On
February 19, 1994 "The Jackson Family Honors" took place
in Las Vegas. Michael did not perform but presented
2 awards. His date for the evening was Lisa Marie Presley. Michael
was already seen in company of Lisa Marie on February
2, when they attended a concert by The Temptations
in Las Vegas.
Michael spent most of the time in New York, working
busy on his new album. He booked into a 3 bedroom duplex
apartment at Trump Tower.
On
May 26, 1994 Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley
in the Dominican Republic in a ceremony which last
12 minutes. Civil Judge was Hugo Francisco Alvarez
Pérez. Eva Darling, a friend of Lisa Marie's, and
Darling's husband, Thomas Keough, Lisa Marie's former
brother-in-law [he is the brother of Lisa's first
husband Danny Keough], were witnesses. No members
of Michael's family were present. The marriage will
not become public until July 11.
July
11: The press covered news that Michael has married
Lisa Marie Presley. CNN reported that 3 separate spokespeople
from Michael emphatically denied that Michael has married
the daughter of Elvis Presley. A spokeswoman for Presley
couldn't deny the report, because she was unable to
reach Lisa Marie.
On August 1, 1994 after weeks of rumors, it's official.
Michael had indeed married Lisa Marie Presley. The bride,
announcing that her name was now Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson,
released a statement through MJJ Productions: "I
am very much in love with Michael. I dedicate my life
to being his wife. I understand and support him. We
both look forward raising a family and living happy,
healthy lives together." The official statement gave no details of the marriage
or where it took place.
With this marriage, the 2 biggest names in showbusiness
were united: Jackson and Presley. In the media, the
marriage of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, to the
daughter of the King of Rock 'N' Roll, Lisa Marie Presley,
was entitled as "THE Marriage of the Century"!
On September 08, 1994 Michael opened the 11th Annual
MTV Video Music Awards with his wife.
Their 120 second appearance stole everyone else the
show as Michael swept Lisa Marie into his arms, and
tenderly kissed her in public for the very first time. The
next day, it's THE event in the media all over the world.
Some refered to it as "The Kiss of the Century", others
compared the kiss to the famous kissing-scene in "Gone
With The Wind" between Scarlett O'Hara and Rett Buttler.
In
May, 1995 Michael's "new look" was unveiled for the
first time as he posed with Quincy Jones in the June
edition of Vibe magazine.
Finally, on May 29, 1995 "Scream", the first single
from Michael's forthcoming album "HIStory",
a duet with sister Janet, was released around the
world. In
the US, the single made history by debuting at number
5 in the Billboard Charts, making it the highest debut
ever in the 37-year history of the Billboard Hot 100,
toping the previous record held by The Beatles with
"Let It Be" which entered the chart at number 6 in March
of 1970!!! Michael will later break his own set record!
What the world had been waiting for for 4 years, happened
on June 15: Michael's long-awaited new album, "HIStory"
was released around the world. The double album is made
up of 15 greatest hits and 15 new songs, 150 minutes
of music. Statues of Michael Jackson constructed by
his record company were ceremoniously unveiled in several
European cities to tie in with the Jackson bust which
appears on the cover of the album.
A day before [June 14], Michael and Lisa Marie granted
their first interview as a couple to ABC's "Primetime".
The interview, held by Diane Sawyer, was broadcast live
around the world. The interview became the second-most-watched [viewership]
interview of all time [the most-watched interview of
all time is up to today Michael's interview with Oprah].
In
1997, Monica Lewinsky's interview with Barbara Walters
entered at the second position, pushing the Michael
and Lisa interview to the 3rd position. During
the "Primetime" interview, the video for "Scream"
premièred. The futuristic video clip, directed by
Mark Romanek, earned Michael another record and is
featured in The Guinness Book Of World Records as
the most expensive video of all time: US$ 7 million
did it cost to make "Scream". The video clip, in which Michael again took the art
of making videos to another level, is seen as groundbreaking
for the future of computer animated clips!
5 days later, on June 20, 1995 "HIStory" entered
the US Billboard LP Charts at number one, like in
many other countries around the world. The
album "HIStory" is undisputed the most important
album in Michael's career, after what he had to go through
in 1993. And it's without a doubt the most personal.
