Michael Jackson Story Unmasked, The

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Michael, we love you!

The one time, king of pop may

have lost his cry in recent years,

but when the Michael jackson

circus comes into town,

they're still as Whacko as ever.

Sarar Bryton, MTV news.

So much has been said about the life

and career of Michael Jackson

that it has become almost impossible to

disentangle the man from the myth.

He's been performing

since the age of five,

breaking records since he was 11

and a star without equal

since the age of 21.

Recent revelations are only

the latest instalments

of a saga that began decades ago.

From his drilling as a child star

with the The Jackson five.

to his rise as the king of pop

followed by his public humiliation

and spectacular fall from grace.

We'll be examining the real

story and fame phenomena

of a black American icon who was destined to

become the most controversial figure

in the world.

Born in Garry in Indiana in 1958.

Michael Joseph Jackson was seventh

of nine brothers and sisters.

His father, joseph Jackson,

who had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian

organised a family band made up of his children.

Jackie, Germain, Tito and Marlin.

In 1963, at the tender age of five,

Michel Joined the group.

Joseph scheduled a strict regime

for Michael and his brothers,

relentless hours of practice,

left very little time for

normal childhood activities.

In 1966the brothers won a talent contest

at the renowned Apollo theatre

in New York's Harlem district

and within a year had supported

Gladys Night and the pips,

Gladys recommended the group

to Motown Records.

(voice of Gladys Knight)

I felt something from his group of young kids.

Joe [unclear] were very into these children

and they were struggling trying

to get these young men

introduced to the entertainment world.

And Jo had come by,

he would bring them by the

theatre every single day.

and the pips were, were,

were really more familiar with

the guys than i was

and they had been talking about

them for the longest time.

So i said, well hey, let me see what i can do,

so i went and we were with Motown

at the time and i went,

and i called the company and i asked them

if they could send a representative

out to see these young kids,

because they were performing on the

talent show that wednesday night.

And i didn't carry a whole lot of weight

at the company at that time

and they said,well,we'll do the best we can.

Motown sent a young executive,

Suzanne De Passe to meet the boys

and the Jackson five were born.

(Voice of suzanne De Passe)

I was with Motown for about,

I'd been with them for about

in an apartment building where

another artist with the company,

Bobby Taylor lived and he called me,

because he knew i worked in Barry Gordie's office

and he said, you've got to come down.

And i went down to his apartment and there,

Sort of stretched out across

the living room floor were

Michael and his brothers and Jo

and a couple of other people

who were with them at the time

and i was like curious and he clapped,

Bobby clapped his hands and said,

okay boys, get up,

let's sing and Michael and his brothers got up

and they sang A Capella

and it really blew me away.

Michael Jackson first entered

a recording studio in 1967,

just three months after his ninth birthday,

by the age of 10 he became lead vocalist.

A year later he and his older brothers

released their first single,

I Want You Back.

It became more than just a hit.

It was an oral steamroller.

It shot to number one in America

selling 2 Million copies.

Michael was just 11 years old.

Jackson mania had arrived.

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