HR0544 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0544 LRB096 13384 KXB 28107 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives and State Representative Monique D. Davis are saddened to learn of the death of Michael Jackson, who passed away on June 25, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana to Joseph and Katherine Jackson; at the age of 4, he began singing with his brothers, Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie, and Tito, as the Jackson 5; and

WHEREAS, By 1968, the Jacksons had cut singles for a local Indiana label called Steeltown; at an engagement that year at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater, singer Gladys Knight and pianist Billy Taylor saw their act and recommended them to Motown founder Berry Gordy; and

WHEREAS, Motown moved the Jacksons to California, and in August 1968 they gave a breakthrough performance at a Beverly Hills club called The Daisy; their first album, "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5," was released in December 1969, and it yielded the No. 1 hit "I Want You Back," with 11-year-old Michael on the lead vocals; "ABC," "I’ll Be There," and other hits followed, and the group soon had their own television series, a Saturday morning cartoon, and an array of licensed merchandise aimed at youngsters; and

WHEREAS, By 1972, Michael Jackson had his first solo album, "Got to Be There," which included the title hit as well as "Rockin' Robin"; his first solo No. 1 single came the same year, the theme song from the movie "Ben"; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, Michael made his film debut as the Scarecrow in "The Wiz," a black-cast adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz"; the movie launched a creative and commercial partnership with "Wiz" music director Quincy Jones; "Off the Wall" was released in 1979, his debut album on the Epic label; it sold 5 million copies in the United States and 2 million abroad and generated four Top 10 singles; and

WHEREAS, "Thriller," was released near the end of 1982 and became the best-selling studio album in history and a cultural landmark; not only did "Thriller" smash sales records as the bestselling album of 1983, but it made Michael Jackson the first artist to top four charts simultaneously: "Thriller" was the No. 1 pop single, pop album, R & B single, and R & B album; and

WHEREAS, In a Motown TV special in 1983, Michael Jackson, then 24, electrified the nation with his Moonwalk, a dance step that created the illusion of levitation; he took the stage in a black sequined jacket, silver shirt, black fedora, and black trousers that skimmed the tops of his white socks; the final touch was a single white glove, studded with rhinestones; and

WHEREAS, In 1985, Michael Jackson co-wrote "We Are The World" with Lionel Richie; he and Lionel Richie recorded the album under the name USA for Africa, along with popular recording artists of the time; the song became one the best-selling singles of all time, with 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars raised to help fight famine in Africa; and

WHEREAS, He was preparing for what would be a series of 50 concerts starting on July 13, 2009 at London's famed 02 arena; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson is survived by his children, Prince Michael Jr., Paris Michael Katherine, and Prince Michael II; his parents; and his siblings Maureen, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy, LaToya, and Janet; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and legion of fans worldwide, the passing of musical icon Michael Jackson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Michael Jackson as an expression of our sympathy.