Weather Tonight: 3°c Clear Night Morning: 9°c Sunny spells

News

HEADLINES:
RSS

Michael Jackson

Dubbed “the King of Pop”, Michael Jackson changed the face of the music industry. Born in Gary, Indiana, on 29 August 1958, Jackson was the fifth of mother Katherine's nine children. He rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the Jackson 5 with four of his brothers Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie and Tito. After the Jackson 5, Jackson pursued a hugely successful solo career, including releasing the best-selling album of all time (Thriller, 1982). His other solo albums include Off The Wall (19 million copies sold worldwide), Bad (30 million copies), Dangerous (22 million copies) and HIStory (20 million copies). Famous for his dancing skills (popularising ‘the moonwalk’) and high-pitched singing voice, Jackson also courted controversy with his private life. His appearance dramatically changed after successive bouts of plastic surgery – most noticeably altering his skin colour and shape of his nose. In 1993 13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused him of sexual molestation. Jackson settled with the boy's family out of court for a reported $20 million. In 1994 Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis. They divorced 19 months later. In 1997, Jackson married a second time — to Debbie Rowe, his former nurse, who produced two children for him, Prince Michael and Paris. A third child, Prince Michael II — or Blanket — was born although he never disclosed the identity of his mother. In 2005, after a five-month trial, Jackson was found not guilty of further child abuse charges resulting from his interview with Martin Bashir. In June 2009, Jackson died of an apparent heart attack, prompting a global outpouring of grief from fans.

Related pictures

Final Michael Jackson album This Is It hits the shelves Michael Jackson tapes reveal love for Hitler and James Bulger killers Hot tickets: London's going out guide Michael Jackson Vienna tribute moved to London Michael Jackson to be buried at cemetery of the stars Michael Jackson killed by 'intravenous injection' Sedative at centre of Michael Jackson 'homicide' probe Police have ‘twisted’ Jacko’s final hours, says his doctor Michael Jackson's doctor 'to face manslaughter charge' Raid 'reveals Michael Jackson doctor bought sedative' Go-ahead of Jackson final rehearsals film Michael Jackson killed by Demerol shot given by aide, doctor claims

Related topics: 

Latest articles

Curious clips do little to resurrect Jacko in This Is It

28.10.09
This Is It shows Jackson centre stage throughout, always moving, often singing and sometimes looking like he is genuinely enjoying himself.... more

Dame Elizabeth Taylor tweets to praise Jacko film

27.10.09
Dame Elizabeth Taylor has used Twitter to heap praise on the Michael Jackson film This Is It.... more

Final Michael Jackson album This Is It hits the shelves

26.10.09
A new album of Michael Jackson's music was released today, kicking off a week of celebrations of the late singer's life.... more

Michael Jackson’s latest song unveiled to public

12.10.09
Audio: It has been nearly four months since his death but today Michael Jackson’s latest song was unveiled to the public... more

Jackson did have a skin complaint

02.10.09
Michael Jackson was generally in good health at the time of his death aged 50 - but was suffering from a skin complaint that left him with patches of white skin, an autopsy report reveals today. The report says the singer's arms were covered with punctures, his face and neck were scarred and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips. ... more

Tottenham teen rapper Chipmunk gains his spurs with Mobo win

01.10.09
British groups dominated the Mobo awards this year, with both X Factor finalists JLS and hip hop trio N-Dubz scooping two awards each... more

Michael Jackson tapes reveal love for Hitler and James Bulger killers

25.09.09
Michael Jackson praised Hitler and wanted to hug the killers of James Bulger, according to a series of taped conversations which have only now come to light ... more

Hot tickets: London's going out guide

18.09.09
With more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage shot as the king of pop prepared for his London run, Michael Jackson: This Is It is worth booking now.... more

Michael Jackson Vienna tribute moved to London

11.09.09
A Michael Jackson tribute concert to be held in Vienna this month was cancelled today.... more

From tributes to homicide: the delayed burial

04.09.09
Michael Jackson, a source of fascination, adoration and criticism in equal measure, lived a life like no other... more

Jackson joins 'cemetery of stars'

04.09.09
Michael Jackson joins a long list of famous Americans who have been laid to rest in a Forest Lawn cemetery over the last century... more

Michael Jackson to be buried at cemetery of the stars

03.09.09
Final preparations for the burial of Michael Jackson taking place ahead of private ceremony attended by the pop singer's close friends and family in California... more

