Michael Jackson through the years

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Michael Jackson through the years

We take a look at Michael Jackson through the years.

FAMILY: We all know Jackson's family history. From the beloved Jackson 5 to brother Michael's bumpy career (Here he is seen leaving Santa Barbara County Superior Court on April 7, 2005, after another day of testimony in his child molestation trial)

Michael Jackson was born Aug. 29, 1958, and he made his professional musical debut at age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5. His solo career began two years later, even as he continued to perform with his older brothers.

In 1978, Jackson starred with Nipsey Russell and Diana Ross in the film musical "The Wiz."

The scores were arranged by Quincy Jones. He agreed to produce Jackson's future albums, one of which became "Thriller."

Released in December 1982, "Thriller" was the top-selling album of all-time, with worldwide sales of more than 104 million. It was also the first album to feature seven top-10 Billboard singles. To commemorate the 25th anniversary, Michael Jackson put out a double disc re-issue complete with several new remixes by A-list collaborators including Akon and Fergie.

And then there's Michael Jackson. We always loved his original face...

When he was younger, Jackson was friends with several young actresses, including Brooke Shields, who accompanied him to the 1984 Annual American Music Awards. Tatum O'Neal also wrote about their relationship, which occurred when they both were in their teens, in her book "A Paper Life."

In May 1984, President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan recognized Jackson's contribution to the drunk driving awareness program. Thoughout his life, Jackson was involved in causes that benefitted children and the poor, most notably "We Are the World." He co-wrote the single with Lionel Richie and was one of 39 musicians who performed on it. Nearly 20 million copies were sold and millions of dollars were donated to famine relief.

But there were bumps road in the road. During the taping of a Pepsi commercial in February 1984, the King of Pop's problems began when his hair caught on fire hair caught light during a freak accident. Jackson was taken to hospital, where he was treated for second-degree burns.

Having recovered from the Pepsi incident, Jackson and his brothers launched the Victory tour, which had then playing 55 dates between July and December.

In August 1987, Jackson released "Bad." Nine of the 11 tracks were written by the singer, and five hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Atlanta fans got up close and personal with the pop star in his heyday. He performed at the Omni in 1988. It wasn't his first stop. He played Fulton County Stadium in 1984.

When 'Dangerous' came out in November 1991, it became his second album to debut at No. 1. The video for "Black and White" was one of the earliest examples of computer-generated morphing, but it was the last four minutes, in which Jackson smashed store windows and cars as well as grabbed his crotch and zipped up his pants, that generated controversy. MTV and the other music networks cut that portion after the debut, and Jackson apologized to anyone who had been offended.

Jackson shared a stage with former President JImmy Carter in 1993 when he was in town to help the Atlanta Project celebrate its massive immunization project for children.

Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, but the criminal charges were dropped because of a lack of evidence. Jackson settled the civil case out of court with an estimated $20 million payment to Jordy Chandler's family. The ordeal took a toll on the performer's image, and he became a curiousity as much as a legendary entertainer. In this 1996 photo, he is seen wearing an anti-pollution mask and shielding his head.

In 1993, the same year of the child sexual abuse allegations, Jackson married Lisa-Marie Presley, Elvis Presley's only child.

They shared one of the most awkward kisses on record at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, a sign of things to come. They divorced after 19 months of marriage.

Jackson began the HIStory world tour on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. He performed 82 concerts in 58 cities to over 4.5 million fans. The show was his most successful in terms of audience figures; he has not toured the world since.

In 1996, Jackson married Deborah Rowe, a nurse whom he had met when he was diagnosed with vitiligo. They got to know each other while she treated his skin condition.

Rowe gave birth to Prince, Jackson's first child, on Feb. 13, 1997. The couple also had a daughter before they divorced in 1999.

In February 1997, he sang "Happy Birthday"' to Elizabeth Taylor on her 65th birthday.

The two have always had a close friendship. In fact, it was she who came up with the nickname "King of Pop" when she presented Jackson with an "Artist of the Decade" award in 1989. Taylor also has defended him against the the sexual abuse allegations.

Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2001. He was previously a member, having been inducted as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1997. This makes him one of the few artists to have been included twice.

Jackson caused a stir in November 2002 when he dangled his second son Blanket, who had a towel draped over his head, out of a third-story window of a Berlin hotel so fans could see him. "I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children," Jackson later said.

Jackson's legacy might have shifted for good when the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department arrested him in 2003 on more sexual abuse charges. His trial began two years later. During that time, he suffered from stress-related illnesses that caused severe weight loss. The trial lasted five months and ended in May 2005, when he was acquitted on all counts.

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FAMILY: We all know Jackson's family history. From the beloved Jackson 5 to brother Michael's bumpy career (Here he is seen leaving Santa Barbara County Superior Court on April 7, 2005, after another day of testimony in his child molestation trial)

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