Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1990

Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in 1980

Michael Jackson in In New York City in 1977

Michael Jackson and his sister Janet pose for a photo at their Hollywood Hills home in 1972

Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 pose for photo in 1970

Jackson 5 in 1966 (Michael Jackson on far right)

M J's Last Days Depicted In Rolling Stone

Following up on their Michael Jackson tribute issue, Rolling Stone has put the pop star on the cover for the second consecutive issue. The cover story, called "Michael Jackson's Final Days," delves deep into the events that led up to Jackson's death on June 25, including preparations for his This Is It concerts in London and his attempts to reorganize his life into something a little more inconspicuous. The piece visits Jackson's rehearsal spaces (there were a total of three) and quotes the people who surrounded the singer at the end of his life, including session musicians, security guards and promoters. "They seemed like they'd be the people who would have the least amount of spin," writer Claire Hoffman says in a video on the magazine's Web site. "Everybody was saying that he was really, really into this. He was so pumped about doing this tour. He wanted it to be the greatest show on Earth."

Michael Jackson's Kids Could Be Performers

Joe Jackson famously launched his sons, the Jackson 5, into superstardom, laying the groundwork for Michael Jackson's legendary career. And, in a "Good Morning America" interview on Friday (July 10), the family patriarch seemed to think Michael's children have bright futures in entertainment"I don't know — I keep watching Paris," he said, referring to Jackson's middle child, who spoke memorably at her father's memorial on Tuesday. "She ... wants to do something. And as far as I can see, well, they say Blanket [Michael's youngest child, Prince Michael II], he can really dance."

In the interview, when asked who should get custody of Blanket, Paris and Prince, he said he felt they should stay with the Jacksons, and specifically with Joe and his reportedly estranged wife, Katherine. "Their grandmother — Katherine — and I" should raise them, he said. "Yes, there's no one else to do what we can do for them. We should keep them all together and then make them happy, feed 'em like they're supposed to be fed, and let them get rest, plenty of sleep and grow up to be strong Jacksons."

michael_jackson_lisa_marie

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

Pop star Michael Jackson has died. Jackson, 50, was rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon and was reportedly not breathing. Jackson was known as the king of pop and was one of the most successful entertainers of all time. He started out with the Jackson Five in the 1960s and began a solo career in the 1980s that spanned three decades. Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958 and was led into the music industry by his father, Joseph Jackson. With his brothers Jackie, Tito Jermaine and Marlon, the Jacksons dominated the music scene throughout the 1970s. Jackson's "Thriller" album was the biggest-selling album of all time, and the music video became a legend, widely regarded as one of the best ever. Jackson also acted, playing the Scarecrow in the 1979 film "The Wiz," an adaptation of the Broadway musical based on "The Wizard of Oz." He was married twice, once to Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley. In February 1984, Jackson held a record-breaking 12 Grammy nominations, going on to win eight, the most Grammy Awards to be won by anyone in a single year. He was also named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by the Guinness Book of World Records. In 2005, he was acquitted of all charges of child molestation in a highly publicized case that required Jackson to surrender to police authorities. TMZ was the first news outlet to report the story, around 5:20 p.m. Despite the TMZ report, CNN reported at 6:22 p.m. EDT that Michael Jackson was "in a coma." By 6:25 p.m., the Los Angeles Times confirmed the report of Jackson's death. By 6:30 p.m., the Associated Press and NBC News confirmed the singer's death. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office finally confirmed Jackson's death at 7:36 p.m.

Michael in 1972

The Jackson Five's sales declined after 1972, and the group suffered under Motown's strict refusal to allow the Jacksons creative control or input. The left Motown in 1975. In 1976, the group signed a new contract with CBS Records (first joining the Philadelphia International division and later moving over to Epic Records).

Invincible (2001)

1. "Unbreakable" 6:26

2. "Heartbreaker" 5:09

3. "Invincible" 4:46

4. "Break of Dawn" 5:32

5. "Heaven Can Wait" 4:49

6. "You Rock My World" 5:39

7. "Butterflies" 4:40

8. "Speechless" Jackson 3:18

9. "2000 Watts" 4:24

10. "You Are My Life" 4:33

11. "Privacy" 5:05

12. "Don't Walk Away" 4:24

13. "Cry" 5:00

14. "The Lost Children" 4:00

15. "Whatever Happens" 4:56

16. "Threatened" 4:18

Blood on the Dance Floor (1997)

