the album. Four singles from the album dominated the Billboard Hot 100: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", "Rock with You", "She's Out of My Life" and "Off the Wall". A total of 20 million copies of the album were sold worldwide.

The Unconventional Michael Jackson, 1979

The King of Pop

By the early 1980s, Michael Jackson had already achieved phenomenal success, with fans eagerly awaiting his new album, "Thriller". The album took 8 months to produce and included 9 tracks, 4 of which were penned by Michael himself.

Released in 1982, Thriller became a phenomenon

Released in November 1982, the album became the best-selling album in history within a year – a record it held for several decades. In the US alone, fans bought 26 million copies, while global sales exceeded 109 million. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart for 37 weeks and remained on the list for two years.

Michael Jackson's Thriller remains the best-selling album in history

The album was a breakthrough in music that also shattered the last racial stereotypes in the pop industry: three of Michael Jackson's videos ("Thriller", "Billie Jean", "Beat It") went into rotation on MTV, and the musician was invited to the White House to meet with Ronald Reagan.

Michael Jackson first demonstrates the moonwalk

In 1983, at Motown Records' 25th anniversary celebration, Michael Jackson first unveiled his famous "moonwalk" during his performance of "Billie Jean". He also showcased a 14-minute video for the song "Thriller", setting new standards for music videos.

Michael Jackson – Thriller, full clip

In 1984, Jackson was back at the top of the charts. This time, his collaboration with Paul McCartney on "Say Say Say" hit big. The following year, Jackson bought a controlling stake in ATV Music Publishing, which owned the rights to most Beatles songs, causing a fallout with McCartney who had also been eyeing the valuable catalog.

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney working on Say Say Say

In March 1985, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie recorded the composition "We Are the World". All proceeds – over $61 million – were donated to help starving children in Africa.

Michael Jackson's seventh studio album ("Bad", 1987) didn't match the phenomenal success of "Thriller," but it still topped the Billboard 200 for 6 weeks, sold 29 million copies, and delivered several hits, including the compositions "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Dirty Diana", "Smooth Criminal" and "Man in the Mirror".

Immediately after the album's release, Michael Jackson embarked on his first international solo tour, the "Bad Tour", visiting 15 countries with 123 concerts over the next three years. Jackson turned every performance into a dazzling spectacle, showcasing incredible dance moves and connecting with audiences. During one of his London concerts, he made it into the Guinness Book of Records – the performance attracted a record half a million spectators.

Every performance of Michael Jackson was a spectacle

In 1989, Elizabeth Taylor crowned Michael Jackson the "real king of pop, rock, and soul music" during the Soul Train Music Awards ceremony. Fans shortened her phrase to "King of Pop", and this nickname stuck with Michael forever.

In 1991, Michael thrilled fans with fresh material, dropping his eighth solo album, "Dangerous". The album launch was kicked off by the video premiere for "Black or White", which dominated the charts for 5 weeks.

Michael Jackson – Black or White, 1991

Further Career

Michael Jackson didn't release his next studio album ("Invincible") until 2001. The 16-track album featured collaborations with Notorious B.I.G ("Unbreakable"), Chris Tucker ("You Rock My World") and Carlos Santana ("Whatever Happens").

Michael dedicated the album to a tragic Oslo incident - the January 26, 2001 murder of 16-year-old Afro-Norwegian Benjamin Hermansen by neo-Nazis. The victim's close friend, Omer Bhatti, was also tight with Michael Jackson, so the musician took the teenager's death especially hard.

Omer Bhatti, Michael Jackson's old friend and fan

Following the album's release, Michael Jackson staged a Madison Square Garden performance celebrating his 30th solo career anniversary. He reunited onstage with the former "Jackson Five" for the first time since 1984, and also performed alongside Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, N'Sync, and Usher.

Michael Jackson and 'The Jacksons', 2001

In 2003, Michael dropped the hits collection "Number Ones", packed with several previously unreleased tracks, including the brand new "One More Chance".

During this period, Michael faced child molestation accusations, and though he was acquitted, many celebrities refused to collaborate with Jackson on a charity song for Hurricane "Katrina" victims. The song "I Have This Dream" was eventually recorded, but never saw commercial release.

In 2004, the five-disc "Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection' Box Set" dropped with 13 previously unreleased songs, followed in August 2008 by the hits collection "King of Pop", celebrating Michael Jackson's 50th birthday.

All Michael Jackson's stage images in one picture

Michael Jackson planned to release his eleventh studio album in 2009.

Personal Life of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was married twice. His first wife was Elvis Presley's daughter. Jackson first met Lisa Marie Presley in 1975 at an event at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, but at that time, she was only 8 years old.

