Biography

   Janet Jackson is the youngest child out of the incredible Jackson family. Although it has not been easy for Janet to be the youngest child in one of the world's most popular families in the music industry. Janet has struggled but has succeeded in finding her own identity.
   Janet was born on May 16,1966 to Katherine and Joseph Jackson in Gary, Indiana. At the age of 2, Janet and her family moved from Gary, Indiana to California. When Janet was 7 years old she made great impersonations of Mae West and Cher, which won the hearts of millions. Janet's very first sitcom that she starred in was "Good Times" (1977-1978), the late seventies hit sitcom. Janet played, Penny Gordon, an abused child. The next sitcom that Janet was in was "Different Strokes" (1981-1982), opposite of Todd Bridges.
   In 1982, Joseph urged Janet to begin a singing career. Although Janet was not ready for this, she agreed to do it any way. "Janet Jackson" was her debut album, it was released within the same year, 1982. This album peaked at #63 on the Billboard's Top 200 Albums and only sold 250,000 copies.
   In 1984, Janet landed another role on TV, the tv series "Fame". This show called for both acting and singing. That same year at the age of 18, Janet eloped with James Debarge, he was a member of the popular 80's singing group Debarge. Janet's parents disapproved of this marriage. Later on in that same year, Janet released her second album, Dream Street. The album reached #147 on the Billboard and only sold 200,000 copies. Janet finally annulled her marriage with James Debarge, realized that it was not working out.
   In 1986, Janet unleashed her next project. The release of the the first single, What Have You Done For Me Lately?, was a smash hit. The single rose to the top 5. Control, peaked at #1 on both Pop and R&B charts of the Billboard. The album sold over 10 million worldwide copies and produced five Top 5 hits including, Nasty, Let's Wait Awhile, and When I Think Of You.
   After the success that Janet had with Control, Janet decided to begin planning her next project. People began saying that Janet was riding on her brother Michael's coattails. This made Janet try even harder and for her to establish her own place in the music industry.
In 1988, Janet began working on her next project with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. A&M was expecting Janet to do a Control II, but Janet didn't want to. Janet couldn't do something that she has already done. Janet needed to give the people some entirely new.
In 1989, the Rhythm Nation 1814 was released. The album was accompanied by a 30-minute long video complete with songs that were on the album. The Rhythm Nation was about social problems. The first single, Miss You Much, spent four weeks at #1. The album itself went #1 on both the Pop and R&B charts. The album sold 10 million copies. The album had seven Top 5 hits, including four #1's. The Rhythm Nation World Tour was watched by over two million fans. Janet then began involving herself in many charities all around the world. Janet collected 25 cents from every ticket sold and she raised $450,000 from the Tour, which she then donated to the United Negros College Fund. Janet established her very own scholarship called The Rhythm Nation Scholarship Fund, this was supported by the UNCF. Janet also donated to Make A Wish Foundation, Starlight Foundation, and the TJ Martell Foundation for children with cancer and leukemia.
   In 1991, Janet signed a whopping $32 million contract with Virgin Records for only two albums. In 1992, Janet did a duet with Luther Vandross for the movie "Mo' Money." The Best Things In Life Are Free became her 14th Top 10 hit. Janet also shot the movie "Poetic Justice" with Tupac Shakur, directed by John Singleton that same year. This movie was not very successful, Janet's acting in the movie did earn her some good reviews.
   In 1993, Janet released her next album, janet. The shy and conservative Janet has now grown into a sexy beautiful woman. Her album, janet., unraveled a new and more mature side of Janet to the world. The first single off the album was That's The Way Love Goes, it was the fastest rising single of the year. That's The Way Love Goes reached #1 in 3 weeks and stayed there for 8 weeks. The second single that was released off the album was the theme song from "Poetic Justice", Again. Again was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1994. The album consisted of six Top 10 hits and sold over 15 million copies. Janet also did a tour for janet, this tour was very successful for Janet.
   In 1995, Janet did a duet with her brother Michael. Scream went to the Top 5 and was certified platinum in the U.S. Janet and Michael received a Grammy for Best Short Form Video from Scream. Janet also released Design of a Decade1986/1996 later that year. Janet had two new songs on the album, Runaway and Twenty Foreplay. Runaway became her 17th Top 5 and Gold Single.
   Janet signed a new recording contract with Virgin Records, $80 million. This contract became the biggest contract in music history. For each album Janet will receive $5 million. Janet has become the highest paid music artist.
In 1996, Janet, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Rene Elizondo, Jr. hit the recording studios again to work on her next project. This project took Janet six months to finish, the longest for Janet. Janet recorded 20 songs and the album was set to be released in October. The album was titled The Velvet Rope. The first single from the album was Got 'Til It's Gone. This song was different from any of Janet's songs or any artist. The video for this song had the look of South Africa during the Apartheid time. In 1998 Janet won Best Short Form Video for the Got 'Til It's Gone video. The song was a Top 10 hit around the world.
The album itself was labeled as Janet's best work in years. The Velvet Rope was #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart and was also at #2 on the R&B Album Chart. The album dealt with topics such as homophobia, depression, and loving and respecting oneself. Although Janet seemed happy, her album was doing well, Janet was not happy at all. Janet confessed that she suffered depression in the past two years. Janet was having a hard time dealing with issues that she had pushed aside that took place during her childhood up to her adulthood. All of these issues soon came back to haunt her. That is the reason why Janet took so long to finish the album, she was dealing with these issues while she was working on the album. Janet symbolized the velvet rope as a barrier that blocks others from knowing who we really are.
   The second single was Together Again. Janet wrote this song for her friends that she lost to AIDS. Together Again, hit #1 in Europe and was in the Top 5 in Canada and Australia. In the U.S., the single spent two weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart. The single sold over 3 million copies all around the world. It was Janet's 18th Gold Single. Janet then began working on her tour for the album. In 1998, Janet released another single, I Ge Lonely. This single reached #3 on the Hot 100 Singles chart. In April 1998 Janet launched another tour, The Velvet Rope Tour. Janet toured Europe for 6 weeks, then released her next single Go Deep. On October 11th Janet's concert at Madison Square Gardenss was showed on HBO. Janet then toured Africa, Asia, and then Australia. Since the tour Janet has dueted with Elton John, Busta Rhymes and Blackstreet. Janet's duet with Elton John is on the Legend of Aida soundtrack.

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