Michael Jackson
Drilled in a Gary living room by a steelworker father; Thriller remains the best-selling album ever.
- Born
- 1958 · Gary, Indiana, US
- Roots
- Black American
- Family
- Working class
- A crane operator's nine children in a two-bedroom house; their father's rehearsal discipline, Michael later said, crossed into abuse.
- Education
- Schooling gave way to touring from childhood
- Started with
- A living-room rehearsal
- Joined his brothers' group at six under their father's regime.
- Affiliations & societies
- Jehovah's WitnessesDocumented
- Raised in the faith and went door-to-door even at the height of fame; disassociated in 1987.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1968 · age 10Motown signs the Jackson 5
Their first four singles all reach number one — a first.
- 1979 · age 21Off the Wall
The Quincy Jones partnership begins.
- 1982 · age 24Thriller70M+ copies
Cited as the best-selling album in history; seven of its nine tracks become top-ten singles.
- 1983 · age 24The moonwalk
On the Motown 25 broadcast, before 47 million viewers.
- 1985 · age 26Buys the Beatles catalog$47.5M
Acquires ATV Music, having learned the value of publishing from Paul McCartney himself.
- 1993 · age 35Allegations
Child-abuse allegations settle out of court; a 2005 criminal trial on later, separate charges ends in acquittal on all counts.
- 2009 · age 50Dies of propofol intoxication
Weeks before a comeback tour; his physician is convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.