Black Music Month would not be complete without honoring the influence of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. From helping Motown become an international sensation to becoming the greatest entertainer of all time, the Black boy from Gary, Indiana, changed the way the world heard and saw music forever.
Michael Jackson burst onto the scene in 1969 alongside his brothers Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, and Marlon when their debut single “I Want You Back” became an international sensation.
Five Black boys rocking afros and the popularized fashions of the late 60s and early 70s quickly redefined what it meant to blend exceptional talent with superstar charisma and charm. Though all of the brothers were musical protégés, it was 11-year-old Michael whose one-of-a-kind vocals, precision in choreography, and immense ability to express the themes of love, yearning, and loss at such a young age that catapulted their appeal to meteoric heights.
When asked about what he saw in young Michael before signing him, Motown Founder Berry Gordy told NPR,
“Everything. That’s the simple answer. When he auditioned for me that morning, he was forced on me by my assistant (unintelligible) because I did not want a kids group, because I had been with Stevie Wonder with his entourage and teachers, and tutors and all that, and when she brought them to me, I didn’t want to see them. But once I saw them, I rushed out with my video camera to start taping them because I knew that they were something so special, mainly because of the lead singer, nine-year-old Michael Jackson. And it was just so obvious to me that he was a star.”
The Jackson 5 would become the first group of all-time to have their first four singles reach No.1 on the charts. Cartoons, merchandise, and sold-out tours would soon follow their musical successes, and Michael’s talent would continue to awe audiences as he drew comparisons to greats like James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others.
The post Sound Waves: Beyond The Biopic, Revisiting Michael Jackson’s Indelible Influence On Black Music & Performance appeared first on Bossip.
