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MICHAEL JACKSON: A LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

 
Published June 14, 2005|Updated Aug. 25, 2005

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958 in Gary, Ind., to Joseph Walter Jackson and Katherine Esther Scruse Jackson, the seventh of nine of their children _ on Jackson Street.1963 _ After years of training, the Jackson 5 begin to perform in public. (The other Jackson children are: three girls _ Maureen Reillette or "Rebbie", LaToya Yvonne, Janet Damita Jo _ the youngest boy, Stephen Randall or "Randy.")

August 1967 _ Michael turns 9 and the Jackson 5 win the amateur night competition at Harlem's Apollo.

March 1969 _ Motown's Barry Gordy finalizes the deal with the Jackson 5 and moves them to California.

Aug. 16 _ The Jackson 5 perform live as a Motown act with headliners Diana Ross and the Supremes at the Hollywood Palace.

Dec. 14 _ The Jackson 5 appear on the highly rated Ed Sullivan Show.

Dec. 31, 1969, to Jan. 1, 1970 _ Their first album, "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5," includes the hit singles "I Want You Back," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There," which all go to No. 1

1971 _ The brothers' first television special, "Goin' Back to Indiana," airs with Bill Cosby, Diana Ross, Tommy Smothers, and Bobby Darin as guests. ABC also airs the Saturday morning animated cartoon series "The Jackson 5," which features their singing voices.

1972 _ Michael Jackson puts out his first solo album, "Got to Be There." Three of the songs make it to the Top 10.

1975 _ After charting with their album "Dancing Machine," the Jacksons decide to leave Motown for more creative control and sign with CBS' Epic Records.

1976-77 _ The Jacksons variety series runs on CBS-TV.

1978 _ Michael costars as the scarecrow to Diana Ross' Dorothy in the movie version of "The Wiz."

1979 _ Michael's first "adult" solo album, "Off the Wall" debuts and sells more than 8-million copies.

1979: Jackson becomes the first solo artist to place four singles from the same LP in the Top 10:

+ "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

+ "Rock with You"

+ "Off the Wall"

+ "She's Out of My Life"

1982 _ Michael's "Thriller" album wins a record eight Grammys and becomes one of the biggest-selling LPs of all time.

1983 _ Michael performs on "Motown 25" television special, singing and dancing to "Billie Jean," while wearing a black fedora, one white glove and pants that end above the ankles.

Jan. 27, 1984 _ During a shoot for a Pepsi commercial with all the brothers performing, Michael's scalp sustains second- and third-degree burns when a poorly timed explosion sets his hair on fire.

December _ Michael reluctantly agrees to 23-city "Victory Tour" with his brothers, but objects to the stiff $30 ticket price. He gives his share to charity, but still profits from record and merchandise sales.

October _ "Forbes" magazine estimates Jackson's personal fortune is just under $70-million and counting.

January 1985 _ Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie write what becomes one of the fastest-selling singles ever with USA for Africa's "We Are the World." It's produced to raise money for the victims of the Ethiopian famine.

June 1987 _ After many years as a devoted Jehovah's Witness, Jackson ends his membership, the sect confirms. His relationship with the group has been stained since his ghoul-filled "Thriller" video led to charges he was obsessed with the occult, charges he denies.

August _ His album "Bad" produces five No. 1 singles: "Bad"; "Dirty Diana"; "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Man in the Mirror"; "The Way You Make Me Feel," - and sells at least 22-million copies worldwide. March 1988 - Jackson receives an honorary doctor of letters degree from Fisk University in Nashville in recognition of his support of the United Negro College Fund.

April - His autobiography, "Moonwalk," is published. The title is the name of a dance step originated by bandleader Cab Calloway, and popularized by Jackson. In the book, he admits to having two nose jobs and a chin cleft made. However, he says, he has not had his cheeks or eyes altered, a skin peel or dermabrasion to lighten his complexion.

April 7 - New York plastic surgeon Dr. Howard Berlin determines in the Sunday "New York Times" magazine that Jackson has had 10 surgical procedures.

