His mother didn’t believe in babysitters, so he always went with her to work.
Later in life, he was frequently teased by his classmates for his passion.
But by the 1980s, however, the violent bullies were silenced for good — likely left wondering what they had done to the young man who would grow up to become one of the brightest stars in the world.
Exceptionally gifted
On August 18, 1952, a boy was born in Houston, Texas, who would go on to capture the hearts of millions. From a young age, it was obvious he was exceptionally gifted, standing out from his peers.
His father worked as a draftsman for a chemical plant, while his mother, Patsy, was a choreographer and founder of the Houston Jazz Ballet Company.
Naturally, he absorbed their passions and interests, shaping the foundation of his extraordinary future. Dance was a central part of his life, something he threw himself into with full dedication, spending countless hours perfecting his craft. He even got paid for it.
“He wanted to do everything. He was a skater, a swimmer, involved in all the Little League sports, baseball, football, studied dancing every day, he played the violin, sang in the school choir, did the leads in the school plays from junior high up,” his mother said.
“I guess you could call him hyper, but he just has to be busy all the time.”
But this passion, extraordinary as it was, made him a target during his school years. Boys at school saw singing and dancing as “girly” pursuits, and he endured relentless bullying because of it. Some days he’d come home with bruises and marks from confrontations.
