Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal. However, since "bronze" is a somewhat imprecise term, and historical pieces have variable compositions, in particular with an unclear boundary with brass, modern museum and scholarly descriptions of older objects increasingly use the more cautious and inclusive term "copper alloy" instead.

The word ''bronze'' is borrowed from , itself borrowed from (compare Medieval ), whose origin is unclear. It might be connected with "glowing coals", or "fire", but it could equally go back to, or be influenced by, the Latin name ''Brundisium'' of the city of Brindisi (''aes Brundusinum'', meaning "copper of Brindisi", is attested in Pliny). However, perhaps it is ultimately taken from the Persian word for brass, ''birinj''.

History

The discovery of bronze enabled people to create metal objects which were better than previously possible. Tools, weapons, armor, and various building materials, like decorative tiles, made of bronze were harder and more durable than their stone and copper ("Chalcolithic") predecessors. Initially bronze was made out of copper and arsenic to form arsenic bronze. It was only later that tin was used, becoming the sole type of bronze in the late 3rd millennium BC. Tin bronze was superior to arsenic bronze in that the alloying process itself could more easily be controlled (as tin was available as a metal) and the alloy was stronger and easier to cast. Also, unlike arsenic, tin is not toxic.

The earliest tin-alloy bronzes date to the late 4th millennium BC in Susa (Iran) and some ancient sites in China, Luristan (Iran) and Mesopotamia (Iraq).

Copper and tin ores are rarely found together (exceptions include one ancient site in Thailand and one in Iran), so serious bronze work has always involved trade. In Europe, the major source for tin was Great Britain's deposits of ore in Cornwall, which were traded as far as Phoenicia in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Though bronze is generally harder than wrought iron, with Vickers hardness of 60–258 vs. 30–80, the Bronze Age gave way to the Iron Age; this happened because iron was easier to find and easier to process. Bronze was still used during the Iron Age, for example officers in the Roman army had bronze swords while foot soldiers had iron, but, for many purposes, the weaker wrought iron was found to be sufficiently strong. Archaeologists suspect that a serious disruption of the tin trade precipitated the transition. The population migrations around 1200–1100 BC reduced the shipping of tin around the Mediterranean (and from Great Britain), limiting supplies and raising prices. As ironworking improved, iron became cheaper; and as cultures advanced from wrought iron to forged iron, they learned how to make steel, which is stronger than bronze and holds a sharper edge longer.

Composition

There are many different bronze alloys but modern bronze is typically 88% copper and 12% tin. Alpha bronze consists of the alpha solid solution of tin in copper. Alpha bronze alloys of 4–5% tin are used to make coins, springs, turbines and blades. Historical "bronzes" are highly variable in composition, as most metalworkers probably used whatever scrap was to hand; the metal of the 12th century English Gloucester Candlestick is bronze containing a mixture of copper, zinc, tin, lead, nickel, iron, antimony, arsenic with an unusually large amount of silver - between 22.5% in the base and 5.76% in the pan below the candle. The proportions of this mixture may suggest that the candlestick was made from a hoard of old coins. The Benin Bronzes are really brass, and the Romanesque Baptismal font at St Bartholomew's Church, Liège is described as both bronze and brass.

Commercial bronze (90% copper and 10% zinc) and Architectural bronze (57% Copper, 3% Lead, 40% Zinc) are more properly regarded as brass alloys because they contain zinc as the main alloying ingredient. They are commonly used in architectural applications.

Bismuth bronze is a bronze alloy with a composition of 52% copper, 30% nickel, 12% zinc, 5% lead, 1% bismuth. It is able to hold a good polish and so is sometimes used in light reflectors and mirrors.

Other bronze alloys include aluminium bronze, phosphor bronze, manganese bronze, bell metal, arsenical bronze, speculum metal and cymbal alloys.

Properties

Bronze is considerably less brittle than iron. Typically bronze only oxidizes superficially; once a copper oxide (eventually becoming copper carbonate) layer is formed, the underlying metal is protected from further corrosion. However, if copper chlorides are formed, a corrosion-mode called "bronze disease" will eventually completely destroy it. Copper-based alloys have lower melting points than steel or iron, and are more readily produced from their constituent metals. They are generally about 10 percent heavier than steel, although alloys using aluminium or silicon may be slightly less dense. Bronzes are softer and weaker than steel—bronze springs, for example, are less stiff (and so store less energy) for the same bulk. Bronze resists corrosion (especially seawater corrosion) and metal fatigue more than steel and is a better conductor of heat and electricity than most steels. The cost of copper-base alloys is generally higher than that of steels but lower than that of nickel-base alloys.

