I won’t go over all the details regarding Michael Jackson’s death because you’d already heard it all. Instead I’ll share the tidbits from the life of the star, a legend, the King of Pop. It is a tribute to the world’s best dance and singer.

Michael Jackson’s death at 50 has brought a lot of shock to the masses. It all started when Michael Jackson collapsed at his Holmby Hills in LA, California due to a cardiac arrest. Michael Jackson died at the UCLA Medical Center.

To call him a celebrity is an understatement. He was iconic. If someone asked me which singer or dancer I liked – it was always Michael Jackson. A son of a steelworker this black kid from a US neighborhood gained attention at a very earrly age through his Jackson 5 band.

Michael Jackson Top 10 favorite videos

1. Thriller
2. Bad
3. Scream
4. Heal the World
5. Jam
6. Beat it
7. They don’t really care about us
8. Billy Jean
9. Black or White
10. Smooth Criminal

Michael Jackson timeline

Aug 29,1958 Michael Joseph Jackson is born is Gary, Indiana and industrial suburb of Chicago. Michael Jackson is the seventh child of Joseph and Katherine Jackson. Katherine teacher her kids how to sing while father Joseph, a crane operator is a guitarist in a local group – Falcons.

1963 The brothers having inherited music from their parents form a band. Michael is just 5 years old. He and his brother perform together while their father manages.

1968 Motown Records signs Jackson 5 and the Jackson family moves to Los Angeles. It’s first single “I Want You Back” is an instant hit – released in November 1969.

1970 Jackson 5 continues to churn out no. 1 pop hits including “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.” Michael is 11 and already a lead vocalist and a growing superstar.

1975 Jackson 5 leaves Motown Records for Epic Records and changes name to Jacksons. Continues to enjoy success with songs such as “Enjoy Yourself” and “Shake Your Body”.

1979 Michael Jackson’s first solo album is released with Epic Records, “Off the Wall”. Produced by Quincy Jones, it sells more than 7 million copies.

1982 Jackson establishes himself as a undeniable superstar with the release of the second solo album, “Thriller.” The songs “Billie Jean” and Beat It” catapult the album to the top music charts. Becomes best-selling album of all time.

1984 “Thriller” is nominated for 11 Grammys and wins 8 of them. The album is certified 20 times platinum.

1987 By now, Jackson has already become the “King of Pop”. Still continues to dominate the ripe music industry. His 3rd album “Bad” goes platinum 4 times. Michael Jackson sets a record for most No.1 singles by a solo artist on 1 album.

1991 Michael Jackson released his 4th album “Dangerous” with Teddy Riley instead of Quincy Jones. Sells more than 20 million copies but is a dropoff compared to “Bad” and “Thriller”. His 11-minute video “Black or White” ?debuts on Fox and gives the network its highest Nielsen rating ever at the time.

Feb 1993 Jackson appears on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and explains his changing skin color is due to a skin disease called vitiligo. Also reveals that he is afraid of his father because his father beat him as a child. Also tell that he would get so scared that he’d get sick.

Aug 1993 A 13-year-od boy whom Jackson accusses Jackson of sexually molesting him repeatedly over 5 months at jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Encino, California. The boy revealed that Jackson bathed with him, share a bed with him, gave him gifts and trips and fondled him. Jackson denies any wrongdoing. A civil lawsuit is filed a month later again Michael Jackson.

Nov 12, 1993 Jackson cancels his world concert tour citing addiciton to painkillers and need for treatment. he says he became addicted to painkillers after scalp reconstruction surgery, a procedure needed after his hair caught fire during a shoot for Pepsi commercial in 1984.

Jan 25, 1994 Pays around $20 million to settle the civil lawsuit. Criminal charges not filed.

May 18, 1994 Michael Jackson marries Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. The couple make headlines for their on-stage kiss at MTV Music Awards.

1995 Releases the album HIStory:Past, Present, Future Book 1.

Jan 18, 1996 Jackson and Presley divorce after less than 2 years of marriage.

Nov 15, 1996 Michael jackson marries nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple has 2 kids – Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. and Paris Michael Katherine.

Oct 8,1999 Michael and Rowe get divorced. Jackson retains full custody of kids in the settlement.

2001 Jackson is inducted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Nov 2002 Jackson is heavily criticized for dangling his 2nd son Prince Michael II over the edge of a 4th floor balcony to show to fans. Later tells Jet magazine that he made a terrible mistake.

Nov. 20, 2003 Taken into custody by the Santa Barbara County Sherriff’s Department on charges of child molestation. He posts a three million dollar bail.

June 2005 A jury finds Michael Jackson of not being guilty on all 10 counts.

March 16, 2006 Jackson’s Neverland ranch is closed down by California government.

Oct 2006 Jackson settles lawsuit filed by former wife Debbie Rowe by paying an undisclosed lump sum possibly into millions.

March 5, 2009 Michael announces that he will be performing atleast 10 times in July at London’s O2 arena. Says they’ll be the last of his career.

May 10, 2009 Some of the London concerts are postponed “due to sheer magnitude” of the events.

Jun 25, 2009 lt. Fred Corral od the LA Coroner’s Office confirms that Jackson is dead after suffering sudden cardiac arrest.

The timeline shows the rise and fall of a icon. An icon which entertained the generations through his music and unbelievable dance moves.

If you wanna pay a tribute please do it in comments below.

More Sources

1. Michael Jackson, pop music legend, dead at 50 – CNN
2. Michael Jackson Timeline – Twoop
3. A Tribute to My Friend, Michael Jackson by Deepak Chopra in a letter to Huffington Post
4. Michael Jackson’s 911 call screenshot – by Wall Street Manna