Michael Jackson: His Fall From Grace To Grass

Perhaps no American artiste has ever been celebrated the way Michael Jackson was. Michael, a musical colossus bestrode the American music scene for several years. His status as the foremost hip hop musician for many years dwarfed the achievements of many of his fellow singers.

Born on 29 August, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, Jacko, as he is fondly called, joined his brother’s singing group which was dubbed The Jackson 5, when he was only five years old.

Because of his dancing and singing skills, Michael became the leader of the group. By 1969, he had his first hit single at age 11 with the Jackson 5’s I want You Back. By 1971, Jackson had established himself as singing sensation when he recorded his first solo album Got To be There.

The following year, Michael Jackson released another solo titled Ben. He continued his meteoric rise through the years as he established himself as a best selling popular artist in American music history.

His works include Off The Wall, 1979; Thriller, 1982 (sold 26 million copies and regarded as number 2 best selling album of all time); Bad, 1987; Dangerous, 1991 and History, 1995.

But as the 1990s rolled in, Michael Jackson became better known for his eccentric and erratic ways of life. In 1993, he was accused of child molestation. He was alleged to have seduced and abused a 13-year old boy. In 1994, he reportedly paid his accuser $20 million to settle the molestation lawsuit. This forced the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara prosecutors to back off.

In 2002, Jacko was aid to have dangled his baby, Prince Michael, 11, from a fourth-flour Berlin Hotel balcony. But the German police did not press charges against the ill-fated star.

The most serious of the scandals Jacko ever got himself in took place in 2003. He was said to have shared his bed with 10 children at his Neverland Ranch. Jackson was soon charged with 10 counts which included child molestation, conspiracy and plying a minor with alcohol.

Michael was arraigned on January, 2004 and his trial started in the year that followed.

Although he was acquitted in the trial that lasted from March to May, he continued to plunge deeper into misery. He sold up his Neverland Ranch and reportedly relocated to another country.

An area where Jackson has failed dismally is in his family life. In 1996, he was divorced by Lisa Marie Presley. In 1999, he was divorced again by Debbie Rowe, through whom he fathered two children, Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine. His third child, Prince Michael, 11 was said to have been born of an unknown mother.

One thing Michael Jackson is infamously known for is the series of facial plastic surgeries he voluntarily underwent. Michael Jackson was born a normal black American boy though he was later found to have a skin condition analyed as lupus and vitiligo. He had to employ make-up to cover up what he believed to be the imperfection of his skin.

When he was 26, Michael had his nose slightly narrowed and his eyebrows re-shaped. People did notice this facial change.

When Jacko became 27 in 1985, he was becoming weirder. Another job was done on his nose and there was a permanent eyeliner tattooed around his eyes. In 1987, he got his nose done again. But the surgeon erred. Michael suddenly had cheek bones.

In 1993, his face was terribly marred. His colour was pink like toilet paper. His cheeks were bad. The tip of his nose became damaged. The tissue had died and Jacko who had gone wacko started wearing a prothesis tip.

In 1997, Jacko’s sanity was seriously on trial. He had a fake chin implant and suddenly lost his cleft chin. The sides of his face were now stretched taut. His nose was no longer pointing north.

In 1999, Michael Jackson’s appearance was again altered; new chin, nose affected, new cheeks and smaller jaw.

Michael Jackson is still getting worse as he is now being pushed about in a wheelchair. Jackson is said to be too weak to walk on some days so he has to call for a wheelchair.

An onlooker had this to say about his present condition.

“The skin on his hands was peeling, almost like a snake’s. He kept his mask on all the time. His security man was at his side and nobody approached him. It is really sad.”

Will Michael Jackson continue to deteriorate or be miraculously saved from his ever worsening predicament? Time will tell!

—Paul Dada