Michael Jackson with his first wife, daughter of Elvis Presley

Their next meeting took place in 1993. They began bonding and quickly became best friends, with Lisa supporting him when it seemed everyone had turned their backs on Jackson. One day, he asked her over the phone, "Would you marry me if I asked?" Six months later, they secretly wed in the Dominican Republic. By 1996, their marriage ended, but the former spouses remained friends.

Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley remained friends

Michael was deeply affected by the divorce, which worsened his vitiligo. During a visit to his personal dermatologist, Arnold Klein, he met his assistant, Debbie Rowe. They struck up a conversation, and Debbie asked what was bothering him most. The musician replied that he deeply regretted not having children with Lisa. Then she offered to bear Jackson's child so he could experience the joy of fatherhood.

Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe got married out of convenience

Michael readily agreed. She gave birth to two children: son Prince Michael Joseph Jackson and daughter Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson. In 1999, Debbie felt her mission was complete and filed for divorce, giving up all parental rights.

Children of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe

In 2002, Michael Jackson's second son was born - Prince Michael Joseph Jackson II. The name of the surrogate mother who carried the child was kept secret by the musician.

Michael Jackson with his son on a hotel balcony in Berlin

During the artist's tour in Berlin, a journalist managed to film a video of Michael Jackson standing on a hotel balcony holding his youngest son. The press turned the clip into a full-blown scandal, accusing the singer of recklessly endangering the child. After this incident, the artist became wary of the press and hid all details of his personal life, and when the Jacksons appeared in public together, the children's faces were masked.

Pedophilia Accusations

In 1988, Michael acquired 112 hectares of land in California, near the town of Santa Barbara. In this private retreat, the superstar could finally be himself, away from prying eyes. He transformed the ranch into every kid's fantasy: a mansion that looked like a fairytale palace, complete with a miniature railway, carousels, a zoo, and countless colorful sculptures. He named this amusement park "Neverland," in honor of the book about Peter Pan, the boy who would never grow up.

In 1993, the singer was accused of molesting thirteen-year-old Jordan Chandler, who was a fan of the artist and a frequent visitor to the Neverland ranch. The boy confessed to his father, Evan Chandler, that during visits, Jackson made the boy touch his genitals. During the investigation, Michael was even forced to expose himself so authorities could verify the boy's detailed descriptions.

The case was eventually settled: the Chandlers dropped their lawsuit after Michael paid the family $22 million.

In 2003, Michael Jackson was again brought to court on charges of a similar crime. The new "victim" was thirteen-year-old Gavin Arvizo, who told the press that Michael had given him alcohol and engaged in mutual masturbation with him.

Authorities searched Jackson's estate and arrested the singer, but released him on bail within a day. Throughout the investigation, Jackson maintained that the Arvizo family was following the Chandlers' playbook and attempting extortion. The lawsuits lasted two years, and in the end, Michael Jackson was fully acquitted. The allegations alone devastated Jackson's reputation and career, regardless of the trial's outcome.

Michael Jackson's fans decorate the idol's ranch as a sign of support

In 2005, Michael Jackson left the Neverland ranch forever, moving into a mansion in Holmby Hills.

Mansion in Holmby Hills rented by Michael Jackson

After Jackson's death in 2009, Jordan Chandler admitted the molestation claims were completely fabricated and that his father had coerced him into lying. In November of the same year, elder Chandler committed suicide.

After the death of Michael Jackson, Evan Chandler committed suicide

Plastic Surgery and Michael Jackson's Disease

In 1987, after the release of the music video for the title song of the album "Bad", fans noticed changes in their idol's face, and with each subsequent performance, the singer became even paler and thinner.

How Michael Jackson's Appearance Changed

The media became obsessed with the artist's changing appearance: journalists spun wild theories about why Michael Jackson was whitening his skin and altering his facial features, even accusing him of body dysmorphia - a hatred of his own body.

Michael Jackson Was Accused of Hatred Towards His Body

In the early '90s, Michael finally put the rumors to rest by revealing he'd been diagnosed with two rare diseases in 1986 - vitiligo and lupus. While vitiligo only affected his skin pigmentation, creating light patches (explaining Michael's ghostly pale complexion - thick makeup covered the contrast between healthy and affected areas), lupus, a dangerous autoimmune disease attacking connective tissue, caused his cheekbones to hollow out and his face to change shape. The powerful medications prescribed during lupus flare-ups also led to Michael's dangerous addiction to painkillers.

