| Written by Pharoh Martin (NNPA National Correspondent), on 07-02-2009 00:00 |
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August 29, 1958--Michael Joseph Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana. He is Joseph and Katherine Jackson's seventh child of nine.
1964--Jackson and brothers Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine form the singing group the Jackson 5
1968--The Jackson 5 sign to Barry Gordy's Motown Records.
October 7, 1969--The Jackson 5 score their first number one hit with "I Want You Back"
January 24, 1972--Jackson releases his first solo album, "Got to Be There"
1975--The Jackson 5 leaves Motown
June 1975--The Jackson 5 signs a new contract with CBS Records
October 24, 1978--Jackson makes big screen debut as the Scarecrow on the Wiz, where he first meets legendary producer Quincy Jones during the musical film's production.
1979--Jackson broke away from his brothers to go solo.
November 30, 1982 Jackson Releases "Thriller", the highest selling album of all time at 109 million sold to date.
March 25, 1983--Jackson performs live on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special. He debuts his signature dance move--the moonwalk.
December 2, 1983--Premieres the video for "Thriller", breaking the racial barrier of MTV's reluctance to play black videos.
January 27, 1984--Jackson suffers second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
May 14, 1984--Jackson is invited to the White House to receive an award presented by U.S. President Ronald Reagan for his work with charities.
March 7, 1985--Releases benefit song "We Are the World", which features 45 popular signers such as Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and Ray Charles.
August 31, 1987--Releases "Bad", the follow-up album to Thriller.
Feburary 10, 1993--Jackson first speaks openly about his childhood abuse from his father in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
1993--Michael Jackson is accused of child abuse for the first time.
February 6, 2003--British journalist Martin Bashir's famously candid interview with Jackson airs in the US. Controversy ensues after Jackson admits to letting underage children sleep with him in his bed.
May 2005--Jackson is acquitted of seven counts of child sexual abuse
2008--Jackson announces a tour of 50 concerts in London, set for July 2009.
June 25, 2009--Jackson dies of cardiac arrest. Last update: 07-02-2009 17:51
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