Jackson's final resting place in cemetery of the stars

03.09.09
... more

Michael Jackson killed by 'intravenous injection'

02.09.09
Michael Jackson's death certificate has been amended to state he was killed by an “intravenous injection by another”... more

Video: 'Michael Jackson' steps out of coroner's van to delight of conspiracy theorists

27.08.09
Video footage that claims to show Michael Jackson jumping out of a coroner's van has surfaced on the internet... more

Sedative at centre of Michael Jackson 'homicide' probe

26.08.09
Michael Jackson's personal doctor could be charged over his death after a coroner apparently determined the singer died after being given a lethal cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs... more

Police have ‘twisted’ Jacko’s final hours, says his doctor

25.08.09
Doctor facing possible manslaughter charges over Michael Jackson’s drug death hit back at the police account of the singer’s last hours... more

Michael Jackson's doctor 'to face manslaughter charge'

20.08.09
Michael Jackson's personal physician will be charged with manslaughter within the next two weeks, according to reports... more

Michael Jackson to be buried on day he was due to celebrate 51st birthday

18.08.09
Michael Jackson will be buried in a private ceremony on August 29 - the date he was due to celebrate his 51st birthday, a family spokesman has said... more

$80million in deals as Jackson’s death gets the tills ringing

13.08.09
Michael Jackson’s death has generated almost $80million in marketing, merchandising and film deals... more

Raid 'reveals Michael Jackson doctor bought sedative'

12.08.09
Raid on pharmacy uncovers evidence that Jacko's personal doctor bought a powerful sedative of the type thought to have killed him... more

Is this plot Michael Jackson's final resting place?

12.08.09
This unmarked grave is believed to be the final resting place of Michael Jackson.... more

Lack of stars forces Michael Jackson O2 tributes to be cancelled

11.08.09
Michael Jackson tribute concerts planned for the O2 Arena are cancelled after promoters failed to sign up enough performers... more

Go-ahead of Jackson final rehearsals film

11.08.09
Michael Jackson fans will get the chance to see their hero's last stage movements after a judge today gave the green light to a movie based on his final rehearsals ... more

Jackson's last resting place 'is secret plot'

10.08.09
Michael Jackson has been buried in an unmarked plot at a sprawling Los Angeles cemetery, according to reports in the US... more

Michael Jackson killed by Demerol shot given by aide, doctor claims

03.08.09
Michael Jackson’s personal doctor claims he was killed when his aide gave him a shot of the painkiller Demerol ... more

Michael Jackson police raid doctor’s home and office

29.07.09
Federal drugs agents and police raid the home and office of Michael Jackson’s doctor in widening investigation into whether the singer was killed by a powerful anaesthetic... more

Michael Jackson killed by powerful anaesthetic, say police

28.07.09
Police investigating the death of Michael Jackson believe that the singer's personal doctor administered a powerful anaesthetic that they think killed him... more

O2 is still world's top venue - even without Michael Jackson

28.07.09
O2 arena is on track to be named the world's most popular concert venue for a second year running - despite facing 21 empty nights following Michael Jackson's death... more

Drugs agents raid Michael Jackson's clinic

23.07.09
US government investigators raided the offices of Michael Jackson's doctor in search of evidence of manslaughter, the medic's lawyer ... more

More related topics: Michael Jackson and

  • Facts
  • Immediately after Jackson’s death, record shops around the world sold out of his albums and singles, and Jackson’s music rose to Number 1 on various music charts
  • Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide.
  • Jackson is one of few artists to have been inducted twice in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (for his performances in the Jackson 5, and his solo career)
  • Jackson performed at the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII, the nationally televised American football playoffs final. During his performance, it became the first Super Bowl to have television ratings increase during the halftime show.
  • In the 1980s Jackson was diagnosed with lupus and vitiligo, a skin disorder, where the skin undergoes depigmentation.

Latest pictures


LondonBuzzProvided by Google

Don't Miss

Top Gun Val Kilmer's arty mission to save the world

The Iceman cometh to the arts. Val Kilmer has been in London this week on what he terms "an art safari"

All stories

Promotions

The Open University

Every year The Open University helps thousands of professionals progress in their careers.


Win the Best Seats

In London theatre when you vote for your favourite celebrity spec wearer.


Breast Cancer Care

Donate £1 and leave a message of support for a loved one in the Swarovski Garden of Wishes.


Win an iPodTouch

With Courvoisier when you share your thoughts on this week's cocktail.