"King of Pop"
August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009
In Chicago, electricity sparks in the summer atmosphere. Weekend rush hour begins on Thursdays. Blasting music with or without the windows rolled down. A sun kissed tan by day. A lovely glow by night. Al fresco. All eyes on the television during severe weather turning devastatingly critical.
Let me try again - Summer in Chicago is wide awake and filled with energy built up through the winter months. Hear the city roar...like Michael Jackson.
When the news broke, anything Michael Jackson blasted the radio waves and every car window was down. Strong impact and even more so passionate interest. An unprecedented reaction included a spike in more sales and over 2.5 billion viewers worldwide tuning in to watch Michael Jackson's televised funeral at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Second only to Queen Elizabeth's televised funeral with 4.1 billion viewers worldwide and 28 million in the UK alone)
Early on, fans grew up with him. Every generation after his childhood found something great to listen to. That is quite impressive...
...As are his honors.
Jackson 5 - Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael
Solo as of 1971
Music videos for such songs as "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "Thriller" broke racial barriers
Helped grow success for MTV
Discography -
Got to Be There (1972)
Ben (1972)
Music & Me (1973)
Forever, Michael (1975)
Off the Wall (1979)
Thriller (1982)
Bad (1987)
Dangerous (1991)
HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book (1995)
Invincible (2001)
Thriller - Best selling album of all time
Over 400 million records sold worldwide - one of the best-selling music artists of all time
13 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles - 4th highest on Hot 100 record
First artist to have a Top 10 single on Hot 100 in five different decades
One of the most awarded artists in pop music -
13 Grammy Awards
Grammy Legend Award
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
26 American Music Awards
(esp. Artist of the Century & Artist of the 1980s)
6 BRIT Awards
1 Golden Globe Award
39 Guinness World Records -
Most Successful Entertainer of All Time (etc.)
Inductions -
Hollywood Walk of Fame
(1980 w/ The Jackson 5 and 1984 as a solo)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice)
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Dance Hall of Fame (first to be inducted)
Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame
Inaugural inductee into Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame
Honored by a sitting United States President in the White House three times -
- Presidential Public Safety Commendation honor by Ronald Reagan
(1984) For humanitarian causes
- Artist of the Decade honor by George H. W. Bush (1990)
- Point of Light Ambassador honor by George H. W. Bush
(1992) For welcoming disadvantaged children into Jackson's Neverland Ranch
This post highlights honors only. Michael Jackson's full history will fill in the rest. Follow the link above.
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