Michael Jackson: Career Timeline
August 29, 1958: Michael Jackson is born in Gary Indiana, the 7th of 9 Jackson children.
1964: At the age of 6, Michael joins his brothers’ band.
1968: The Jackson Five signs with Motown records. Their first four singles go to #1.
1970: Michael has his first #1 solo hit with “Ben”
1979: With Quincy Jones as producer, Jackson releases his “Off the Wall” album and it sells 10 million copies. The biggest hit on the album is “Don’t Stop ’til you Get Enough”
1982: The ‘Thriller’ album is released and went on to become the biggest selling album of all time. 7 of the 9 songs on the album go to #1. No future album release from Michael would come close to this success.
1983: Michael’s legendary ‘Moonwalking’ performance on ‘Motown: 25′
1984: Michael’s scalp is burned after a pyrotechnics accident while filming a Pepsi commercial. He also wins a bidding war with Paul McCartney for rights to the most popular Beatles songs.
1987: Michael releases his follow up album, Bad. It spawns 5 #1 singles and sells 8 Million copies. ‘Skin Bleaching’ rumors begin over his noticably lighter appearance in the ‘Bad’ video.
1988: Michael purchases the land and home that would become his ‘Neverland’ theme park.
1993: Jackson reveals to Oprah Winfrey that his skin tone issues are a result of Vitiligo skin disorder. First child molestation accusation from an 11-year old boy. Jackson settles out of court for a reported $20 Million.
1994: In what was widely believed as a publicity stunt to help repair his image, Michael marries Lisa-Marie Presley. They would divorce just over a year later.
1997: Michael marries again, this time to his nurse, Debbi Rowe. They have two children and eventually divorce. She relinquishes all parental rights to him.
2001: Jackson’s next album, “Invincible” is released. It debuts at #1 but fades fast and sells 2 million copies.
2002: Michael famously dangles his son over a hotel balcony in Germany.
2003: Jackson reveals in a documentary that he has ‘innocent sleepovers’ with children sharing his bed. Law enforcement officers raid Neverland and charge him with child molestation.
2005: Jackson acquitted of all charges. He leaves Neverland, never to return - and moves his family out of the U.S.
2008: Jackson announces his comeback and signs on for 50 London shows starting in July, 2009. Tickets for all shows sell out within hours
6-25-2009: The day after rehearsing for his upcoming concerts, Michael is rushed to an LA hospital in cardiac arrest. He is prounounced dead several hours later
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