Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson started out as part of a sibling, singing group called “The Jackson 5” in 1964. Though only six at the time, Michael quickly began to stand out from the rest with his powerful, melodic voice. The group’s song, “I Want You Back” became the number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and many hits followed, such as “I’ll Be There” and “It’s Your Thing.”
Michael’s talent only grew with him and he eventually went solo, creating hits like “Thriller,” “Bad,” and “Man in the Mirror.” The glamor, fame, and publicity surrounding Jackson became larger-than-life which led to some extreme, personal struggles and disturbing accusations of inappropriate behavior. Sadly, Jackson died in 2009 from cardiac arrest but this has only served to immortalize his stardom.
Emilio Estevez
The Sheens are certainly one of the most iconic families in the world of Hollywood over the last 50 years. And while he might not carry the more popular name of Sheen, Emilio Estevez has played a big part in the family's success. He is best recognized from his role in “The Breakfast Club” as detention-bound jock, Andrew Clark.
He also garnered fame for his part in the 1985 drama, “St. Elmo’s Fire,” co-starring Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. In the ‘90s, Estevez tried his hand behind the scenes and, along with acting, wrote and directed the comedy, “Men at Work” with his brother Charlie Sheen. These days Emilio has seemingly taken a step away from the showbiz spotlight.
Duran Duran
Since the group’s formation, Duran Duran has had many members come and go, but it was Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, and Roger Taylor that became mainstays in the minds of fans. Duran Duran first emerged in 1981 with the hit single, “Planet Earth.”
But it was their third single, “Girls On Film” that really sparked a serious fan base and led the group to affectionately be called “The Fab Five.” Over their career, the group endured creative differences, burnout, career decline, comebacks, and more group member departures. The band continues to work on music together to this day. Duran Duran fans rejoice!
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
As toddler twins, both Mary-Kate and Ashley starred in “Full House,” sharing the role of Michelle Tanner. During “Full House,” the twins also appeared in other tv shows and films, and, at just seven years old, the girls became media moguls, establishing the production company, “Dualstar.” The company produced their future projects, including a short, video series called “The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley.”
When they reached their teens, the Olsens were most remembered for their sitcom, “So Little Time” and the film “New York Minute.” Today, the two have shifted their focus away from acting entirely to making a name for themselves in the fashion world.
Avril Lavigne
Folksinger Stephen Medd first discovered Avril when she performed at a community theater. Medd invited her to collaborate with him on his song, “Touch the Sky” and she also contributed her vocals to a few more of his songs. In 1999, she was finally noticed by industry professional, Cliff Fabri. After working to make a name for herself, she eventually caught lasting attention with the release of her song, “Complicated.”
Lavigne was not the typical, bubbly pop star, but her earthy, emotionally driven lyrics produced devoted fans and she went on to create hits like “Sk8er Boi” and “My Happy Ending.” She has continued to release seven albums over the years and she is still actively songwriting and performing.