Died On This Date (June 25, 2009) Michael Jackson
themusicsover Michael Jackson
August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson was arguably the most iconic and influential performer popular music has ever known. Coming from working class beginnings in Gary, Indiana, Jackson and his brothers began entertaining audiences along the chitlin’ circuit as the Jackson Five. Young Michael was just six years old at the time. Within just a few years, the group was topping the music charts with songs like “ABC” and “I’ll Be There,” while becoming a brand within itself thanks to many television appearances including a cartoon based on their likenesses. In 1978, now out on his own, Jackson played the part of the Scarecrow in the The Wiz, a musical adaptation of the Wizard Of Oz. It was while working on the film that Jackson met music producer, Quincy Jones who agreed to produce Off The Wall, his breakthrough album. In 1982, Thriller was released, and the world changed. With a slew of pop hits and the dynamic music videos that accompanied them, Jackson was tailor made for the young MTV. Jackson’s fame and record sales skyrocketed. Thriller went on to become one of the greatest selling albums of all times. On March 25, 1983 Jackson performed on a television special celebrating the 25th anniversary of Motown Records. During his performance of “Billie Jean,” Jackson shocked and amazed nearly 50 million viewers with his “moonwalk” dance move, a moment that has been likened to the Beatles’ and Elvis Presley’s appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. In the coming years, other notable Michael Jackson milestones included the release of Bad and Dangerous; his writing of, and performance in the superstar-studded charity anthem “We Are The World;” and a mind-blowing half-time performance at the 1993 Super Bowl. It was the first time a single entertainer had ever done the entire half-time show. In early 2009, after several years of legal and financial troubles, Michael Jackson began to put together plans for a comeback. Unfortunately, during the morning hours of June 25, Jackson reportedly collapsed in the home he was renting. After paramedics arrived and tried to revive him, Jackson apparently fell into a coma and was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead after going into cardiac arrest.
What You Should Own
![Thriller (25th Anniversary) [Deluxe Edition] - Michael Jackson](https://i0.wp.com/ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/web/linkmaker/badge_itunes-lrg.gif?w=640){kind=icon}
Hillel Slovak was the founding guitarist of Los Angeles Alterna-Funk-Metal gods, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and by some accounts, their true heart and soul. Thanks in part to Slovak’s passion for funk, the band were able to create an alchemy of sonic power that married the best of funk, punk rap and metal into something that has since been imitated but never equaled. It should also be noted that Slovak actually taught Chili Peppers’ Mike “Flea” Balzary how to play the bass and the world would never be the same. Meeting in high school, the band was formally launched in 1983 and quickly hit the local stages. Their super high energy sound and shows quickly launched them to the top of the local scene and secured them a deal with EMI Records. It was around this time that Slovak began to experiment with heroin which lead to turmoil within the band as the drug began to adversely affect his playing. He was in and out of the group over the next few years, but to fans, he was and will always be as much a part of RHCP as anyone. Sadly, Slovak died of an heroin overdose on June 25, 1988.
Sky Saxon began his musical career as a doo-wop singer in the early ’60s. While living in San Francisco in 1965, Saxon formed the Seeds, a psychedelic garage rock band that would eventually reach cult status. Though never considered a great vocalist in the traditional sense, Saxon and his band had hits with “Can’t Seem To Make Me Mine” and “Pushin’ To Hard” which was later covered by the Monkees. In recent years, Saxon teamed up with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins for some new recordings while appearing in the Pumpkins’ video for “Superchrist.” Saxon died of what is suspected to be an infection of his internal organs. No actual cause of death has been released.
Along with his wife, 
Johnny Mercer was a popular songwriter whose many songs made stars out of their singers during the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. He gave us such standards as “Days Of Wine And Roses,” “P.S. I Love You,” “Jeepers Creepers,” “Day In, Day Out,” and “Hooray For Hollywood” to name just a few. Mercer moved to Hollywood in 1935 and became one if the most in-demand songwriters in film. In 1942 he along with Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs started Capitol Records where I used to work. In 1975, Mercer learned he had an inoperable brain tumor which lead to his death on June 25, 1976.