22 Interesting Facts About Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, ” The king of pop” transformed the face of pop music and popular culture. He had the x-factor, music expertise and exploited them in areas like never before. His biggest USP was that his songs were as good as his videos, which is a rare factor in the music world. Let us find out some interesting facts about Michael Jackson-

Image: flickr

1. Early life and family

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. His father, Joseph Jackson, had been a former boxer, steelworker, and a guitarist but to provide for his family, he worked as a crane operator. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah’s Witness, but also worked part-time at a departmental store. He had a big family with 3 sisters and 5 brothers.
Source: Wikipedia, image: successstory.com

2. Fragile relation with his father

MJ’s father was violent with him and his brothers. He faced physical and emotional abuse during unceasing rehearsals, but, he also credited his father’s strict discipline for his success.
Source: Wikipedia

3. Inception of Jackson Brothers music

In 1965, his father made a band called “Jackson Brothers” with him and Marlon and included his brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine as backup musicians.
Source: Wikipedia, image: flickr

4. Taste of success

In 1966, their group name was changed to the “Jackson 5”. Fortune turned for them, as the same year, they won a major local talent show with Jackson performing James Brown’s “I Got You”. From 1966 to 1968 they toured the Midwest, and performed as the opening act for Sam & Dave, the O’Jays, Gladys Knight, and Etta James. The Jackson 5 also performed at clubs and cocktail lounges. They also won a weekly amateur night concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Source: Wikipedia

5. Jackson 5 began their song recording

In the later 60’s and early 70’s , the Jackson 5 recorded many songs, such as Big Boy, The Love You Save, I’ll Be There, Got to Be There, I Want You Back, and many more hits.
Source: Wikipedia, image: en.wikipedia.org

6. From Jackson 5 to Jacksons

The whole 70’s proved to be a handful decade for the Jacksons.The band kept on touring worldwide, and released 6 more albums between 1976 and 1984. Song like Shake Your Body, This Place Hotel, Can You Feel It, and singles like Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, and Rock with You were among their biggest hits at that time.
Source: Wikipedia

7. Thriller was the turning point

In 1983, his album Thriller proved to be a worldwide hit by selling around 65 million copies.
Source: Wikipedia

8. Motown’s epic success

In 1983, with around 47 million viewer, Motown was a huge success where Jackson performed “Billie Jean” and showed his famous dance move called “The Moonwalk.”
Source: Wikipedia, image: tumblr

9. Pepsi and Plastic surgery

After signing a $5 million deal with Pepsi-Cola, he got badly injured while filming a commercial for them. It caused burns to his face and scalp. When his injuries were getting addressed, during this, he began experimenting with plastic surgery.
Source: biography.com, image: tumblr

10. MJ is the most awarded artist

He has 23 Guinness World Records, 40 Billboard Awards, 13 Grammys, and 26 American Music Awards.
Source: boomsbeat.com, image: giphy.com

11. Produced the best selling album of all time

His album “Thriller” is the best selling album of all time with around 65 million copies.
Source: boomsbeat.com

12. Most expensive video ever

Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson were part of the most expensive video ever “Scream” with a whopping expense of $7,000,000.
Source: mirror.co.uk, image: tumblr

13. The big come back!
Before his death, MJ was rehearsing for his greatest comeback with around 50 shows in London only.
Source: mensxp.com, image: tumblr

14. Marriage
MJ’s 1st marriage with Elvis Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 lasted for only 19 months. Later, he had his 2nd marriage in 1996, with Deborah Jeanne Rowe and had 2 kids, Michael Joseph Jackson Junior and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. This marriage also ended in 1999.
Source: mensxp.com, image: leedevils.net

15. Big fan of comedy

MJ was a big fan of “The Three Stooges”, an American vaudeville and comedy act.
Source: mensxp.com

16. Heath issues

In 1993, MJ was diagnosed with Vitiligo, which is a rare skin disease in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches.
Source: beforeitsnews.co

17. Bad debt

Apparently, Michael Jackson left behind $1 billion in assets, $500 million in unpaid debts.
Source: dailyfinance.com

18. His Lean move was patented

MJ’s popular “lean” in Smooth Criminal was due to a special patented “anti-gravity illusion” shoe.
Source: kickassfacts.com, image: giphy.com

19. Twin Towers lucky escape

On the morning of 9/11, he had a meeting in one of the Twin Towers, but luckily missed it because he overslept.
Source: kickassfacts.com

20. Animal lover
Pets played an important part in his life. He had mice, snakes, birds, llamas, tigers,dogs and cats, but his favorite pet was Bubbles the chimpanzee.
Source: weebly.com, image: nydailynews.com

21. MJ wanted to be a Spiderman

In the late ’90s, he wanted to purchase Marvel Comics, which had filed for bankruptcy. He wanted to produce and act a Spiderman . But, it failed, and the role of Spiderman went to Tobey Maguire.
Source: listverse.com

22. His sudden death

On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died because of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication after a cardiac arrest at his home on North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills.
Source: wikipedia