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.
Michael Jackson's private agony has been revealed as he was heard in a slurred voice explaining how he felt children's pain because he never had a childhood himself... more
Michael Jackson became hooked on a deadly cocktail of drugs because he feared failure at his comeback concerts in London's O2 Arena, the trial of his personal physician was told... more
Even under the stupefying influence of powerful Propofol, the hospital anaesthetic Jackson used as his own private Ambien, Michael Jackson's sense of grandeur was undiminished... more
The trial of Dr Conrad Murray, 58, who denies a charge of involuntary manslaughter over Michael Jackson's death, was opening in Los Angeles in front of a worldwide audience... more
Young British dance star Akai Osei will lead a group of adult and child dancers in a stunning recreation of Michael Jackson's legendary Thriller dance... more
Dr. Conrad Murray is asking a judge to throw out a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the 'Thriller' singer's father, Joe, claiming Michael Jackson is responsible for his own death... more
Owners of a Hackney music studio who installed a sculpture of Michael Jackson dangling his baby son out of a window have received death threats from fans
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Michael Jackson’s mother sues a concert promoter for allegedly failing to properly provide life-saving equipment and a doctor for what were intended to be the pop star’s comeback shows... more
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.
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