Copper and its alloys have a huge variety of uses that reflect their versatile physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Some common examples are the high electrical conductivity of pure copper, the excellent deep drawing qualities of cartridge case brass, the low-friction properties of bearing bronze, the resonant qualities of bell bronze, and the resistance to corrosion by sea water of several bronze alloys.

The melting point of Bronze varies depending on the actual ratio of the alloy components and is about .

Bronze is nonmagnetic.

Uses

Bronze was especially suitable for use in boat and ship fittings prior to the wide employment of stainless steel owing to its combination of toughness and resistance to salt water corrosion. Bronze is still commonly used in ship propellers and submerged bearings.

In the twentieth century, silicon was introduced as the primary alloying element, creating an alloy with wide application in industry and the major form used in contemporary statuary. Sculptors may prefer silicon bronze because of the ready availability of silicon bronze brazing rod, which allows color-matched repair of defects in castings. Aluminium is also used for the structural metal aluminium bronze.

It is also widely used for cast bronze sculpture. Many common bronze alloys have the unusual and very desirable property of expanding slightly just before they set, thus filling in the finest details of a mold. Bronze parts are tough and typically used for bearings, clips, electrical connectors and springs.

Spring bronze weatherstripping comes in rolls of thin sheets and is nailed or stapled to wood windows and doors. There are two types, flat and v-strip. It has been used for hundreds of years because it has low friction, seals well and is long lasting. It is used in building restoration and custom construction.

Bronze also has very low metal-on-metal friction, which made it invaluable for the building of cannon where iron cannonballs would otherwise stick in the barrel. It is still widely used today for springs, bearings, bushings, automobile transmission pilot bearings, and similar fittings, and is particularly common in the bearings of small electric motors. Phosphor bronze is particularly suited to precision-grade bearings and springs. It is also used in guitar and piano strings.

Unlike steel, bronze struck against a hard surface will not generate sparks, so it (along with beryllium copper) is used to make hammers, mallets, wrenches and other durable tools to be used in explosive atmospheres or in the presence of flammable vapors.

Bronze is used to make bronze wool for woodworking applications where steel wool would discolor oak.

Bronze statues

Indian Hindu artisans from the period of the Chola empire in Tamil Nadu, used bronze to create intricate statues via the lost wax casting method with ornate detailing depicting the Gods of Hinduism mostly, but also the lifestyle of the period. The art form survives to this day, with many silpis, craftsmen, working in the areas of Swamimalai and Chennai.

In antiquity other cultures also produced works of high art using bronze. For example: in Africa, the bronze heads of the Kingdom of Benin; in Europe, Grecian bronzes typically of figures from Greek mythology; in east Asia, Chinese bronzes of the Shang and Zhou dynasty — more often ceremonial vessels but including some figurine examples.

Bronze continues into modern times as one of the materials of choice for monumental statuary.

Musical instruments

Bronze is the most popular metal for top-quality bells, particularly bell metal, which is about 23% tin.

Nearly all professional cymbals are made from a bronze alloy. The alloy used in drum kit cymbal bronze is unique in the desired balance of durability and timbre.

Modern cymbals consist of several types of bronze, the most common being B20 bronze, which is roughly 20% tin, 80% copper, with traces of silver. Zildjian and Sabian use this alloy for their professional lines. A Swiss company, Paiste, uses a softer B8 bronze which is made from 8% tin and 92% copper in nearly all of their cymbals. Zildjian and Sabian use this metal too, in their budget priced cymbals.

As the tin content in a bell or cymbal rises, the timbre drops. As well as B8 and B20, Meinl Percussion uses B10 (10% tin) and B12 (12% tin) alloys for cymbals, which have timbres roughly between B8 and B20.

Bronze is also used for the windings of steel and nylon strings of various stringed instruments such as the double bass, piano, harpsichord, and the guitar.. Bronze strings are commonly reserved on pianoforte for the lower pitch tones, as they possess a superior sustain quality to that of high-tensile steel.

