The Early Years of Michael Jackson

The Early Years of Michael Jackson Rebecca Brayton: One of his many nicknames was the ‘Gloved One. Welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re looking at the early years of Michael Jackson’s life in career from 1958 to 1990. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He first got into music in 1964 when he joined his older siblings in a band, The Jackson Brothers as a backup musician and vocalist. The group changed its name to The Jackson 5 shortly after Michael started sharing lead vocal duties with Jermaine. Michael Jackson: My mother caught me making my bed one day and I was singing and she said to my father that I can sing and he didn’t want to hear of it. He said, “Jermaine is the lead singer not Michael”. My mother said, “Joe, you really should hear him sing”. Rebecca Brayton: Though Jackson’s father was a very strict disciplinarian; Michael was a natural talent whose vocals and dance moves quickly turned him into The Jackson 5’s main draw. The group signed with Motown Records in 1968 and released four number one singles on the label including “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” Jackson released four solo albums on Motown, including his solo debut: the January 1972 album Got to Be There and August 1972’s Ben. The title track of this sophomore effort gave Jackson his first number one solo single. Meanwhile in June 1975, The Jackson 5 signed with Epic Records and became The Jacksons. Between 1976 and 1984, The Jacksons released six albums. It was during this period that Michael met Quincy Jones while he starred in the 1978 film, “The Wiz,” an African-American remake of the Wizard of Oz. Jones then went on to produce Jacksons 1979 record Off the Wall which produced four Top 10 singles such as “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You.” Jones then went on to produce Jacksons 1979 record, Off the Wall, which produced four Top Ten singles, such as “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You.” Though Michael had not yet officially left The Jacksons, his solo career was taking off. Next up was 1982’s Thriller, which became the best-selling album of all-time and won Jackson seven Grammies and eight American Music Awards. Seven of Thriller’s nine tracks became Top 10 singles, including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “The Girl is Mine,” a duet with Paul McCartney. The Jones produced record not only solidified Jackson’s staying power, but also helped bring the music video to the next level. 1983 saw Jackson reunite with his brothers during a live television performance on the show “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.” On that same special, he debut his now-trademark dance move, the moonwalk during a solo performance. The next year, Jackson and his brothers were filming a commercial for Pepsi Cola when Michael’s hair was accidentally set on fire. This injury is credited by many as having prompted Jackson’s obsession with plastic surgery. Though his look had begun to change prior to the Pepsi fiasco, a few months later he went on tour with his brothers to promote his last album with The Jacksons, Victory. Jackson donated all funds from the Victory tour to charity. While Jackson had collaborated a second time with Paul McCartney on the 1983 single, “Say, Say, Say,” their friendship ended when Michael acquired the publishing rights to most of The Beatles’ songs by purchasing ATV Music’s catalogue in 1984. The next year, Jackson showed his philanthropic streak when he co-wrote the charity song, “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie. By the mid-1980’s, Jackson’s physical appearance began to change more obviously. He underwent a few cosmetic surgeries as well as treatments for vitiligo, a disorder that lightened the color of his skin. Tabloids were also spreading outrageous rumors about his personal life during this time. Male: It's being said that Michael Jackson underwent plastic surgery to make himself look more like you. Diana Ross: I don’t think so. Male: It that true? Diana Ross: No, I don’t think he has. No one has ever told me that. I don’t think so. Rebecca Brayton: 1986 saw Jackson collaborate with directors George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola on a short and innovative 3D film called “Captain EO,” that was shown at Disney theme parks. By 1987, Jackson’s next album Bad was finally released. Though it was not as successful as Thriller, it did spawn several number one singles. The Bad World Tour that followed ultimately became the highest- grossing tour of all-time. 1988 saw Jackson’s first autobiography, “Moonwalk” hit number one on The New York Times best seller list. That same year, he also converted some property into a home and amusement park in California and renamed it ‘Never land Ranch’. During the first part of his career, Michael Jackson went from being a child star to being one of the world’s biggest entertainers. Of course, there would be much more to come.