With "HIStory", Michael told "his story" about the false allegations, the lies, the avaricious
people, the tabloids - the Jackson case.
"HIStory" became a tremendous success all around
the world and clearly [!] answered the question: "Will
he make history or is he history?" The album proved
once more why Michael is the world's greatest entertainer
and the undisputed King of Pop. And Michael indeed made history with "HIStory":
The album becomes the biggest-selling double album of
all time! [reported by MTV USA]. It became also the
fastest-selling album in Michael's career. Unprecedented
7 million copies were sold worldwide in the first week!!!
Michael collaborated on the album with top producers
such as David Foster [Michael did already work with
him on "Off The Wall"]. In the 90's, David Foster became
by far the most successful producer of the decade, producing
Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", "I Have
Nothing", "Run To You" and hits for Madonna, "You'll
See", and later in 1999 for Mariah Carey, "After Tonight".
Other producers are Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Dallas
Austin and R. Kelly. "HIStory" features appearances
by supreme names such as Janet Jackson, The Notorious
B.I.G., Shaquille O'Neal, Slash, Steve Lukather, Boyz
II Men, Steve Porcaro, to name but a few.
On
August 15, 1995 "You Are Not Alone", the second single
from "HIStory" was released in America, and
went on to create chart history by becoming the first
ever song [single] to go straight in at number one
on the US Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart!!! This
has never happened before in the history of the Billboard
single-charts! Michael
broke his own record which he set with "Scream" 2 1/2
months ago ["Scream" entered the Billboard charts at
number 5, being the then-highest entry of all time]. The number one position is the highest possible debuting
position on the single-charts. This record can only
be tied but never be broken. Michael was honored with
the "Billboard Hot 100 Achievement Award" for having
the first ever single in the history of the Billboard
charts, "You Are Not Alone", to debut at number one
on the charts!
On September 7, 1995 Michael gave a stunning performance
at the opening of the 12th Annual MTV Music Video Awards.
Michael's performance and the standing ovation he received
proved unquestionably his continued popularity with
the public in general, and his ability to excite and
satisfy a live audience. Every other performer at the
show praised Michael, from alternative band Weezer to
Notorious B.I.G..
Chris Connely of MTV said the backstage area was filled
with celebs trying to get a spot in the wings to watch
Michael. Michael went on to pick up 3 awards for Best Dance Video,
Best Choreography and Best Art Direction for his and
Janet's video "Scream".
On
November 4, 1995 Michael performed for the first time
on the most popular European show "Wetten dass...?"
["Wanna bet...?"] in Germany. The TV special became
the biggest TV event throughout Europe [viewership]
with 18 million viewers in Germany and another 25
million throughout the rest of Europe. It's THE event
of the year 1995 in Europe.
On
December 6, 1995 Michael was rushed to Beth Israel Medical
Center in New York after collapsing at rehearsals for
his HBO special "One Night Only". Early reports from
the Center indicated that Michael was suffering from
gastro-enteritis, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Michael was due to play at the Beacon Theater on the
8th and 9th. The shows were canceled.
On January 19, 1996 "USA Today" reported that Lisa Marie
Presley-Jackson filed for divorce from Michael yesterday
[January 18], ending a 19-month marriage that merged
pop royalty. A statement from Jackson spokesman Lee
Solters said the two "have mutually agreed to go
their separate ways. However, they remain good friends." Irreconcilable differences were given as reason. Michael
got married to Lisa on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican
Republic.
On February 28, 1996 Michael won a Grammy for "Best
Video Short Form" for "Scream" at the 38th Annual Grammy
Award ceremony.
In March of 1996, it was reported on MTV USA that Michael's
"HIStory" album is the biggest-selling double
album ever!
On March 19, 1996 at a press conference in Paris, Michael
announced plans for his new company, "Kingdom Entertainment",
a Paris-based multimedia corporation, jointly owned
with Saudi Prince, Al-Walid bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz
al-Saoud.
On
May 8, 1996 after a great "Earth Song" performance
at the World Music Awards, Michael received a record-breaking
total of 5 [!] of these prestigious awards!
