“King of Pop” Michael Jackson dies at age 50
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson, one of the most commercially successful entertainers in history, dies at the age of 50 at his home in Los Angeles, California, after suffering from cardiac arrest caused by a fatal combination of drugs given to him by his personal doctor.
Jackson released his first solo album, “Got to Be There,” in 1972, while continuing to sing with his brothers. Six years later, in 1978, he made his big-screen debut as the Scarecrow in “The Wiz,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. Directed by Quincy Jones, the film starred an all-Black cast that included singer Diana Ross as Dorothy. Jones collaborated with Jackson on his 1979 album “Off the Wall,” which sold some 7 million copies worldwide. The pair teamed up again for Jackson’s now-iconic 1982 album, “Thriller,” which went on to sell 50 million copies around the globe, making it the best-selling studio album of all time. “Thriller” is credited with jump-starting the era of music videos and playing a key role in the rise of then-fledging cable TV network MTV, which launched in 1981.
In 1983, Jackson created a massive sensation on a live Motown anniversary TV special when he performed his now-signature Moonwalk dance step while wearing a black fedora and a single white glove covered with rhinestones. According to The Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hillburn, the performance served as Jackson’s “unofficial coronation as the King of Pop. Within months, he changed the way people would hear and see pop music, unleashing an influence that rivaled that of Elvis Presley and the Beatles.”
Health and appearance of Michael Jackson
Throughout the career of African-American singer Michael Jackson, there was intense speculation and criticism about his physical appearance, physical and mental health, and sexuality. He first became famous as a child star with the Jackson 5 and later as a solo artist. Jackson said he had been physically abused by his father and had not had a childhood.
As an adult Jackson's appearance began to change, as his nose became thinner and his skin lightened. Media reports and criticism stated that he wanted to look more white and had extensive cosmetic surgery that resulted in a public discussion about his mental health. Jackson said he had not purposely bleached his skin and that he was not trying to be anything he was not. Later he revealed that he had been diagnosed with the skin disorder vitiligo, which results in white patches on the skin and sensitivity to sunlight. To treat the condition, he used makeup to even out his skin. When the condition got worse Jackson used prescription creams to depigment his skin.
Over years a lot of different rumors about Jackson's sexuality and the paternity of his children circulated. In 2005 he was acquitted on child sexual abuse. After suffering from burns on his skull and a back injury Jackson had to take painkillers for the rest of his life. In 1993, he became gradually dependent on these drugs and went into rehabilitation. Jackson also had dehydration and insomnia. While preparing for a series of London comeback concerts scheduled to begin in July 2009, Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication after suffering cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009. His personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death and sentenced to four years in prison
In life of mysteries, Jackson's changed color baffled public
Michael Jackson, at 25, graced the cover of "Thriller." The right photo shows him more than two decades later. But other mysteries abound, particularly related to Jackson's appearance, which changed dramatically from his early adulthood. His features changed, and the color of his skin lightened significantly over the last two decades of his life.
When the face of the most recognizable entertainer in the world faded to near alabaster, the transformation struck a sensitive cultural spot. It intrigued and even offended people, spawning numerous articles and blog posts speculating about his metamorphosis. This week, a source involved with the investigation into Jackson's death said the singer's body was "lily white from head to toe." And another source said Jackson had "paper-white skin. As white as a white T-shirt." The singer denied changing his skin color for vanity reasons and repeatedly asserted that he had a disease called vitiligo, in which the immune system attacks cells that produce melanin, the pigment that determines skin color. The condition results in milky white spots.
For some patients, the discolored spots can spread entirely across the body, leaving only freckles of the original skin color, although this is not very common, experts said. Jackson told Oprah Winfrey in a 1993 interview, "I'm a black American. I am proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race, and I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity of who I am. "I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin. It's something I cannot help. When people make up stories that I don't like who I am, it hurts me," Jackson told Winfrey. Jackson's claims that he had vitiligo elicited both empathy and skepticism.
Michael Jackson's Skin: Why Did Michael Jackson Turn White?
Despite Michael Jackson's contribution to pop-culture and music history, there always has been an air of controversy when it came to his skin colour.
But before we dive right into it, let’s take a look at some pressing questions:
- How Did Michael Jackson Turn White? Michael Jackson’s loss of his dark complexion is mostly attributed to a genetic skin condition called Vitiligo, which caused patches of his skin to turn white.
- Did Michael Jackson Have Vitiligo? Yes, he did. It made him lose skin pigmentation. First starting as spots, then spreading across his body over time.
- Did Michael Jackson Bleach His Skin? Some sources have stated that he had been bleaching his skin, but Jackson and his close family members have never confirmed this.
- How Did Michael Jackson’s Cosmetic Surgeries Impact His Skin? The plastic surgery done on Michael’s face did not have an impact on his skin colour.
