Michael Jackson, a small town boy from Gary, Indiana along with his brothers and sisters took a journey to become one of the most prolific families in the global world. His journey was no more unique than other large families with multiple children with the exception of insightful talent and divine timing. The Jackson family made its foray into the world of entertainment under the guise of providing relief from the daily grind for family and friends to venturing out to the streets particularly the Motown streets. Motown Records under the creation and executive management of Berry Gordy had cleverly laid the foundation for pop music infusing melodic stirrings of Rhythm and Blues to the infectious call and response of Gospel which reached inside your gut to demand a response whether it was toe tapping or head bobbing. Berry Gordy had ability for fishing out talent with a desire to achieve and surrounded himself with talented lyricist and musicians to construct his musical empire circumventing the oppression of racism and segregation many ethnic artist were shackled with. Motown boast the regal court of Ashford and Simpson, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Commodores, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, along with a plethora of other countless luminaries.
Many myths sprouted up on who first discovered the Jackson Five from powerhouse singer Gladys Knight to the effervescent and glamorous Diana Ross. No one can claim this honor but Katherine and Joe Jackson the parents of the Jackson clan. Along with fame comes the sacrifice of the simple pleasures of privacy. The Jackson family could have had all the talent in the world but without a solid and unwavering work ethic they would have been another footnote. Each sibling was talented in their own right but what made them special was their commitment to one another. Michael Jackson pulled his oldest sister Rebbie out of obscurity with a hit song he composed entitled, “Centipede” to which Rebbie performed with a feline grace and seductive moves. You can’t help wondering that they must have had some fun in the studio together. Michael also created “Scream “with his baby sister Janet who had already achieved several career milestones but when these two came together it was an infusion of gigantic talent. Michael ‘s artistic generosity was also shared with Diana Ross when he penned “ Muscles” a seductive disco fringed tune to which Diana known as “The Boss” sang with unrestrained pleasure sweating from her mahogany bronzed skin. Michael’s longtime partnership with Diana Ross led them to “ease on down the road” in The Wiz, a funky, soulful adaptation of Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. Michael starred in the film as the winsome and agile scarecrow. The Wiz was ground breaking as an all African- American cast on Broadway starring a then unknown Stephanie Mills whose vocals seared the cushion off the seats and had patrons applauding till their hands became sore. Michael’s animated dancing and artistic flair with his side kicks the crows in the film is officially documented as one of the funkiest pieces of choreography in cinema.
One of his most prolific artistic donations to the world was “We Are the World” he co wrote with former Commodore member Lionel Ritchie who had just won multiple American Music Awards that night. Under the solidarity of philanthropy and humanity the heavens opened up that night and several of the world’s top celebrated artist came together to sing this song to contribute to the end of world hunger and suffering. A previous song “Do They Know it’s Christmas “was released primarily by several successful European artist to address the world famine problem as well.
Notably the song was only a tether to the experience of the creation of this project. Artist came in “checked their ego at the door” to lay the track down in one night and shoot the video at the same time. Music videos have become full film productions with budgets in excess of millions and to comprehend the magnitude of this cannot be understated. Under the gifted and technical prowness of Quincy Jones the project pulled in new artist at the time from Sheila E. known for the “The Glamorous Life” who was nominated for Best New Artist and performance to seasoned and timeless legends like Ray Charles, Tina Turner, rock legend Bruce Springsteen to musical maestro Al Jarreau. The song and album was a global success and generated millions of dollars that went towards aid with humanitarian and performer Bob Geldof heading the effort to distribute the much needed resources.
Now that Michael Jackson has passed away from cardiac arrest the true impact is just now being felt. Michael Jackson’s artistry moves as an undercurrent morphing into a rip tide. Michael Jackson ripped apart music records and stereotypes with the release of “Thriller” the best selling global media release by a single artist. That record alone brought not only different ethnicities together but generations as well. How interesting that multiple generations of children and adults would dance and swell with joy over one artist! Michael Jackson demonstrated again that music can heal and bring people together. Michael was given the gift of expression among his many other gifts and was able to transform pain, joy, isolation, betrayal, sadness and hope into a medium that would hold up against racism, classicism to build bridges in the world one continent at a time. At times Michael‘s visage was simple in a world of hidden agendas and larcenous individuals but his message remained consistent in that he loved the children of the world. The children of the world also included those between the ages of one to one hundred. Like most icons while they are being constructed they are people first with human flaws and challenges. It is through living that icons are born and cemented not in their deeds alone but in the inheritance they leave to the living beings.
Michael like everyone else has had strained relationships with his siblings and parents. Some years are good and some are challenges. Michael Jackson did leave behind three children to which he shared a part of himself that is a mystery to many. Now that he has passed a deluge of therapist, social workers, clinicians and pseudo psychiatrist have offered their assessments. Based on observed behaviors of Michael Jackson from him showing his infant baby on the balcony terrace to having his children shrouded in veils many have come to conclusions on his stability as a parent. Common assessments espoused have been Axis II disorders of Narcissistic and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality disorder and the primary clinical disorder as depression. There have been speculations of a prescription addiction brought on by an accident he had during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in which he suffered burns to his scalp. It would be reasonable to be prescribed medication for a head trauma and is not farfetched as some may assume. Michael Jackson’s love for children would only naturally lead him to having his own family.
Michael Jackson was also brought up on child molestation and abuse charges to which he was exonerated from twice. Michael’s monument to childhood and innocence were captured in his Never Land Ranch which was not open to the public but he created for children to enjoy in his company. There will always be speculation as to his personal relationships with the many children that came but fundamentally they have not been proven. This of course had to have had an adverse affect on him driving him further into isolation as a form of protection from avaricious opportunist and the intruding media looking for more.
With the physical death of Michael Jackson we are left with the dissemination of his estate. Some will hope to gain financial awards while others hope to receive a memento of his accomplishments from Grammy’s to World Music Awards. The most fortunate and blessed will cherish and build upon his love which permeated from his music to continue to inspire one to go past what is expected and touch one soul at a time.
Michael Jackson was a poetic child who grew into an artistic, soulful man with a curtailed childhood to become an Icon who left behind a legacy of music, incredible dancing, philanthropy and fashion. In his early death at fifty on the verge of a final sold out world wide tour he was transformed into an enigma who like any great artist left you wanting more.
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