I was among the MILLIONS of people around the World who were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of a Generational Icon, the man known to millions as the "Moonwalker", that kid from "The Jackson 5" with that soulful voice, or to others that looked at him in a more sinister light..
The "Gloved One" as he was called in many circles, becuase of his wearing of ONE white diamond-studded glove during the "Thriller" era, had lived the dream that many people from around the World had wished that they could live..
Growing up in Gary, Indiana, Michael had a very musical and talented family that pushed him to succeed.. In the late 60's and early 70's, it was THE JACKSON FIVE that helped carry Motown into the Next Decade, with roster acts like the SUPREMES having broken up, Producer BARRY GORDY was looking for "The Next Big Thing", he found that in Michael and his 4 brothers..
JACKSON, as we all know, went on to a HUGELY successful solo career that spawned the hit albums that included "Off the Wall", "Thriller", and "Bad".. Michael was crowned the "King of Pop" as his "Thriller" album set unprecedented Sales Records and put him atop the BILLBOARD charts..
MICHAEL JACKSON was indeed the Golden Boy by the time that he was 25.. With equally as many fans as dollars, MICHAEL JACKSON was the Most successful artist, not only of the decade of the 1980's (as crowned by Former President GEORGE HW BUSH) but of his Generation as well..
The tragedy in all of this however, is that it became apparent that MICHAEL's lack of true childhood was beginning to show as he struggled into adulthood and was exploited by opportunistic tabloids and people.. MICHAEL became regarded as somewhat as an eccentric setting up the "Neverland Ranch Amusement Park", which "Neverland" taking a name from "Peter Pan" as a place where children NEVER grew up, and purchasing a chimp named "BUBBLES".. This and the plastic surgery caused the tabloids to have a field day with "The Boy who Never Wanted to grow up"... JACKSON of course responded to this controversy with the release of his 1989 single and music video "(Just) Leave me Alone"..
MICHAEL began allowing children to visit NEVERLAND RANCH which began to raise eyebrows and accusations of child molestation and other wacky rumors such as MICHAEL's purchase of the bones of the elephant man, bleaching his skin, or sleeping in an oxygen chamber.. Also came the addiction to XANAX and other prescription drugs.. Sadly the tabloid allegations became what would shape MICHAEL JACKSON's career and character in the eyes of many..
Of course then came two fouled up marriages and another more intense allegation of sexual molestation at the Neverland Ranch.. JACKSON also attempted a comeback and fathered three children..
Whether one chooses to believe the accusations against "The King of Pop" or not, they did sadly leave a stain on his career and even more sadly, it seems to be a matter of time before opportunists come out of the woodwork claiming entitlement to their "cut" of the JACKSON estate with "New accounts" of molestations..
Although JACKSON was found innocent of all charges in 2005, the brutal trial by the American public continues to intensify, as I write this there are likely bloggers that are flaming on about what a sick, pedophile MICHAEL JACKSON was and how THIS and not his overall career should "tell the story" of his life..
Sure, there were many people throughout History that were Great Artists and Humanitarians that had accusations of Child Molestation thrown at them, such as WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, or even, if one wants to go further and "go there", one could even say that POPE JOHN PAUL II allowed the molestation of children by turning a blind eye towards the accusations against the Catholic Priests that were accused of child molestation, but that isn't where I would like to visit as I don't see MICHAEL JACKSON as a pedophile.. I view MICHAEL JACKSON as a Talented man of his generation, and a Humanitarian who contributed to over 39 Charities around the World..
The Tragedy in all of this, is the question: "Was MICHAEL JACKSON a truly happy person during the course of his life?".. Coming from a home with an abusive father and skyrocketing into stardom without having the chance to grow up and have a childhood, one would have to wonder.. In the eyes of many, MICHAEL JACKSON lived the American dream, but in his own eyes, was it really a dream? Or was "The Gloved One" another tragic story of someone who was thrown into success and fame before being aware it's consequences or downfalls?
In the eyes of myself and millions of others around the World, MICHAEL JACKSON will always be the Talented "King of Pop!"
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