Bronzes of various metallurgical properties are widely used in struck idiophones around the world, notably in South East Asia, and most famously for the Javanese gamelan and other glockenspiel-like musical instruments. The earliest bronze archeological finds in Indonesia date from 1–2 BCE, including flat plates probably suspended and struck by a wooden or bone mallet. Some companies are now making saxophones from phosphor bronze (3.5 to 10% tin and up to 1% phosphorus content). Bell Bronze is used to make the tone rings of many professional model banjos. The tone ring is a heavy(usually 3 lbs.) folded or arched metal ring attached to a thick wood rim, over which a skin, or most often, a plastic membrane(or head)is stretched-it is the bell bronze that gives the banjo a crisp powerful lower register and clear, bell-like treble register-especially in bluegrass music.

Medals

thumb|200px|right|A large bronze cast medallion, some 9.5 by 8.7 centimetres in measurement, created by the celebrated medalist Valerio Belli in the sixteenth century. Bronze has been used in the manufacture of various types of medals for centuries, and are known in contemporary times for being awarded to the second-runner up in sporting competitions and other events. The later usage was in part attributed to the choices of Gold, Silver and Bronze to represent the first three Ages of Man in Greek mythology: the Golden Age, when men lived among the gods; the Silver age, where youth lasted a hundred years; and the Bronze Age, the era of heroes, and was first adopted at the 1904 Summer Olympics. At the 1896 event, silver was awarded to winners and bronze to runners-up, while at 1900 other prizes were given, not medals.

See also

List of copper alloys

Art object

Bronze medal

Bronze sculpture

Bronzing

Chinese bronze inscriptions‎

French Empire mantel clock

Seagram Building

DZR Dezincification Resistant Brass

UNS C69100

References

External links

Bronze bells

"Lost Wax, Found Bronze": lost-wax casting explained

Viking Bronze - Ancient and Early Medieval bronze casting

Category:Persian loanwords

af:Brons als:Bronze am:ናስ ar:برونز an:Bronze ast:Bronce az:Tunc bn:ব্রোঞ্জ zh-min-nan:Chheⁿ-tâng be:Бронза be-x-old:Бронза bg:Бронз bs:Bronza ca:Bronze cv:Бронза cs:Bronz cy:Efydd da:Bronze de:Bronze et:Pronks el:Κρατέρωμα es:Bronce eo:Bronzo ext:Bronci eu:Brontze fa:مفرغ fr:Bronze fy:Brûns gd:Umha gl:Bronce hak:Thùng ko:청동 hy:Բրոնզ hi:कांसा hr:Bronca io:Bronzo id:Perunggu zu:Ibhulonze is:Brons it:Bronzo he:ארד kn:ಕಂಚು ka:ბრინჯაო kk:Қола sw:Bronzi lbe:Чарвит la:Aes (mixtura) lv:Bronza lb:Bronz lt:Bronza lmo:Bronz hu:Bronz ml:വെങ്കലം mr:कांसे xmf:ბრინჯაო (მეტალი) ms:Gangsa mwl:Bronze nl:Brons ne:चरेस new:कँय् ja:青銅 no:Bronse nn:Bronse oc:Bronze pnb:کانسی pl:Brązy pt:Bronze ro:Bronz qu:Champi ru:Бронза sah:Чаҥ simple:Bronze sk:Bronz sl:Bron sr:Бронза sh:Bronza su:Perunggu fi:Pronssi sv:Brons tl:Tansong pula ta:வெண்கலம் te:కంచు th:สำริด chr:ᏣᏱ ᎤᏬᏗᎨ tr:Tunç uk:Бронза ur:کانسی vi:Đồng điếu fiu-vro:Pronks zh-classical:青銅 yi:בראנדז zh:青铜

name	Bronze Nazareth
background	solo_singer
birth name	Justin Cross
born	December 8, 1979
origin	Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
genre	Hip hop
occupation	Record producer, rap artist
label	Black Day In July Productions LLC
associated acts	Wu-Tang ClanWu-ElementsWisemen
website	www.bronzenazareth.com
notable instruments	}}

Bronze Nazareth (born Justin Cross in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a Hip-Hop music producer and emcee associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He is, along with Cilvaringz, part of the new generation of producers to carry on the Wu-Tang sound. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen along with his brother Kevlaar 7.