Vitiligo Manifested in Michael Jackson in His Youth

Regarding Michael Jackson's plastic surgeries, experts who tracked the artist's gradual transformation concluded he'd undergone multiple procedures. They claimed he'd had multiple nose jobs, lip reshaping, cheek and eyelid work, and even had a chin dimple created. Michael's mother confirmed that her son had, in her view, become addicted to plastic surgery. The artist himself claimed that he had only undergone rhinoplasty twice.

Michael Jackson said, he only had rhinoplasty twice

Death

On June 25, 2009, at 12:21 local time, someone called California emergency services. A frantic voice requested an ambulance at the Holmby Hills estate - Michael Jackson's residence. Paramedics arrived at the scene in 3 minutes and 17 seconds, finding the King of Pop's lifeless body with a barely detectable pulse.

CPR attempts en route to and at UCLA Medical Center failed - Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 PM. News of Michael Jackson's death spread worldwide within minutes.

The police immediately began investigating the incident. The singer's personal physician, Conrad Murray, was first to be questioned. He claimed he found Jackson unconscious in bed, detected a pulse, and attempted CPR. When revival attempts failed, he called for an ambulance. A crucial detail emerged - Michael had rented the mansion, so Conrad didn't know the exact address. It took a full 30 minutes to determine the location - a delay that proved fatal for Jackson.

That was Conrad Murray's story, but investigators continued digging. Emmy Award producer Ken Ehrlich had seen the singer the day before his death - and Jackson appeared energetic and spirited.

A minute of silence at Michael Jackson's star on the Walk of Fame

The autopsy revealed the singer was severely malnourished - at 5'10", he weighed just 112 pounds. His stomach contained no food, but investigators found significant amounts of painkillers. On August 24, the autopsy determined the actual cause of Michael's death - a fatal overdose of propofol administered intravenously. The cause of Michael Jackson's death was listed as "homicide".

On July 29, 2009, Conrad Murray admitted giving Michael Jackson a propofol injection shortly before his death, along with several sedatives - the singer had recently been battling insomnia and pain from plastic surgery complications and spinal issues, requiring anesthesia and sleep aids.

Propofol found in Michael Jackson's bedroom

In November 2011, Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Conrad Murray agreed with the court's decision

Funeral

On July 7, 2009, a private farewell ceremony was held for the idol of millions. Jackson's closest friends gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Tributes were read from Diana Ross, Nelson Mandela, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, and the children of Martin Luther King. The ceremony concluded with a speech by Paris Jackson. Fighting back tears, she said, "He was the best father you could ever possibly imagine..."

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris couldn't hold back her tears

On September 3, 2009, 70 days after his passing, Michael Jackson was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Michael Jackson's Funeral

Posthumous Albums of Michael Jackson

When Michael Jackson's will was unveiled, it revealed that his children inherited the rights to two hundred of his unreleased songs. His real estate and financial assets went to the Jackson Family Trust, managed by Katherine Jackson. Notably, Joseph Jackson wasn't mentioned in the will, nor was Debbie Rowe, the mother of Michael's older children.

Michael Jackson's children have grown up and chosen their own path

In December 2010, Michael Jackson's first posthumous album was released. The album, titled "Michael," featured 10 tracks recorded with Lenny Kravitz, 50 Cent, and Taryll Jackson. The album's release divided fans: some felt it was wrong to publish songs Michael had deliberately kept private, viewing it as purely commercial. Others were happy that their idol could still delight fans with new music even after his death. Many celebrities, including Michael's brother Randy Jackson, called the album "raw" and "unfinished."

The album "Xscape," released in 2014, received warmer reviews. It included only 8 songs. The song "Love Never Felt So Good" became a fan favorite, with listeners noting the track rivaled his best hits from "Thriller" or "Off the Wall."

Michael Jackson continues to live in the hearts of millions

Michael Jackson: latest news and articles

Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury refused to work together because of an animal

29 Apr 2025

Brandy Moore

Jackson always will be popular, even now in many places you can hear his music.

2021-04-04 14:20:53
Jason Powell

At home, I have even his tree discs with his music but, to be honest, I don`t like remixes, I like more classic.

2021-03-28 15:53:39
Annie Robinson

I respected Michael Jackson very much until I saw Leaving Neverland. I was really sad to look at the victims of his perversions, at their indifferent parents ..

2021-03-07 16:18:06
Richard Buchanan

Great talent and creative work of Michael many people will remember for a million years, I`m sure.

2021-02-22 18:40:51
Clayton Pierce

I still consider him as a king of pop music. Nobody didn`t repeat his success.

2021-02-19 10:44:47

Photos: Michael Jackson