 Michael Jackson, circa 2000 | |
| Born | August 28, 1958 (age 64) Gary, IN |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1964-1968 |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, singer, activist |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Spouse | Lafonnda Chontel Henderson (m. 1982) |
Michael Jackson was born on August 28, 1958, the eighth of ten children in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. He had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth.
In 1964, Michael and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers a band formed by brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine as backup musicians playing congas and tambourine. Jackson later began performing backup vocals and dancing. When he was eight, Jackson began sharing the lead vocals with his older brother Jermaine, and the group's name was changed to The Jackson 5. The band toured the Midwest extensively from 1966 to 1967, frequently performing at a string of black clubs known as the "chitlin' circuit", where they often opened stripteases and other adult acts. In 1966, they won a major local talent show with renditions of Motown hits and James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)", led by Michael.
P.O.D[]
Even though the group lost the August 13, 1967, competition during the Amateur Night showdown at Harlem's Apollo Theater; Gordon Keith offered a record deal with his local Steel town label, and the group began making their first and only recordings in October 1967. Their first single, “Big Boy" was released in January 1968 and became a regional hit. This was followed by a two other singles, "We Don't Have to Be Over 21 (To Fall in Love)" and "Let Me Carry Your School Books". On March 18, 1968, Michael's mother Katherine filed for divorce on the grounds that his father Joseph was unfaithful and a threat to the welfare of the children. The failure to win Amateur Night and the pending divorce sealed the lid on the musical aspirations of the Jackson 5. (It is interesting to note that Michael's little brother Randy and his three sisters all pursued a singing career, with La Toya's being the most successful.)
Lafonnda Chontel Jackson (33)circa 1989
When the custody of her children was secured Katherine forced Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael to forget music and to divulge into schoolwork instead. Michael credits her style of upbringing as playing a large role in his success as a lawyer. Michael graduated in the top of his High School class and went on to attend Indiana University – Purdue University in 1976 to study political science. There he met his future wife Lafonnda Chontel Henderson waiting tables at a local pub and was enthralled by her grace and charm. He married her six years later at a small church outside of Indianapolis. His father who remained largely distant from his offspring died the same year from an accidental death after a drinking binge. Michael and his new wife did not attend the funeral. Jackson revived his music career in 1980, collaborating with former Beatle and Pink Floyd member, Paul McCartney, on his third and final solo album Musical Diamonds. He tried to revive his career while attending law school, with 1980's "Off The Wall", but wasn't widely received by the public on release.
After Michael graduated from law school the couple remained in Indianapolis and had a daughter named Tamyra Stephenson Jackson in 1991 and a son named Tyrone Walter Jackson in 1993. Tyrone would grow up to be a musician similar to his father in the 1960s, but as a rap artist, and form the infamous rap duo XXXTENTACION + Tyrone "The J5" Jackson in 2013 (Tyrone's nickname is a callback to The Jackson 5) and would commit multiple crimes with XXXTentacion, consisting of battery, grand theft auto, sexual assault towards a minor and more, all crimes landing them in prison for long periods of time and leading to the canceling of tour dates. Prior to the shooting of former NFL player Michael Vick in 2020, the three men were in a short-lived feud, after dissing on his short career and accusations against him at the time in 2019. Tyrone Jackson and XXXTentacion are the most controversial rappers of the West Coast.
Reaction to La Toya's Death[]
Michael Jackson was one of the first siblings present at Reagan-UCLA Medical Center on June 25, 2009, after his sister La Toya Jackson was pronounced dead after suffering cardiac arrest. He was named as the informant on his sister's death certificate. Michael requested a second autopsy to be carried out after noting suspicious medical paraphernalia in La Toya's rented house, evasive behavior by her doctors, and discovering that $2 million in cash and jewels had gone missing. "Living With La Toya" Michael's memoir, is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 21, 2012 through Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
Tamyra Stephenson Jackson (20) circa 2011
Tyrone Walter Jackson (20) for the cover of his and XXXTentacion's debut album (as a duo), Legendary, circa 2013