Biography

He was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. Around 1998, Bronze Nazareth met with producer and rapper Cilvaringz who was impressed by his work and added him to his own production team and label Ringz & Partners Inc. with whom Bronze released the internet-only release ''The Unknown - Death's Birth: The Grip Of Behemoths'' in 2002. From there, the two worked the rounds of contacts within the clan's extended associates. Eventually he was asked by RZA to join the Wu's in-house team. He furthered his technique and sound. Bronze went on to contribute two beats to RZA's solo album Birth of a Prince. He produced most of the 2005 compilation album ''Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture'', released on Dreddy Kruger's label Think Differently Music. In 2006 he released his solo debut on this label titled ''The Great Migration'' to critical acclaim. It features Wu-Tang Clan affiliates such as Timbo King, Prodigal Sunn and Killa Sin. He produced the majority (11 out of 13 tracks) for Sunz Of Man member 60 Second Assassin's debut solo album ''Remarkable Timing'', along with contributing to affiliated 9th Prince, Timbo King, and Prodigal Sunn. 9 beats were made for his group the Wisemen's second album ''Children Of A Lesser God'' released in 2010. He released his 2nd solo album in 2011 called ''School For The Blindman'' with features from Canibus, Killah Priest, The Wisemen, RZA, Masta Killa, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, La The Darkman & Willie The Kid again to critical acclaim.

Discography

Albums

''The Great Migration'' (2006)

''Wisemen Approaching'' (2007) (with ''Wisemen'')

''The Unknown'' (2007)

''Bronzestrumentals Vol. 1'' (2009)

''Children Of A Lesser God'' (2010) (with ''Wisemen'')

''School for the Blindman'' (2011)

Mixtapes

''Thought For Food Vol. 1'' (Mixtape) (2005)

''Thought For Food Vol. 2'' (mixtape) ''(2008)''

Appearances

Various artists - Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture ''(Studio album released October 14, 2005)''

: 12. "Street Corners" (Performed by Bronze Nazareth, and Byata) : 19. "Black Dawn" (Performed by Bronze Nazareth)

Hell Razah - Renaissance Child ''(Studio album released February 20, 2007)''

: 05. "Los Pepes Pt. 1" (featuring Bronze Nazareth)

"Gun Barrell Prison" - Shaka Amazulu The 7th featuring Bronze Nazareth (2008)

"Brain Swell" - Chronicredeye featuring Bronze Nazareth, Franko Fraize & Lyrical T

"Old Flicks" - Shaka Amazulu The 7th featuring Bronze Nazareth & Cilvaringz Cilvaringz

"7 Pounds feat. Bronze Nazareth" - Genius/GZA (Unofficial remix released on the internet)

"Thirsty Vampires - Shaka Amazulu The 7th ft. Jedi Mind Tricks & Bronze Nazareth, Produced by Bronze.

"Story of Sadness" - Tragic Allies feat. Bronze Nazareth (The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil)

Production

; 2003

The RZA - Birth of a Prince ''(Studio album released October 7, 2003)''

: 13. "A Day To God Is 1,000 Years" : 15. "The Birth"

; 2005

Black Market Militia - Black Market Militia ''(Studio album released March 22, 2005)

: 01. "Intro: Children of Children" : 08. "Righteous Talk"

Afu-Ra - State of the Arts ''(Studio album released June 14, 2005)''

: 06. Livin' Like Dat (featuring Masta Killa)

Various artists - Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture ''(Studio album released October 14, 2005)''

: 01. "Introduction" : 02. "Lyrical Swords" (Performed by GZA and Ras Kass) : 03. "Slow Blues" (Performed by Timbo King, Prodigal Sunn, Vast Aire and Byata) : 06. "Think Differently" (Performed by Casual, Rock Marciano, Vordul Mega and Tragedy Khadafi) : 09. "O.D.B. Tribute" (Performed by DJ Noize) : 10. "Fragments" (Performed by Del tha Funkee Homosapien) : 12. "Street Corners" (Performed by Bronze Nazareth, Solomon Childs and Byata) : 13. "Listen" (Performed by Littles, Khalid and Planet Asia) : 19. "Black Dawn" (Performed by Bronze Nazareth)

Blue Raspberry - Out of the Blue ''(Studio album released 2005)''

: 02. "Growing Up"

; 2006

Masta Killa - Made in Brooklyn ''(Studio album released August 8, 2006)

