Michael Joseph Jackson
(August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
None of us will ever know what Michael was thinking about during his last days on earth or what he was really going through. We do know that he impacted millions of lives during his 50 years. Isn't that what really matters is that we live life for others and not ourselves? Aren't we suppose to use our God-given talents to bless others? I think so and as long as I can remember Michael Jackson made me smile and I danced all the way through my teens, twenties and part of my thirties listening to his beautiful music. Now I cry over the fact that someone whose music I listened to most of my life has passed away.
I prefer to remember Michael Joseph Jackson for his contributions and nothing else.
Here are some of the gems that he left us to remember him by:
- Started singing with The Jackson 5 at the tender age of 5
- Brilliantly played The Scarecrow in 'The Wiz' (1978) alongside Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Lena Horne & other great actors and actresses & under the direction of Quincy Jones
- The (1979) 'Off The Wall' album had four #1 singles a U.S. record breaker
- Won his first American Music Award & Billboard Award from 'Off the Wall' album
- His Thriller (1982) album is the biggest selling album of all time
- Featured in the Grammy Award winning song 'We Are the World' and help to write some of its lyrics
- In 1987 he was named Artist of the Decade
- His Bad (1987) album sold over 32 million copies
- Dangerous (1991) album featured the hit songs 'Black or White', 'Remember the Time' & 'Heal the World'
- The album 'History-Past,Present and Future' (1995)hit number one in several countries worldwide and included songs 'They Don't Really Care About Us' and 'Earth Song'
- 'Scream' a duet with his sister Janet, won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Short-Form Music Video’ and an MTV Award for Best Choreography
- Still going strong, 'Invincible; (2001) sold over 8 million copies included MY all time favorite 'You Rock My World'
- His 'Number Ones' (2003) album proved that he was & will be the greatest entertainer ever
- Has sold 170 million albums worldwide
MJ Trademarks (From IMDb)
The Moonwalk.
Single sequined white glove.
He always wears white socks with black shoes.
High-pitched voice.
AIDS Project L.A.
American Cancer Society
Angel Food
Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
BMI Foundation, Inc.
Brotherhood Crusade
Brothman Burn Center
Camp Ronald McDonald
Childhelp U.S.A.
Children's Institute International
Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
Dakar Foundation
Dreamstreet Kids
Dreams Come True Charity
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Love Match
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Minority Aids Project
Motown Museum
NAACP
National Rainbow Coalition
Rotary Club of Australia
Society of Singers
Starlight Foundation
The Carter Center's Atlanta Project
The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
Transafrica
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
United Negro College Fund Ladder's of Hope
Volunteers of America
Watts Summer Festival
Wish Granting
YMCA - 28th Street/Crenshaw
The lists could go on and on (and in fact they do) about Michael Jackson's many contributions. His life wasn't blameless but he did his best to serve others. No one can argue that Michael Jackson had a heart of pure gold. I pray for the much needed strength of his family and that his children grow up knowing that their father was a great man who left a remarkable mark on the entire world.
"It all went by so fast, didn't it? I wish I could do it all over again, I really do." -MJJ
Rest in Peace Michael Jackson
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