A star since the age of 12 when The Jackson Five registered four No. 1 hits in 1970, Michael Jackson parlayed his remarkable singing and dancing talents into mega-stardom, the likes of which few entertainers have ever known.
1958 -
Born Aug. 29 in Gary, Ind., the seventh of nine children. His father, a steel mill crane operator and guitarist, would later manage the Jackson 5.
1969-1970 -
Has first hit single with Jackson 5's I Want You Back.
1970: ABC, the first single from the second Jackson 5 album, also becomes a number-one hit.
1972 -
Has first solo No. 1 hit, Ben, a love song to a movie rat.
1979 -
Off the Wall , Jackson's fifth studio album, propels him to superstar status.
1982 -
Thriller album makes him the 1980s' biggest star. It eventually sells 26 million copies.
1983 -
Michael Jackson performs legendary Billie Jean dance sequence that would catapult the former child singing sensation into full-blown superstardom. His white sequined glove and glittering white socks become pop-culture symbols.
1984 -
Wins 8 grammy awards including album, record and producer of the year.
1987 -
Attempts to buy skeleton of the "Elephant Man," John Merrick, according to news reports.
Bad album released, sells more than 8 million copies.
1988, 1990
1988: Releases autobiography, Moonwalk.
1990: Has surgery to put cleft in his chin. First reported wearing surgical masks in public.
1991 -
Jackson releases Dangerous album, certified for 7 million in sales.
1993 -
1993: In first TV interview in 14 years, tells Oprah Winfrey that changes in his skin complexion stem from vitiligo, a skin disorder. Later, a lawsuit claims he seduced and abused a 13-year-old boy.
1994 -
1994: Settles lawsuit with substantial payment to plaintiff. Los Angeles and Santa Barbara district attorneys decide not to file child-molestation charges.
Marries Lisa Marie Presley.
1995 -
1995: Performs during the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
1996-1999
1996: Presley files for divorce. Jackson marries nurse Debbie Rowe.
1997: Rowe gives birth to son Prince Michael.
1998: Rowe gives birth to daughter Paris Michael Katherine.
1999: Rowe divorces Jackson.
2001 -
Invincible album released, selling 2.1 million copies to date but spawning just two minor hits. Shortly before the release, he accuses Sony chief Tommy Mottola of being a racist.
2002 -
Third child, Prince Michael II, born, later famously dangled from fourth-floor Berlin hotel balcony.
2003-2005
2003: Vanity Fair article portrays his financial situation as precarious. and accuses him of buying the silence of more potential child-abuse accusers.The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department takes him into custody to face charges of child molestation.
2004: Jackson pleads not guilty Jan. 16 to child molestation charges, his first court appearance since being charged.
2005: Jackson goes to trial over sexual molestation charges. In May, he's acquitted of all charges.
2006 -
The beleaguered singer leaves Neverland and moves to Bahrain, a Persian Gulf island. In May, the gates of his ranch close forever.
2009 -
Jackson resurfaces to say that he would perform 50 concerts in London, starting July 13. He also says that this string of shows will be his last. "I will be performing the songs my fans want to hear. This is the final curtain call," Jackson said.
On June 25, Jackson dies after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 50.
Source: Tory Hargro, Korina Lopez, Jerry Mosemak, Julia Schmalz, Alex Newman, USA TODAY