1. "Blood on the Dance Floor" 4:14

2. "Morphine" 6:26

3. "Superfly Sister" 6:27

4. "Ghosts" M. Jackson, Riley 5:13

5. "Is It Scary" 5:35

6. "Scream Louder (Flyte Tyme Remix)" 5:27

7. "Money (Fire Island Radio Edit)" 4:22

8. "2 Bad (Refugee Camp Mix)" 3:32

9. "Stranger in Moscow (In-House Mix)" 6:55

10. "This Time Around (D.M. Radio Mix)" 4:05

11. "Earth Song (Hani's Club Exp.)" 7:55

12. "You Are Not Alone (Classic C. Mix)" 7:38

13. "HIStory (T. M.'s HIStory Lesson)" 8:00

HIStory: Past, Present & Future (1995

1. Billie Jean 4:52

2. The Way You Make Me Feel 4:57

3. Black Or White 4:15

4. Rock With You 3:39

5. She's Out Of My Life 3:37

6. Bad 4:06

7. I Just Can't Stop Loving You 4:11

8. Man In The Mirror 5:18

9. Thriller 5:56

10. Beat It 4:18

11. The Girl Is Mine 3:41

12. Remember The Time 3:59

13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 6:04

14. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 6:01

15. Heal The World 6:24

1. Scream 4:37

2. They Don't Care About Us 4:43

3. Stranger In Moscow 5:43

4. This Time Around 4:20

5. Earth Song 6:45

6. D.S. 4:49

7. Money 4:41

8. Come Together 4:01

9. You Are Not Alone 5:45

10. Childhood ("Free Willy 2") 4:27

11. Tabloid Junkie 4:32

12. 2 Bad 4:49

13. History 6:37

14. Little Susie / Pie Jesu 6:13

15. Smile 4:55

Dangerous (1991)

1. "Jam" 5:39

2. "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" 5:24

3. "In the Closet" 6:31

4. "She Drives Me Wild" 3:41

5. "Remember the Time" 4:00

6. "Can't Let Her Get Away" 4:58

7. "Heal the World" 6:24

8. "Black or White" 4:15

9. "Who Is It" 6:34

10. "Give In to Me" 5:29

11. "Will You Be There" 7:40

12. "Keep the Faith" 5:57

13. "Gone Too Soon" 3:26

14. "Dangerous" 6:59

Bad (1987)

1. "Bad" 4:07

2. "The Way You Make Me Feel" 4:58

3. "Speed Demon" 4:03

4. "Liberian Girl" Jackson 3:53

5. "Just Good Friends" (m/ S. Wonder) 4:08

6. "Another Part of Me" 3:54

7. "Man in the Mirror" 5:19

8. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" 4:13

9. "Dirty Diana" 4:41

10. "Smooth Criminal" 4:17

11. "Leave Me Alone" 4:40

Thriller (1982)

1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" 6:02
2. "Baby Be Mine" 4:20
3. "The Girl Is Mine" (m/P. McCartney) 3:42
4. "Thriller" 5:57
5. "Beat It" 4:19
6. "Billie Jean" 4:54
7. "Human Nature" 4:05
8. "P.Y.T." 3:58
9. "The Lady in My Life" 4:59

Off the Wall (1979)

1. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" 6:05

2. "Rock with You" 3:40

3. "Workin' Day and Night" 5:14

4. "Get on the Floor" 4:39

5. "Off the Wall" 4:06

6. "Girlfriend" 3:05

7. "She's out of My Life" 3:38

8. "I Can't Help It" 4:28

9. "It's the Falling in Love" (m/P. Austin) 3:48 10. "Burn This Disco Out" 3:40

Forever Michael (1975)

1. "We're Almost There" 3:42

2. "Take Me Back" 3:24

3. "One Day in Your Life" 4:15

4. "Cinderella Stay Awhile" 3:08

5. "We've Got Forever" 3:10

6. "Just a Little Bit of You" 3:10

7. "You Are There" 3:21

8. "Dapper Dan" 3:11

9. "Dear Michael" 2:35

10. "I'll Come Home to You" 3:02

Music and Me (1973)

1. "With a Child's Heart" 3:29

2. "Up Again" 2:50

3. "All the Things You Are" 2:59

4. "Happy" 3:25

5. "Too Young" 3:38

6. "Doggin' Around" 2:52

7. "Johnny Raven" 3:33

8. "Euphoria" 2:50

9. "Morning Glow" 3:37

10. "Music and Me" 2:38

Ben (1972)