June 1990 - Jackson's new Neverland Valley Ranch is first mentioned in the press. About an hour north of Santa Barbara, Calif., it includes 2,700 acres of unpopulated land, a lake with a sandy beach shore, Jackson's house, and a Ferris wheel.

March 1991 - Signs new $65-million land-mark agreement with Sony. The 15-year contract is reputedly worth $1-billion.

November - Jackson splits with longtime producer Quincy Jones, then releases "Dangerous," which includes the song "Black or White." It becomes the fastest rising single since the Beatles "Get Back" in 1969. Entertainment Weekly News Editor Greg Sandow reports that Jackson gave the "Black or White" video to MTV and Fox on the condition they refer to him on-air as "the king of pop."

September 1993 - An attorney files a civil complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of a 13-year-old, charging Jackson with sexual molestation. Though the charges are later dropped, Jackson pays the boy's parents a reported $15- to $20-million in an out-of-court settlement. The publicity costs Jackson a lucrative endorsement contract with Pepsi-Cola.

May 1994 - Jackson marries Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in the Dominican Republic.

June 1995 - Releases the album "HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I." By August, "You Are Not Alone" becomes the first single in pop-music history to enter the Billboard chart at No. 1. The song "They Don't Care About Us" contains anti-Semitic lyrics, for which Jackson later apologizes. Steven Spielberg, normally a defender of Jackson, publicly distances himself from the song.

Jan. 1996 - Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from Jackson citing "irreconcilable differences."

Nov. 15 - Jackson marries Deborah "Debbie" Rowe, his plastic surgeon's nurse, in Sydney Australia.

Feb. 13, 1997 - Rowe gives birth to their first child, a boy named Prince Michael Jackson Jr. Jackson denies a tabloid report by London's News of the World that the couple used artificial insemination and that Rowe was paid $528,000 to carry the baby. The following May, Jackson reportedly sells photographs to Britain's OK! magazine.

April 1998 - Rowe gives birth to their second child, a daughter named Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.

October 1999 - Rowe files for divorce citing "irreconcilable differences."

March 2001 - Jackson is inducted into the Roack and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.

October - Jackson releases "Invincible", following an August "leak" from two New York stations of the album's single track, "You Rock My World." The album is Jackson's first original work since 1991 and debuts at the top of the charts, selling 2-million copies before sales plummet. February 2002 - Jackson's second son, Prince Michael II, born to unknown mother.

July 2002 - Jackson blames his label, Sony Music, for not supporting "Invincible," even though the company spent an estimated $25-million on promotions.

August - "Forbes" estimates that Jackson has earned half a billion dollars over his career and has a net worth of $350-million, but says his spending is out of control.

November 2002 - In Berlin, Jackson dangles his 9-month-old son, Prince Michael II, over a fourth floor balcony railing with one arm for crowds.

February 2003 - "Living with Michael Jackson," a 90-minute special by journalist Martin Bashir, is shown on British TV, then a few days later on ABC in U.S.

November - Jackson returns from Las Vegas to California to face child molestation charges. The arrest warrant alleges multiple violations of state law that prohibits lewd or lascivious acts with a child under age 14, and is punishable by three to eight years in prison. The plaintiff was 13 at the time, and a recovering cancer patient.

December - Jackson reportedly converts to Islam (Nation of Islam). A few months later, Michael Jackson and ex-wife Debbie Rowe hire retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Lachs, to handle custody issues involving their two children - Prince Michael, 7, and Paris, 5. Rowe who is Jewish, has been concerned about her children, since Jackson's conversion. According to the "New York Post," Rowe wants the singer to publicly distance himself from the Nation of Islam. In exchange, she reportedly will not take him to court.

April 2004 - Jackson enters a not guilty plea to charges of child molestation and conspiracy involving child abduction and extortion.

December - Sheriff's investigators in California again search Jackson's Neverland ranch. His ranch was first searched in November 2003 by at least 60 investigators from the sheriff's department and district attorney's office.

Feb. 28, 2005 - Jackson's trial for his April 2004 child molestation charges begins with opening statements in Santa Maria, Calif.

June 3 - Jury deliberation begins in Jackson's trial after 14 weeks of testimony.

June 13 - Jackson is acquitted on all charges.

Source: AP research