Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

This is about the life and death of popular pop singer Michael Jackson who died reportedly of cardiac arrest Thursday in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Popular recording artist Michael Jackson died yesterday in Los Angeles, California after reportedly suffering cardiac arrest.

Jackson was 50 years old at the time of his death. The popular pop singing idol was born in Indiana USA. He was the seventh child of a working class family of Joseph Walter and Katherine Esther Jackson. His father Joseph was a steel mill employee who was also into music with his bother Luther. The were members of a band called ‘The Falcons’

Michael Jackson had suffered child abuse in his growing up years. At a young age, Michael was physically and mentally abused by his father. At one time he was held upside down by one leg and pummeled him over and over with his hand hitting him on his back and buttocks. His father would do a lot of frightening things that the young Michel could never forget. His father would claim that it was a way to discipline his children. For years Michel suffered nightmares and mental anguish recalling his sad childhood experiences.

In a TV interview with popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Jackson spoke of his childhood openly. He recalled that his father once sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed – and ‘if you don’t do it right away, he would tear you up and really get you’.

The Jackson kids had formed a band called the Jackson Brothers, a band originally made of Michael’s brothers, Jackie, Tito and Jarmaine. Later, Michael joined the group when he was eight years old. He and Jarmaine assumed lead vocals and much later the Jackson Brothers Band was renamed Jackson 5.

With Michel joining the Jackson 5, the band continued to perform in clubs. In 1966 the band won a major talent show award that started the beginning of their recording successes with some selections hitting the Billboard Top 100 hits. For over a decade the Jackson 5 made millions in revenues for their hit records and became the most popular pop music band in the world.

In early 1979, the family band broke up and Michael went solo. After the break out, Michael did ‘Off the Wall’ which was an instant success with over 10 million copies sold. Together with Quincy Jones, his music producer, Michael acting as composer and co-producer, did ‘Thriller’ which became the top selling album of all time with sales hitting more then 41 million.

Michael Jackson was married to Debbie Rowe, a nurse he met while undergoing plastic surgery in 1997. They had two children Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine before divorcing in a1999. He had a third child Prince Michael ll with an unknown woman.

(original article appeared @ Quazen)