I have many fond memories of the Jackson 5. My childhood room had J-5 pictures on every wall, my mother took me to see the Jackson 5 in Memphis at the Mid-South coliseum and when they were signing autographs at Southland Mall, she stood in the long lines with me just so I could see Jermaine.You see, I had planned to marry Jermaine until that damn Hazel Gordy stole him from me! So, Michael would have been my brother-in-law. That was just the beginning of a lifetime of admiration I had for Michael Jackson.
I was 9-months pregnant the week that “Thriller” was released. The album came out on a Tuesday, and I gave birth on that Thursday. No, I didn’t name my baby MJ, but my child’s first outing after we left the hospital was to pick up my album that I had pre-ordered (there had been a waiting list). My baby would wake up out of a deep sleep anytime a MJ song played. Although he couldn’t say Michael, he began calling him “Me-me.”
I would later get a sense of Déjà vu in 1988, when I stood in the long lines at Houston’s Bay Brook mall to get my son a ticket to see MJ. It was a show of a lifetime; I am so happy I had the chance to go and share that memory with my son.I will miss Michael. I owned every album, and when technology changed, I replaced all my albums with CDs. I love his music, his spirit, and his compassion. May angels surround him; I know there is a party going on in heaven now!
Michael Jackson Facts
Most Successful Concert Series - Guinness Book Of World Records
Michael Jackson sold out for seven nights at Wembley Stadium, London, England in the summer of 1988. A total of 504,000 people saw Michael perform July 14-16, 22-23, and August 26-27, 1988.
Biggest Selling Album Of All Time - Guinness Book Of World Records
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Album is the biggest selling album of all time, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. Thriller is also the biggest selling U.S album with sales of 25 million copies.
80's Most #1 Hits
By The End of the 1980's Michael Jackson had more #1 hits than any other artist for the decade.
Michael Awards
Michael has more awards than any other artist.
Entertainer Of The Decade
With the #1 (Thriller) and #2 (Bad) ranked albums in the world Michael was the 1980's Entertainer Of The Decade.
Most Grammy Awards - Guinness Book Of World Records
Michael won a record breaking 8 Grammy Awards in 1984, more than any other artist in one year.
Largest Contracts - Guiness Book Of World Records
$890 million (Sony Music) Contract, with prospective earnings of $1 billion.
Greatest Audience - Guiness Book Of World Records
The highest-ever viewership was 133.4 million viewers watching the NBC transmission of Super Bowl XXVII on June 31, 1993. Michael was spotlighted during the half-time peformance.
Highest-Paid Commercial Spokesperson - Guiness Book Of World Records
Pepsi Cola paid Michael Jackson $12 million to do 4 TV commercials.
Bad Tour - Guinness Book Of World Records
Michael Jackson's world tour brought in a record gross revenue of over $124 million during September 1987-December 1988.
100 Million Records
Michael has sold over 100 million singles and albums outside of the U.S.
Billboard Charts
Michael Jackson is the first person in the 37 year history of the chart to enter at # 1, with his single "You Are Not Alone". Michael broke his previous redord held by his single "Earth Song" which debuted at #5.
Biggest Selling Video
Michael Jackson's "The Making Of Thriller" is the biggest selling video to be released by an artist.
Billboard "Hot 100" Singles Chart
Most #1 Hits by Male Artist (13)
#1 Debuts
Michael's "Bad", "Dangerous", and "HIStory" albums all debuted at #1.
Consecutive #1 Singles
Jackson 5 were the first group to ever have four consecutive #1 singles.
#1 On Charts
In 1983 Michael became the first artist to simultaneously hold the number one spots on Billboard's rock albums and rock singles charts, as well as the R&B albums and singles charts.
First Video
Michael Jackson was the first black artist to have a video aired on MTV.
