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Michael Jackson was known as the “King of Pop”, but his huge success as a performer was not always easy. Born in Gary, Indiana in 1958, Jackson was the seventh of nine children. He was five years old when he began singing with his brothers in a group called The Jackson 5, and eleven when their first album was released. The Jackson 5 became an immediate success. Their music set records. Michael, the lead singer and energetic dancer, was the star of the group. In the 1970s, the group shortened their name to The Jacksons. Three years later, Jackson released “Thriller” on his own. The album was not just the best selling album of all time, it also won many major Awards. And it helped establish the popularity of a new form of entertainment, Music Video. Michael Jackson was a huge success, but he was also a very troubled man. He had many operations to change his face. He sometimes acted and spoke in a childlike way, for example, he once bought a huge property in California which he called “Neverland” after the children’s story “Peter Pan”. And he suffered from injuries and illness that led him to take many kinds of pain-killing medicines. In 1993, a thirteen-year-old boy accused him of sexual abuse. Ten years later, a similar accusation led to a criminal trial which began in 2005. A jury cleared Jackson of all charges. He called the trial the hardest thing he had ever met in his life. After his 2005 trial, the singer spent much of his time in Europe and the Middle East. He returned to the United States with the aim to make a victorious comeback. Michael Jackson died of heart failure on June 25, 2009, just days away from holding concerts in London. Fans around the world mourned his death. Famous performers around the world told about the influence he had on their work. Michael Jackson left a huge mark on popular culture. He will live on in his unforgettable music. 这是原文 |
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