1. "Ben" 2:44

2. "The Greatest Show on Earth" 2:48

3. "People Make the World Go Round" 3:15

4. "We've Got a Good Thing Going" 2:59

5. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" 2:59

6. "My Girl" 3:08

7. "What Goes Around Comes Around" 3:33

8. "In Our Small Way" 3:39

9. "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" 3:21

10. "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" 2:39

Got to be There (1972)

1. "Ain't No Sunshine" 4:09

2. "I Wanna Be Where You Are" 3:01

3. "Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me" 3:46

4. "In Our Small Way" Beatrice Verdi 3:34

5. "Got to Be There" 3:23

6. "Rockin' Robin" 2:31

7. "Wings of My Love" 3:32

8. "Maria (You Were the Only One)" 3:41

9. "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" 2:51

10. "You've Got a Friend" 4:53

MICHAEL JACKSON (1958-2009)

Pop star Michael Jackson has died.
Jackson, 50, was rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon and was reportedly not breathing.
Jackson was known as the king of pop and was one of the most successful entertainers of all time. He started out with the Jackson Five in the 1960s and began a solo career in the 1980s that spanned three decades.
Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958 and was led into the music industry by his father, Joseph Jackson. With his brothers Jackie, Tito Jermaine and Marlon, the Jacksons dominated the music scene throughout the 1970s.
Jackson's "Thriller" album was the biggest-selling album of all time, and the music video became a legend, widely regarded as one of the best ever. Jackson also acted, playing the Scarecrow in the 1979 film "The Wiz," an adaptation of the Broadway musical based on "The Wizard of Oz."
He was married twice, once to Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley.
In February 1984, Jackson held a record-breaking 12 Grammy nominations, going on to win eight, the most Grammy Awards to be won by anyone in a single year. He was also named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by the Guinness Book of World Records.
In 2005, he was acquitted of all charges of child molestation in a highly publicized case that required Jackson to surrender to police authorities.
TMZ was the first news outlet to report the story, around 5:20 p.m. Despite the TMZ report, CNN reported at 6:22 p.m. EDT that Michael Jackson was "in a coma." By 6:25 p.m., the Los Angeles Times confirmed the report of Jackson's death. By 6:30 p.m., the Associated Press and NBC News confirmed the singer's death. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office finally confirmed Jackson's death at 7:36 p.m.

Bad

In the case of Michael Jackson’s death, I was listening to the radio when it happened, and the radio announcer was literally crying while announcing it. It was pretty wild.

Memorial

am live-tweeting the Michael Jackson Memorial as it is being broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tweets will be in reverse order, with updates at the top of the article as they are posted. Refresh screen for updates:



*This concludes the memorial service for Michael Jackson at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
*"We pray this moment will not be forgotten. . .as a reminder that we, too, can make a change."
*"Even know the King of Pop must bow his knee to the King of Kings."
*"Let us stop judging people by the color of their skin and the accent of their voice." (prayer)
*Closing prayer, pastor asks everyone to join hands.
*"My prayer is that this is more than a memorial, but a remembrance of what he means to us."
*"We should all look at the man, or the woman, in the mirror. . .and make that change, starting today."
*Pastor Lucious Smith, who opened the service, is making closing remarks.
*Music to "Man in the Mirror" (without MJ vocals) being played as casket exits with pallbearers.

The transcendent performer

Do we remember Michael Jackson as the transcendent performer, who, as a former Sony music executive said, “fused R&B and pop to create what became a world culture?” Or do we remember the other side of Jackson’s legacy: the accusations of pedophilia and the radical plastic surgery that destroyed his face and seemed to deny his race?According to musicians he collaborated with, Jackson displayed the comportment and disposition of a sweet child. Former Beatle, Paul McCartney (who may be one of the few people alive who can relate the heights of fame Jackson reached) called Jackson, "the massively talented boy man with a gentle soul."There is a haunting corollary to that first question: Did our strange society, its expectations and the pressures of extreme fame “create” the other side of Jackson’s legacy? Is the Jackson duality a reflection of us? (“I am talking about the man in the mirror.”)That is, of course, a trite and obvious question. Yes, to some degree fame contributed to his eccentricities; he was a superstar since he was 10 years old. But he would never have been so popular if his product weren’t so appealing, so magnificent.