- Do His Children, Michael Jr., Prince, And Paris Jackson Have The Same Skin Condition? Michael Jr. and Paris Jackson have not inherited their father’s vitiligo at this stage in their life, but Latoya Jackson has confirmed that Prince has already started to show signs of patched, pale skin. It is also speculated that Prince has undergone a procedure to halt the spread of vitiligo.
Black and White: how Dangerous kicked off Michael Jackson's race paradox
As the King of Pop’s skin got lighter his music became more politicised, and 1991’s overlooked album encapsulated this radical moment in music
For a figure as enigmatic as Michael Jackson, one of the more fascinating paradoxes about his career is this: as he became whiter, he became blacker. Or to put it another way: as his skin became whiter, his work became blacker.
To elaborate, we must rewind to a crucial turning point: the early 1990s. In hindsight, it represents the best of times and the worst of times for the artist. In November 1991, Jackson released the first single from his Dangerous album: Black or White, a bright, catchy pop-rock-rap fusion that soared to No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained at the top of the charts for six weeks. It was his most successful solo single since Beat It. The conversation surrounding Jackson at this point, however, was not about his music. It was about his race. Sure, critics said, he might sing that it “don’t matter if you’re black or white”, but then why had he turned himself white? Was he bleaching his skin? Was he ashamed of his blackness? Was he trying to appeal to every demographic, transcend every identity category in a vainglorious effort to reach greater commercial heights than Thriller?
To this day, many assume Jackson bleached his skin to become white – that it was a wilful cosmetic decision because he was ashamed of his race. Yet in the mid-1980s Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo, a skin disorder that causes loss of pigmentation in patches on the body. According to those close to him, it was an excruciatingly humiliating personal challenge, one in which he went to great lengths to hide through long-sleeve shirts, hats, gloves, sunglasses and masks. When Jackson died in 2009, his autopsy definitively confirmed he had vitiligo, as did his medical history.
Michael Jackson’s Skin Condition Rumors Were Finally Put to Rest in His Autopsy
Prior to his unexpected death at age 50, rumors swirled around pop sensation Michael Jackson for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was whether or not he had a medical condition that turned his skin white. At Jackson‘s autopsy, those rumors were finally put to rest.
A world-famous performer from the tender age of six, Jackson packed a lot of music into his all too brief lifetime. With older brothers Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie, the baby-faced youngster achieved international stardom with catchy pop tunes such as “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “The Love You Save.” Although Jackson’s brothers were talented, it was the youngest member of the Jackson Five who garnered the lion’s share of the public ear along with the hearts and dollars of American teenagers. He was also the sibling about whom the most rumors were whispered.
While performing and recording with the Jackson Five, an adolescent Michael Jackson suffered severe acne breakouts but showed no signs of the discoloring skin disease that troubled him later in life. Nor was any unusual skin condition evident when he recorded his single, “Ben.” By the time he went into the studio to record the Thriller album, however, the 24-year old Jackson was starting to notice odd changes in his skin color.
Did Michael Jackson have vitiligo?
Believe it or not, among the most commonly searched terms with vitiligo on Google Search is Michael Jackson. That’s probably because he is the most famous person to have claimed to suffer from vitiligo, and the disease is rumored to be responsible for a number of his well-known quirks, like wearing a single white glove. But possibly the most controversial discussion about Michael Jackson is the fact that his skin seemed to get lighter over time, and he was accused of using a bleaching treatment on his skin. That, combined with multiple plastic surgeries that changed a number of his features (nose, chin, etc), suggested that he wanted to look less like himself, and more like someone else – some have said he “wanted to look white”. The discussion is complicated, as was his life, but I think there are a few things that I can clear up in this post.
Michael Jackson was undoubtedly an incredibly talented performer, maybe one of the best in history. I remember seeing his music video Thriller, and being utterly amazed at just how innovative he was, not to mention a great singer, songwriter, and dancer. His fame began as a young child (6 years old) when he sang with his brothers in the Jackson Five, and so he spent almost his entire life in the public eye. That is not easy for anyone, but imagine him as a young person, maybe the most famous person on earth, when white spots started to appear on his skin, including his hands and face. He was likely embarrassed and ashamed (like many people with vitiligo who AREN’T constantly on camera for the world to see), and probably did not know exactly what was happening. And if he did get diagnosed early, his doctor wouldn’t be able to tell him how extensive it would become, or whether he would be able to successfully hide it with clothing and makeup.
First, we know that Michael Jackson stated that he had vitiligo, although this was not until many years after rumors were flying about his “turning white” and his many surgeries. The best-known occasion on which he addressed his vitiligo was during an interview with Oprah on her show in 1993. He said that his skin started to change sometime after Thriller, which was released in 1982, so he was about 24 years old when it started, and he had progressed for about 10 years at the point of the interview. He was a 24-year old, one of the most famous people on earth for his music, dancing, and music videos, and he acquired a disease that started to change his appearance and was very difficult to hide. I have met and treated many patients with vitiligo, and I can tell you that for many, even those who are not public icons, it is devastating. They often become the focus of attention in any public place, getting stared at, stopped and asked questions (“did you get burned?” is a common one), and cashiers even refuse to take money from their hands. Michael Jackson, the self-proclaimed perfectionist who was never happy with his music or his appearance (he said he hated to look in the mirror and tried not to), must have been very self-conscious about the white spots appearing on his skin.
