It’s been 9 years since The King of Pop passed away. The “Thriller” singer left a mark on the world that can never be erased. These are some of the most unforgettable moments of this legend’s career.
1) The Moonwalk and The Single Glove
Jackson debuted his signature move and his signature accessory during the 1983 television special “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,” which celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Motown.
2) The TV Premiere of "Thriller"
In 1983 Jackson premiered the music video for what may be considered his biggest hit. The film-like video for "Thriller" was an instant hit and remains one of the most iconic music videos of all time.
3) His Solo Superbowl XXVII Halftime Show Performance
In 1993 Jackson performed for Super Bowl XXVII’s Halftime Show. Everything about the performance was revolutionary, and he set the bar for Halftime performances to come.
4) Jackson’s Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards gave Jackson an entire 10 minutes to perform, which shows the magnitude of his stardom. Just seeing his silhouette, attendees went wild and witnessed one of the greatest Grammy performances to date.
5) When He Won 8 Grammies in 1 Night
At the 1984 Grammy Awards, Jackson broke records when he won 8 Grammies and was nominated for 12. Among his other wins, he won Record of the Year for “Beat It” and Album of the Year for “Thriller.”
6) The Pepsi Commercial Incident
The King of Pop’s hair caught on fire in 1984 while onstage filming a commercial for Pepsi. As a result of the incident, his music sales went up, and so did the soda’s.
7) The First Jackson 5 Performance on The Ed Sullivan Show
In 1969 the Jackson 5 performed their hit song "I Want You Back” among others for one of the most watched shows in America, The Ed Sullivan Show. At the time, Jackson was only 10 years old and Sullivan said, "The little fella in front is incredible."
8) His Performance with Slash at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards
Jackson and Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash took the stage together at the MTV Music Awards in 1995 for an unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll and Pop mashup that the crowed loved.
9) A Match Made In Music Heaven
We were all glued to the television in 1994 when the King of Pop and the daughter of the King of Rock and Roll made it official. Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley opened the MTV Video Music Awards with a very short speech before locking lips for the entire world to see.
Make sure you're listening to KOST on Tuesday, August 29th as we celebrate The King Of Pop's Birthday! We'll play an hour o fnon-stop MJ hits at 9AM and 5PM.
To listen, download the iHeartRadio app or stream at KOST1035.com by clicking play below!