Janet Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 to a well-known musical family. As the youngest of nine children, Janet grew up in the music business; her older brothers were the '70s pop group Jackson 5. Janet began performing as a child, opening for the Jackson 5 in Las Vegas, but became known to the public mostly through her appearances on such TV shows as "Good Times," "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Fame." At age 16 her domineering father, Joseph Jackson, pushed her into a professional singing career, eager to capitalize on the growing success of her brother Michael. Signing to A&M Records, her eponymous 1982 debut reached No. 63 and sold over a quarter-million copies based on the Jackson name alone. Two years later, against her family's wishes, Jackson married James Debarge of the R&B group Debarge; that same year she released her second album, Dreamstreet, which did not sell quite as well as its predecessor. Her career floundering, Jackson had her marriage to Debarge annulled and returned to her father's guidance.
In 1985 Joseph Jackson brought in his friend John McClain, a record executive, to remake Janet's image. McClain brought in top pop producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to prepare new material, then led her into seclusion to lose weight and develop dance moves. Her 1986 single "What Have You Done For Me Lately" reached the Top 5, boosting sales of her new LP, Control, which reached No. 1 on the Pop and R&B charts and sold 10 million copies worldwide. Jackson began work on a follow-up which she
wanted to call Work, but McClain, attempting to cultivate a "bad girl" image for Janet, wanted the record to be called Scandal. After more disagreements between artist and manager, in 1989 Jackson released Rhythm Nation 1814, another pop smash. The album spawned four No. 1 hits, such as "Miss You Much," and three more Top 5 hits, eventually selling 10 million copies reaching No. 1 in the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. A massive world tour followed, along with several charity events.
Discontent with A&M, in 1991 Janet signed a $32 million, two album deal with Virgin Records, at the time the biggest recording contract in history. The following year her single "The Best Things In Life Are Free," a duet with Luther Vandross, reached No. 1; she also filmed scenes for the John Singleton film Poetic Justice (also featuring gangsta rapper Tupac Shakur). With a new, more sexual image, Jackson's 1993 Virgin debut, janet., continued to expand the pop singer's fan base, spawning six Top 10 hits and selling over 15 million copies.
Another elaborate world tour followed. After dueting with brother Michael on his Grammy-winning single "Scream," Janet released a 1996 greatest hits collection, Design of a Decade, which also featured two new singles. Later that year Jackson re-signed with Virgin for a reported $80 million, making her the highest paid recording artist of all time. To date she has sold 40 million albums, won three Grammy awards, and an Oscar nomination. Jackson's latest album, The Velvet Rope, was released on Virgin in October 1997 to great reviews but disappointing sales.