How old is Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson was born on 29 August 1958 and died on 25 June 2009 at the age of 50 years. Michael Joseph Jackson was a prominent musician, a singer, a songwriter, a dancer, and a pop music King. He was born in 1958 in Indiana, to a very crowded family of Joe and Katherine Jackson, who had 9 children and both were related to the music world. Their children received a classic Catholic education and were raised by their father who was quite a tough parent.
In 1964, Jackson Brothers formed a band, The Jacksons, which soon turned into Jacksons 5. By the 1970s, the band became famous on the national level, and their songs received popularity by appearing in Top Charts of Billboard Magazine. In 1972, Michael started his own singing career, with the debut album Got To Be There (1975), followed by Ben, Music And Me, and Forever Michael. He tried himself in cinema and collaborated with a few pop music stars like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, etc. With his album Thriller which has sold over 65 million copies around the world. Michael broke a number of records, including the time of remaining in Billboard charts, the number of international awards (include 13 Grammy Awards), etc. This album is still considered to be the world's best selling album ever.
Michael Jackson had a special approach to music and a uniquely recognizable style. He made a revolution in video art and dancing, by presenting to the world his special Moonwalk. He is famous for his songs like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", which are among the best selling ones of all times. He was married twice and had 3 children. He died in 2009 in his house in California, due to an overdose of medicines.
Michael Jackson (1958–2009)
Michael Jackson was a multi-talented musical entertainer who enjoyed a chart-topping career both with the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist. He released one of the best-selling albums in history, 'Thriller,' in 1982, and had other number-one hits on 'Bad' and 'Off the Wall.'
Who Was Michael Jackson?
Known as the "King of Pop," Michael Jackson was a best-selling American singer, songwriter and dancer. As a child, Jackson became the lead singer of his family's popular Motown group, the Jackson 5. He went on to a solo career of astonishing worldwide success, delivering No. 1 hits from the albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. In his later years, Jackson was dogged by allegations of child molestation. He died in 2009 at age 50 of a drug overdose just before launching a comeback tour.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. Under his father's encouragement, Jackson's career in music began at the age of 5. Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, was a homemaker and a devout Jehovah's Witness. His father, Joseph Jackson, had been a guitarist who put aside his musical aspirations to provide for his family as a crane operator. Behind the scenes, Joseph pushed his sons to succeed. He was also reportedly known to become violent with them. Jackson was one of 10 children; nine Jackson siblings, including Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Janet, all made marks in the music industry.
Michael Joseph Jackson Biography (born on 29 Aug 1958)
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, philanthropist and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by the Guinness World Book of Records. The seventh child of the Jackson Family, he debuted on the professional music scene in 1964 at the age of six along with his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon as a backup singer and tambourine player for the Jackson Five. Once signed to Motown in 1969, Michael came to the forefront as one of the lead singer.
In 1972, Michael debuted his first solo album, Got to Be There. Ben, Music & Me, and Forever, Michael followed this album under the Motown label. The Jackson Five then moved to Epic Records in 1975 under the name, “The Jacksons” to gain more musical autonomy and Michael and his brother began writing hit songs, such as, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, “This Place Hotel,” and “Can You Feel It.” In 1978 Michael starred in the musical film The Wiz where he met Quincy Jones, who was arranging the film’s musical score. The two teamed up to produce Michael’s next solo album, “Off the Wall.” Selling over 20 million copies worldwide and earning multiple awards. “Off the Wall” catapulted Michael into super-stardom. His next album, Thriller, would become the greatest selling album of all time. Other legendary hits followed including: Bad, Dangerous, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Invincible. and the postumously released album “Michael.”
In 1984, Michael donated all of the funds raised from The Jacksons Victory Tour to charity. He co-wrote the charity anthem “We Are the World” with Lionel Ritchie, which was recorded by 39 music artists. The song raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in African and the US, and won four Grammy Awards. Then, in 1992, Michael founded the Heal the World Foundation – an organization committed to helping underprivileged kids around the world. Over the years, Michael has also donated to the United Negro College fund and many other organizations. During his career Michael sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 number one singles and won 13 Grammy Awards. Michael received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award, and became one of the few artists inducted in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, twice. On June 25th, 2009, Michael tragically died. He is survived by his three children: Prince Michael, Paris Katherine and Prince Michael II, nicknamed Blanket.
related: The Jackson Brothers - Jackie (1951), Tito (1953), Jermaine (1954), Marlon (1957) Michael (1958) & Randy (1961)