Moon Walker

As a kid who grew up dancing, Michael Jackson loomed larger than life. At school, every talent show was capped by the best Jackson impersonator and every playground dance battle ended with someone busting out a full MJ routine. Even a mimic, wearing a white kitchen glove, could throw the packed school auditorium into palpitations with the right display of Jackson’s trademark moves, especially the moonwalk, which Jackson first debuted on March, 25, 1983, one day after I was born.Michael Jackson didn’t invent the moonwalk, but he did make it his own, performing it with such technical mastery, and to such a wide audience, that the move and the man became inseparable. The legendary first performance occurred during a live television special, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, which drew a one-night audience of 47 million people. The move comes late in the performance of his hit single “Billy Jean” and is, in essence, a simple back slide. The same move had been demonstrated by countless performers, from Cab Calloway to Fred Astaire, and was a standard among tap dancers for decades. Yet something about the way Jackson performed it that night made it stand out for the ages.

Black or White

In the grab bag of oddities that is the second half of Michael Jackson’s biography — the seclusion at Neverland, the child molestation charges, the short-lived marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, the dangling of an infant over a balcony parapet, the illnesses, the addictions, the money problems, the unlikely friendships with Arab sheikhs — none is weirder and more troubling to some than Wacko Jacko’s increasingly deracinated physical appearance.As the young star of the Jackson 5, Jackson — the enigmatic and reclusive megastar who died yesterday of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 — began his career with medium-brown skin, African features and a flowing natural hairstyle, the very picture of a handsome young black male. Sometime in the early 1980s, however, Jackson’s skin began to grow lighter, and within a few years he appeared as pale as Robert Pattinson’s vampire in Twilight. At the same time, he underwent a series of plastic surgeries, including several rhinoplasties — which whittled away his nose until, by the end, it barely existed — and the addition of a cleft in his chin. His lips grew noticeably thinner, and his brow and cheekbones also appeared to have been surgically altered. For many, the overall effect of these changes was to make Jackson appear more Caucasian than African American. It was difficult not to suspect that his ongoing physical transformation reflected a desire to escape his racial identity. This was particularly disturbing to many blacks, for whom the specter of internalized racism remains an ongoing concern. Fats Waller’s 1929 jazz standard “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue,” later featured in the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, was a pointed and poignant reminder of how the racism from outside can turn inward: “I’m white inside / but that don’t help my case / ’cause I can’t hide / what is on my face.” In Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama — a close contemporary of Jackson’s — writes about being shaken by a Life magazine article featuring a black man who had tried to bleach his skin white.Jackson knew exactly what was being said about him, and he went out of his way to refute it. In his 1988 autobiography, Moon Walk, he admitted some of the plastic surgeries but denied others, attributing his evolving facial structure to, among other things, hairstyle changes and stage lighting. Far from bleaching his skin, as was widely rumored, Jackson later claimed to suffer from vitiligo, a condition that disrupts skin pigmentation; his paleness, he said, was caused by treatments for the disease and makeup used to even out its blotching effects. In addition, he said, he had been diagnosed with lupus, which, combined with the vitiligo, resulted in a vampiric sensitivity to sunlight.

Then to Now

The seclusion at Neverland, the child molestation charges, the short-lived marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, the dangling of an infant over a balcony parapet, the illnesses, the addictions, the money problems, the unlikely friendships with Arab sheikhs — none is weirder and more troubling to some than Wacko Jacko’s increasingly deracinated As the young star of the Jackson 5, Jackson — the enigmatic and reclusive megastar who died yesterday of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 — began his career with medium-brown skin, African features and a flowing natural hairstyle, the very picture of a handsome young black male. Sometime in the early 1980s, however, Jackson’s skin began to grow lighter, and within a few years he appeared as pale as Robert Pattinson’s vampire in Twilight. At the same time, he underwent a series of plastic surgeries, including several rhinoplasties — which whittled away his nose until, by the end, it barely existed — and the addition of a cleft in his chin. His lips grew noticeably thinner, and his brow and cheekbones also appeared to have been surgically altered.

King of Pop

The King of Pop is Dead. I don’t know of anybody that is really surprised. Think of any other celebrity and you’d at least register a blip on the emotional surprise meter. Not here.
Jackson was talented. He was also, obviously a tortured soul, regardless of the reason. From my experience in show business, being a child star is a tough road to travel. Being a child star in what has widely been reported as a dysfunctional family, then add all the pressures of superstardom, and throw in a bizarre addiction to plastic surgery, and you have formula for an unhappy life and a premature death