“You better run, you better do what you can. Don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man. You wanna be tough, better do what you can. So beat it, but you wanna be bad. Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it….” This song is well known by the one and only Michael Jackson. This well known song is called, “Beat It.” According to a recent poll conducted with 59 students, faculty, and staff of Crane High School, 95% percent believed Michael Jackson was a great dancer, songwriter, and singer. (1)
Michael was born August 29,1958, in Gary Indiana. He was one of nine children. Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, was a homemaker and a Jehovah’s Witness. Joseph Jackson, who was Michael’s father, was a guitarist who had to quit music because
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Joseph was known to push his kids to succeed. (3)
Michael became famous through the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 consisted of Michael and Michaels older brothers Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon. Michael was only 5 years old when he joined his brothers in their family performances. He became the lead vocalist and showed remarkable range and depth in his voice, for being so young. He soon began to impress audiences with his ability to show complex emotions. The Jackson 5 spent many hours practicing and perfecting their acts. (3) The Jackson’s would sit inside and practice many hard hours while their father, Joe, would critique them. Joe was even said to have been aggressive and hit the brothers if they did not meet his expectations. Michael often would say that he was lonely and wanted to be like the neighborhood kids, who got to play outdoors and have plenty of playing time. Joe was very hard on the Jackson 5 and would buy instruments and invest as much as he could in the children's future, despite Katherine disagreeing with him. Once Joe believed that the Jackson 5 were ready for public performances he booked gigs for them at night clubs in and around Gary and Chicago, Illinois. Their first paid gig was in the