MJ… A Tribute

After the sudden demise of the legend whom we so fondly remembered as MJ or “The King of Pop”, I felt it only too appropriate that this section on my webpage should begin with a tribute to a man who contributed so whole-heartedly to the music fraternity. Here goes for Micheal…..

Micheal Jackson

Micheal Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the seventh child in the Jackson family. He made his debut as a performer in 1964 as a member of The Jackson Brothers who were subsequently renamed “The Jackson 5″. He began his solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group and that successful career let him to being given the title of “King of Pop” in subsequent years. Jackson’s 1982 album “Thriller” remains the ‘world’s best-selling album of all time’.

He was the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, with videos such as “Beat It”, “Billy Jean” and “Thriller” bringing fame to the channel which was relatively new at that time. Beyond his success on television, he popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and moonwalk with his elaborate stage performances.

MJ raised and donated millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his Heal the World Foundation, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. No wonder, he created such a place in the heart of one and all.

Some aspects of his personal life though created controversies that damaged his public image. Though he was heavily accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer had experienced health problems since early 1990s along with conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s.

He was tried and acquitted of different sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. His achievements include multiple “Guinness World Records” including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”, 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era.

The legendary singer diead of a cardiac arrest on 25th June 2009. Through all the ups and downs of his life, MJ always held his smile. He kept repeating the words, “I’m innocent…” on being repetitively being charged with sexual abuse complaints. His charities still contribute towards helping the under-priveleged. He even recorded some of his songs specially for the purpose of highlighting environmental concerns or fostering peace.

He can most certainly be called, the most misunderstood man….. How will the music world ever recover from his loss…

Some of my personal favorite songs by MJ are listed below. To download them, right click and select “Save Target As…”

Thriller

Beat It

Remember the Time

Billy Jean

Earth Song