Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the '80s, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time.
1958
Michael Joseph Jackson is born August 29, in Gary, Indiana, USA.
1962
Joe, Michael’s father, organises a family musical group – it eventually becomes the Jackson 5
1970
The Jackson 5 release ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, ‘The Love You Save’ and ‘I'll Be There’ – they all top the charts
1972
Michael Jackson scores his first number 1 single as a solo artist with ‘Ben’ – he also earns an Oscar nomination
1977
Jackson stars in the movie ‘The Wiz’ with Diana Ross and meets Quincy Jones
1979
Jackson releases his first solo album as an adult. ‘Off The Wall’, produced by Quincy Jones goes platinum, while singles ‘Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough’ and ‘Rock With You’ top the charts.
1982
Jackson releases ‘Thriller’, the album goes on to become the biggest-selling album of all time, staying in the charts for 2 years and hitting number one worldwide
‘The Girl Is Mine’ – a duet with Paul McCartney, ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', ‘Human Nature’ and ‘P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)’ all reach number one in the charts.
Michael Jackson supports the singles with amazing music videos, turning them into mini movies with narratives, best shown on ‘Thriller’, widely acknowledged as the greatest video of all time.
1983
Jackson wins 8 Grammys and becomes a spokesperson for Pepsi.
1984
Michael records his last album with the Jacksons.
1985
‘We Are The World’ is released, the single supports the all-star famine relief effort for Africa.
1986
Jackson buys a ranch in California and turns it into Neverland, an amusement park filled with rides and animals. He undergoes cosmetic surgery and gets accused of wanting to ‘turn white’ as his skin gets lighter.
Wild rumours about Jackson’s personal life start to surface, the media talk about hormone treatments, the star sleeping in an oxygen tent and excessive cosmetic surgery.
1987
Jackson’s new album ‘Bad’ is released - once again produced by Quincy Jones.
Singles ‘I Just Can't Stop Loving You’, ‘Bad’, ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’, ‘Man in the Mirror’ and ‘Dirty Diana’ all debut at number 1.
The world tour supporting the album becomes the highest-grossing tour of all time.
More media speculation about the star’s personal life – tabloids start to call him ‘Wacko Jacko’.
1991
New album ‘Dangerous’ is released, first single ‘Black Or White’ debuts at number one, although the video gets criticised for it’s violent scenes.
Following singles ‘Remember the Time’, ‘In the Closet’, ‘Jam’ and ‘Heal the World’ don’t perform as well as expected.
1993
Jackson is accused of molesting a 13 year old boy, he denies the charges and settles out of court, paying an estimated 18 to 20 million.
1995
Michael Jackson marries Lisa Marie Presley, the marriage breaks up 19 months later.
Jackson releases ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1’, a two-CD set featuring new material and his greatest hits, singles ‘Scream’ and ‘You Are Not Alone’ top the charts but the record is perceived as a disappointment.
1996
Jackson marries Debbie Rowe, over the next two years the couple has two children, son Prince Michael Jackson, Jr. and daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.
1999
The couple divorce.
2001
Michael Jackson is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and holds a massive concert at Madison Square Garden celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first solo record.
Release of ‘Invincible’- the album performs well but singles ‘You Rock My World’ and ‘Butterflies’ disappoint and the single ‘What More Can I Give’ get cancelled.
2002
Jackson’s media appearances take an extreme turn – when at the MTV Video Music Awards he gets a birthday cake he thinks he has won the Artist of the Millennium title.
Fans grasp in horror when he dangles his son off a balcony in Germany. He apologises the next day but his image gets more and more tarnished.
2003
The star’s Neverland ranch is searched and he is arrested on charges of child molestation.
2005
Jackson’s child molestation trial begins and he is acquitted on all counts.
The singer moves to Bahrain.
2009
Jackson announces his comeback with a 50 date run of shows at London’s O2 arena called This Is It.
Michael Jackson dies June 25th in California.