: 05. "Nehanda & Cream" : 10. "Street Corner" (featuring Inspectah Deck and GZA) : 11. "Ringing Bells"

; 2007

Hell Razah - Renaissance Child ''(Studio album released February 20, 2007)''

: 05. "Los Pepes Pt. 1" (featuring Bronze Nazareth) : 12. "Millennium Warface"

Wisemen - Wisemen Approaching ''(Studio album released February 27, 2007)''

: 01. "Introducing (No Matter How)" : 04. "Associated" (featuring GZA) : 05. "Mixture Of Muhammad" : 06. "Iconoclasts" (featuring Killah Priest and Vast Aire) : 07. "Founder Of Pain" : 09. "Up There Beyond" : 10. "Verbal Joust" : 11. "Words From Prodigal Sunn..." : 12. "Goblins (Tablets)" (featuring Planet Asia and Prodigal Sunn) : 13. "Welcome Home" (featuring Altaire and Gooch) : 15. "Wisemen Approaching"

Cilvaringz - I ''(Studio album released June 12, 2007)''

: 8. "Christ & Judas (Skit)/Brothers Ain't Brothers"

; 2008 Immortal Technique - The 3rd World : 11. "The Payback" (featuring Ras Kass and Diabolic) GZA - Pro Tools : 4. "Groundbreaking" (featuring Justice) : 10. "Columbian Ties" (featuring True Master) Vordul Mega - Megagraphitti : 6. "Trigganomics"

"Lady Whirlwind" - Shaka Amazulu The 7th featuring Darkim Be Allah & Allahwise (AIG), [Black Stone of Mecca]

"Thirsty Vampire - Shaka Amazulu The 7th ft. Jedi Mind Tricks & Bronze Nazareth [Gods of the Universe]

"Knights & Armor - Shaka Amazulu The 7th ft. Black Knights & Wasabifunk [Children of the Heavens]

Almighty - Original S.I.N. (Strength In Numbers) 3. "Handle The Heights" (featuring Canibus & Keith Murray) 7. "Daylight" (featuring Kevlaar 7) 9. "Interlude #1" 10. "Killer Bee Swarm" (featuring Timbo King) 16. "Dead Flowers" (featuring 60 Second Assassin)

; 2010

60 Second Assassin - Remarkable Timing ''(Studio album released June 22, 2010)''

: 01. "Words From The Assassin (Intro)" : 03. "M.O.A.N. (Mind Of An assassiN)" (feat Sunz Of Man) : 04. "Clockz N' Kingz" (feat 12 0' Clock, Chi-King & Timbo King) : 05. "Remarkable Timing" (feat Masta Killa, M-80 & Poppa Wu) : 07. "Cloud 9" (feat T.H.U.G. Angelz, Son One & Kristina Green) : 08. "No Face" : 09. "Paradise" (feat Timbo King, Killah Priest & Kristina Green) : 10. "Love Burns" (feat Prodigal Sunn & Phillie) : 11. "The Throne" (feat Planet Asia) : 12. "Dead Flowers Part II" (feat C-Rayz Walz & Bronze Nazareth) : 13. "Fizza Funky"

Vinnie Paz - Season of the Assassin ''(released June 22, 2010)''

: 14. "Role Of Life"

Hell Razah - Heaven Razah ''(Studio album released September 28, 2010)''

: 04. "Medical Kush" (co-produced with Kevlaar 7)

9th Prince - One Man Army ''(Studio album released October 11, 2010)''

: 03. "Concrete Jungle"

Wisemen - Children Of A Lesser God ''(Studio album released October 26, 2010)'' : 02. "Children Of A Lesser God" : 06. "Lucy" : 07. "Get U Shot" : 08. "Hurt Lockers" : 10. "Words From Big Rube (Skit)" (feat Big Rube) : 13. "Panic In Vision Park" : 15. "Interlude: Toxic" : 16. "Makes Me Want A Shot" : 18. "Corn Liquor Thoughts"

; 2011

Raekwon - Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang ''(Studio album released March 7, 2011)''

: 01. "Butter Knives"

Bugsy Da God - The Terrorist Advocate ''(Studio album released February, 2011)''

: 03. "The Sound Of Gunz" (feat Dom Pachino & Shyheim)

Timbo King - From Babylon To Timbuk2 ''(Studio album released September 13, 2011)''

: 01. "The Book Of Timothy (Intro)" : 05. "The Two Babylonians [Interlude]" : 06. "High Ranking" (feat RA The Rugged Man) : 09. "Identity Crisis [Interlude]" : 10. "Youth" : 13. "Tombstone" : 16. "Timbuktu [Interlude]" : 17. "Thinking Cap"

Tragic Allies - Collecting Dust BONUS CD included with The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil debut album of the Tragic Allies released September 27th, 2011.)

