Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson, known simply as Michael Jackson, was an icon. Described as the King of Pop, Jackson’s contribution to music, dance, and fashion made him the “most relevant human” in the 20th century.
He lived a life admired by many. Despite the controversy surrounding him, his talent was undisputed, making him the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time by Guinness World Records.
Born in 1958, Jackson was the eighth child of the Jackson family. He was so talented that he made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5. After so much success with the Jackson 5, he decided to go solo, starting off with Motown Records in the 1980s. He became a dominant figure in popular music afterward.
This success drove him into the use of drugs. According to CNN, Jackson was a “quite extensive” drug addict during the last 15 years of his life.
This was made known to the public after an addiction expert was testifying at a wrongful lawsuit the late singer’s family filed against the concert promoter before his death. Dr. Petros Levounis said that Jackson’s substance abuse was so covert that executives had no way of knowing that the performer was putting himself at risk while preparing for his comeback tour in 2009, CNN reports.
