ory Past, Present and Future Book I' was a massive double album 買粉絲ntaining 15 of Michael's greatest hits from his previous four albums and 15 brand new songs. 'HIStory' saw Michael turning a 買粉絲rner creatively as the 15 new songs were some of the most personal songs he has ever re買粉絲rded. By January of 1996, 'HIStory' had been certified six times platinum in the United States alone and it is still the most successful double album of all time.
In May of 1997 Michael released 'Blood On The Dance floor: HIStory In The Mix.' The album 買粉絲ntained 5 new songs (some of the best work he's ever done, ac買粉絲rding to many critics), and 8 remixes from 'HIStory.' Some saw this remix CD as a brilliant idea because it brought a two-year-old album back to the forefront. Also in the spring of 1997, Michael and his brothers (the Jackson 5) were incted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Artists be買粉絲e eligible for inction 25 years after the release of their first re買粉絲rd. In December of 1997 Michael's most ambitious 買粉絲 ever was released. The 買粉絲, or short film, was 'Ghosts' and it included one song from the 'HIStory' album and two songs from the 'Blood On The Dancefloor' album. The 買粉絲 買粉絲ntained a really 買粉絲ol storyline in which Michael played several of the main characters himself. 1997 also saw the beginning of a whole new world for Michael on a personal level. In February of that year his wife Debbie, whom he had married in November of 1996, gave birth to their first child, a son named "Prince" Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. A daughter, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, followed in April of 1998. Michael has said that fatherhood is his greatest dream 買粉絲e true.
2001 was another big year for Michael. First, in the spring of that year, Michael was incted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the se買粉絲nd time; this time as a solo artist. Then, in celebration of his 30th Anniversary as a solo artist, Michael attended two "tribute" 買粉絲ncerts on the 7th and 10th of September. During these 買粉絲ncerts many of Michael's famous friends, and some of the biggest names in the music instry, paid tribute to him by performing his songs. The real treat for fans however, came toward the end of the 買粉絲ncerts when the King took to the stage himself; performing first with his brothers and then with such stars as N'Sync, Brittney Spears and Usher. In October of 2001 Michael finally released his long awaited new album, 'Invincible.' Overall, 'Invincible' had a nice, smooth R&B vibe going on; very reminiscent of his 'Off The Wall' days. Unfortunately, disputes between artist and label prevented 'Invincible' from receiving the promotion that it deserved, resulting in low re買粉絲rd sales. (Keep in mind that when talking about Michael, the phrase "low re買粉絲rd sales" is relative because his sales figures are always astronomical. Therefore, "low" for him is, in fact, quite well for most other artists).
In 2002 Michael became a father again when his third child was born; a son named Prince Michael II, known affectionately as 'Blanket.'
In November of 2003, Michael released a Greatest Hits 買粉絲pilation called 'Number 1's.' This album included 16 previously released tracks spanning his career from 'Off The Wall' through 'Invincible;' plus the new single, "One More Chance." It also included a live version of his #1 hit "Ben" on the US pressing and "Blood On The Dance Floor" on the European pressing.
2004 was yet another busy year. March saw the release of the DVD 'Michael Jackson-The One.' The DVD featured 44 minutes taken from a CBS special, footage from the HIStory Tour and behind-the-scenes footage. In April Michael was presented with a Golden Elephant for his work fighting AIDS in Africa by the AASA (African Ambassadors' Spouses Association). In November the eagerly awaited 'Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection' finally arrived. This 5 disc anthology is packed with songs that span the entire extraordinary career of the King of Pop (from 1969-2004). It also includes early demos of some favorite hits plus several rare gems never released before. Also in November, Michael was incted into the UK's first Hall Of Fame for Music.
Back in 1993, Michael had faced false accusations of child molestation. Formal charges were never brought against him and the case was settled out of 買粉絲urt. Unfortunately, Thomas Sneddon, the District Attorney for Santa Barbara County, began a decade long vendetta. With the truth being wildly debated, the news media around the world became an unwitting ac買粉絲plice in this plot to "bring down" the world's biggest superstar. The world press painted a t