He was a man who healed the world with his legendery songs
his legendary dancing
and smile
look back ta a legend of some generationsss
Michael Jackson: Highs and lows
his legendary dancing
and smile
look back ta a legend of some generationsss
Michael Jackson: Highs and lows
Jackson is one of the most successful recording artists of all time
Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. The pop star was due to begin a comeback tour with a series of concerts in London in July.
Here are the ups and downs of the singer's lifetime in pop.
1969 – RECORD DEAL
Michael, the seventh of nine children, joins his brothers' pop group in 1964 - initially playing tambourine and bongos.
MICHAEL JACKSON - THE FACTS
Full name: Michael Joseph Jackson
Born: August 29, 1958, Gary, Indiana, US
Also known as: The King of Pop, Wacko Jacko
Biggest hits: I Want You Back, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Bad, Black or White, Earth Song
Here are the ups and downs of the singer's lifetime in pop.
1969 – RECORD DEAL
Michael, the seventh of nine children, joins his brothers' pop group in 1964 - initially playing tambourine and bongos.
MICHAEL JACKSON - THE FACTS
Full name: Michael Joseph Jackson
Born: August 29, 1958, Gary, Indiana, US
Also known as: The King of Pop, Wacko Jacko
Biggest hits: I Want You Back, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Bad, Black or White, Earth Song
He quickly becomes the centre of attention and takes on lead vocal duties as the band build up a reputation on the live circuit.
Motown acts Gladys Knight and Bobby Taylor recommend the Jackson Five to their boss Berry Gordy. The groups' first release on the legendary Detroit label, I Want You Back, goes straight to number one in 1969 - when Michael is just 11 years old.
Over the next six years, the band churns out a string of hits including ABC, The Love You Save and I’ll Be There.
1975 - QUITS MOTOWN
The Jacksons decide to leave Motown for a more lucrative deal at CBS Records. Motown sues the band for $20 million (£10 million).
1978 – OFF THE WALL
Motown acts Gladys Knight and Bobby Taylor recommend the Jackson Five to their boss Berry Gordy. The groups' first release on the legendary Detroit label, I Want You Back, goes straight to number one in 1969 - when Michael is just 11 years old.
Over the next six years, the band churns out a string of hits including ABC, The Love You Save and I’ll Be There.
1975 - QUITS MOTOWN
The Jacksons decide to leave Motown for a more lucrative deal at CBS Records. Motown sues the band for $20 million (£10 million).
1978 – OFF THE WALL
Off The Wall only won one Grammy, spurring Jackson on to greater things
Jackson meets music producer Quincy Jones on the set of The Wiz - an urban retelling of The Wizard of Oz in which the singer plays the scarecrow.
He asks Jones to produce his new solo record - and the result is disco classic Off The Wall.
It sells 10 million copies, and contains hit singles Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You.
1982 - THRILLER
He asks Jones to produce his new solo record - and the result is disco classic Off The Wall.
It sells 10 million copies, and contains hit singles Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You.
1982 - THRILLER
The video for Thriller was inspired by American Werewolf in London
Jackson unleashes his pop masterpiece, Thriller, which re-writes the rule book on how pop is marketed, not least because of its ground-breaking video clips.
The record is frequently named the biggest-selling album of all time , shifting 65 million copies, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
As the album spawns hit after hit - seven of its nine tracks make the charts - Jackson appears unstoppable. He causes jaws to drop around the world when he debuts the Moonwalk at a Motown television special in 1983.
Then, against the advice of his managers and record label, he convinces director John Landis to transform him into a zombie and a werecat in the 14-minute video for Thriller - at a cost of $500,000 (£250,000). The scale and ambition of the clip have often been copied, but never bettered.
The record is frequently named the biggest-selling album of all time , shifting 65 million copies, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
As the album spawns hit after hit - seven of its nine tracks make the charts - Jackson appears unstoppable. He causes jaws to drop around the world when he debuts the Moonwalk at a Motown television special in 1983.
Then, against the advice of his managers and record label, he convinces director John Landis to transform him into a zombie and a werecat in the 14-minute video for Thriller - at a cost of $500,000 (£250,000). The scale and ambition of the clip have often been copied, but never bettered.
