Music
Michael Jackson
1958–2009 · singer, songwriter, dancer
The King of Pop, whose career began when the Jackson 5 auditioned for Motown in Detroit in 1968; he later gave his famous glove and fedora to the Motown Museum.
- Born
Gary, Indiana- Died
Los Angeles, California
aged 50- Birth name
- Michael Joseph Jackson
- Also known as
- King of Pop
- Detroit years
- 1968–1969, 1984, 1988
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Michael Jackson was never a Detroiter, but the city's most famous record label launched him. In July 1968 the Jackson 5, a family act from Gary, Indiana, taped an audition for Motown in Detroit, and within days Berry Gordy signed the brothers. Their first Motown sessions took place at Hitsville U.S.A. on West Grand Boulevard before Gordy moved the family to Los Angeles, where “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I'll Be There” made them stars. Michael also released four solo albums on Motown before the group left the label in 1975. He returned to metro Detroit as a global star: the Jacksons' Victory Tour played the Pontiac Silverdome twice in August 1984. On October 23, 1988, he donated a black fedora, a studded white glove and $125,000 from his Bad Tour concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills to the Motown Museum, which still displays his gifts.
Highlights
- Taped the Jackson 5's Motown audition in Detroit in July 1968
- Four solo albums on Motown, 1972–1975
- Thriller (1982) is the best-selling album of all time
- Two Victory Tour shows at the Pontiac Silverdome drew about 97,000 fans in August 1984
- Gave his fedora, glove and $125,000 to the Motown Museum in 1988
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Recorded here · 1968–1969, 1988
Motown Museum
Motown's first headquarters and Studio A, where the Jackson 5 made their first Motown recordings; since 1985 the Motown Museum, which received his fedora and glove in 1988.
Performed here · 1984
Pontiac Silverdome
Demolished · 1975–2013
The Jacksons played two Victory Tour concerts here on August 18–19, 1984. The stadium was torn down in 2017–2018.
Performed here · 1988
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Demolished · 1988–2017
Bad Tour arena shows in October 1988; he pledged the net proceeds of the October 24 concert to the Motown Museum. The arena was demolished in 2020.