: 03. "Undeniable"

Dom Pachino - The Last Armageddon: Disc 2 (Omega) ''(Studio album released November 15th, 2011)''

: 03. "No Perseverance" feat Chapelz

''Project Manzu'' - Knowing Project Manzu ''(Entire album released December 15, 2011)''

References

External links

Bronze Nazareth's official website

Bronze Nazareth's biography at the official Wu-Tang Clan website

Wu-International Interview 2006

Bronze Nazareth Interview by VibeRated.com

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Bronze+Nazareth

Category:Musicians from Detroit, Michigan Category:Rappers from Detroit, Michigan Category:Underground rappers Category:Wu-Tang Clan affiliates Category:Living people Category:1979 births

fr:Bronze Nazareth it:Bronze Nazareth pl:Bronze Nazareth sv:Bronze Nazareth

alt	A mid-twenties African American man wearing a sequined military jacket and dark sunglasses. He is walking while waving his right hand, which is adorned with a white glove. His left hand is bare.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Joseph Jackson
alias	Michael Joe Jackson, MJ, King of Pop
birth date	August 29, 1958
birth place	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
death date	June 25, 2009
death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
instrument	Vocals
genre	R&B;, pop, rock, soul, dance, funk, disco, new jack swing
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, record producer, actor, businessman, philanthropist
years active	1964–2009
label	Motown, Epic, Legacy, MJJ Productions
associated acts	The Jackson 5
relatives	Janet Jackson (sister)
website	}}

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s. Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B;, pop and rock artists.

Jackson's 1982 album ''Thriller'' is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including ''Off the Wall'' (1979), ''Bad'' (1987), ''Dangerous'' (1991), and ''HIStory'' (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music.

Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior, generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse, but the case was settled out of court and no formal charges were brought. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts. While preparing for his concert series titled ''This Is It'', Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25, 2009, after suffering from cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide, and his personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and as many as one billion people around the world reportedly watched his public memorial service on live television. In March 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a $250 million deal with Jackson's estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings until 2017, and to release seven posthumous albums over the decade following his death.

Life and career

Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B; band called The Falcons. Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth.

Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe.

The group's sales began declining in 1973, and the band members chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow them creative control or input. Although they scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.

Move to Epic and ''Off the Wall'' (1975–81)

In June 1975, the Jackson 5 signed with Epic Records, a subsidiary of CBS Records and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Younger brother Randy formally joined the band around this time, while Jermaine left to pursue a solo career. In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B; Album, Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B; Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That year, he also won Billboard Year-End for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Jackson again won at the American Music Awards in 1981 for Favorite Soul/R&B; Album and Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist. Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt ''Off the Wall'' should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release. In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.

''Thriller'' and ''Motown 25'' (1982–83)

In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''; the record won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1984. In the same year he won another seven Grammys and eight American Music Awards (including the Award of Merit, the youngest artist to win it), making him the most awarded in one night for both award shows. The album topped the ''Billboard'' 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to have seven ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 singles, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It", and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". ''Thriller'' was certified for 29 million shipments by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond status in the United States. The album won also another Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical in 1984, awarding Bruce Swedien for his work. Thanks to the ''Bad'' album, Bruce Swedien and Humberto Gatica won one Grammy in 1988 for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and Michael Jackson won one Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone" in 1989. ''HIStory'' received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. However, the sales for ''Invincible'' were lower than those of his previous releases, due in part to a lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute. The album also came out at a bad time for the music industry in general. Jackson rehearsed in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer Kenny Ortega. Most of these rehearsals took place at the Staples Center, which was owned by AEG. With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers. In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media. "Beat It" decried gang violence in an homage to ''West Side Story'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey. He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona. ;Bibliography

George, Nelson (2004). ''Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection'' booklet. Sony BMG.

Further reading

External links

Michael Jackson at MTV

FBI file on Michael Jackson

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