The World Music Awards honor the world's greatest-selling
recording artists of the year in the various categories
and the best-selling recording artists of the year
from each of the major record-buying countries around
the world. These
awards are unique in that, they are based purely on
record sales, hence it is the record-buying music fans
who determine the winners.
On September 7, 1996 Michael launched his "HIStory World Tour" with a high-tech spectacle in Prague, playing
to over 125'000 people!!! During his stay in the Czech
capital Michael had received police escorts throughout
the ancient city, and been treated like royalty.
The spectacle show hit the news around the world, especially
Michael's opening [arrival] in the Spaceship MJ 2040!
On
October 2, a new official Michael Jackson product -
a soft drink - was launched. The fizzy fruit drink carrying
the byline "fresh - cool - magic" is called "Mystery",
and will be sold on the tour and to retail outlets.
"Mystery" is described as an "energy" drink made from
fruit and plant extracts and vitamins and minerals.
On November 4, 1996 news broke that Debbie Rowe is carrying
Michael's first child. [Liz Smith reported in her column
in the San Francisco Chronicle as follows: "Congratulations
and good luck to Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, the
woman who is reported to be carrying his first child."]
On November 11, "Sisterella", the musical stage production
of a black version of "Cinderella" which Michael Jackson
co-produced, won an incredible 8 NAACP Theatre Awards
at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The show was a huge
success in the Pasadena Playhouse earlier that year,
and is in preparation for New York showings.
On
November 14, 1996 Michael married Debbie Rowe, a former
nurse, in a civil ceremony in his presidential suite
at the Sheraton-on-the-Park Hotel in Sydney.
Hotel publicist, Brian Walsh, told the media that
Michael has married again, saying that Jackson, 38,
married Rowe, 37, before a handful of friends in the
Sheraton-on-the-Park Hotel only hours after kicking
off the Australian leg of his "HIStory" World Tour. Walsh: "The ceremony was attended by a few friends
and people from the tour entourage. Debbie has known
Michael for a long time and has been with the entourage
for a while and they have a lot of friends in common." In
a written statement distributed on the Internet global
computer network, Michael said: "Please respect our
privacy and let us enjoy this wonderful and exciting
time." The wedding took place only ten days after
Michael announced Rowe, who nursed him while he was
being treated for a rare skin disorder [Vitiligo], was
to give birth to his child early next year.
On January 4, 1997 Michael ended the first leg of his
"HIStory" tour in Honolulu, Hawaii. The two concerts
held on January 3 and 4 at the 35'000-seat Aloha Stadium
made history - no other musical act ever sold out the
stadium, and Michael sold out 2 shows in less than 24
hours, a record time. It's his first U.S. tour stop
since 1989. Hawaii promotor Tom Moffatt said: "I've
never seen anything like it... there's been nothing
even close to this - The Rolling Stones, Elton John,
Julio Iglesias, The Eagles... ."
On
February 13, 1997 Michael Jackson's wife Debbie Rowe
gave birth to a healthy baby boy at Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles. Michael was present at his son's
birth. The boy is named Prince Michael Junior Jackson.
According to MTV News the birth time was 1:07 am [PST]. Michael: "Words can't describe how I feel... I have been
blessed beyond comprehension and I will work tirelessly
at being the best father that I can possibly be. I
appreciate that my fans are elated, but I hope that
everyone respects the privacy Debbie and I want and
need for our son. I grew up in a fish bowl and will
not allow that to happen to my child. Please respect
our wishes and give my son his privacy."
3 days later, on February 16, Michael arrived in company
of Elizabeth Taylor to celebrate her 65th birthday at
the star-studded gala, "Happy Birthday Elizabeth - A
Celebration Of Life" at Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
Michael was making his first appearance since the recent
birth of his son, whose godmother is Elizabeth Taylor.
Michael performed "Elizabeth, I Love You", which he
wrote especially for the occasion, and sat by Elizabeth's
side throughout the show.
On
March 21, 1997 Sony Music presented Michael with a special
award to signify sales of 100 million singles and albums
OUTSIDE of the United States, since his first solo album
for Epic Records in 1979, "Off The Wall".
Back to the Michael Jackson Biography Index.
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Jackson 5 Era
Jacksons Era
Thriller Era
Bad Era
Dangerous Era
HIStory Era
Blood On the Dancefloor Era
Invincible Era