Principal dates in the life of pop star Michael Jackson, who died in Los Angeles on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest. (
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Michael Jackson is seen in file pictures (from top left): 1971, 1977, 1979 and (bottom left): 1983, 1987, and 1990. (AP) More Pictures |
August 29, 1958: Born in Gary, Indiana.
August 1962: Singing debut with his brothers, The Jackson Five.
March 1969: First Jackson Five contract with Tamla Motown, Detroit's black-owned record label. Michael's voice propels the group onto the hit parade with "
ABC" and "I'll Be There".
1970: Launch of solo career alongside that of the Jackson Five.
August 1979: Release of "Off The Wall" album, produced by Quincy Jones, which sold 11 million copies.
December 1982: release of "Thriller" album, whose seven hits included "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," pushing sales to 50 million copies worldwide.
1984: Jackson's face gets burnt during
filming for a Pepsi ad.
1985: Buys ATV Music -- a company with rights to John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs -- for 47.5 million dollars.
1985: Jackson writes "We Are The World," which benefited the fight against hunger in Africa.
1987: Release of "Bad," which sold 26 million copies and marked the end of his collaboration with Quincy Jones.
1988: His autobiography "Moonwalk" comes out.
1990: Michael Jackson is seen for the first time wearing a surgical mask in public/
1992: Release of "Dangerous," which sold 22 million copies/
August 1993: A father accuses Jackson of molesting his 13-year-old son, but settles out of court/
May 1994: February 1996: marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of
Elvis/
June 1995: Release of "History" album/
November 1996-October 1999: Marriage to Debbie Rowe, a 37-year-old nurse with whom he has two children, Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine
.
October 2001: Release of "
Invincible".
July 2002: Jackson accuses record labels of exploiting artists, especially African-Americans.
November 19, 2002: Scandal after Jackson dangles his third son, nine-month-old Prince Michael II, from a Berlin hotel balcony.
January 31, 2003: Sotheby's auction house sues for non-payment of 1.7 million dollars for two paintings.
February 3: In
documentary "Living with Michael Jackson" broadcast on ITV, Jackson claims never to have abused a child, merely to have shared his bed.
February: The singer's manager brings a 13-million-dollar lawsuit for back salary, which is settled out of court in June.
November 18: Police raid Jackson's Neverland ranch in California as "Number Ones" album is released.
November 19: Warrant issued for Jackson's arrest on several counts of child molestation.
November 20: Jackson is arrested and handcuffed after surrendering to police, held briefly then released on bail.
December 18: Michael Jackson is formally charged with child molestation.
January 16, 2004: Jackson pleads not guilty during his first appearance amid a media circus.
January 31, 2005: Michael Jackson trial begins with jury selection.
February 28, 2005: Opening arguments begin in trial.
June 4, 2005: Jurors begin considering their verdict.
June 13, 2005: Jackson acquitted on all charges against him.
March 5, 2009: Jackson announces series of comeback concerts in London -- billed as the "final curtain" -- his first major shows for more than a decade.
May 20, 2009: Jackson delays comeback shows. Concert organizers say
singer's health is "fantastic".
June 25, 2009: Jackson dies in Los Angeles.
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