Take a look back at the King of Pop's prolific career.
Take a look back at Michael Jackson, the King of Pop’s incredible life and career. The pop culture icon was born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. On June 25, 2009, Jackson died at home at the age of 50.
Back when the King of Pop was just a prince, 11-year-old Michael Jackson began to wow the world with his enormous talent.
The Jackson 5 formed in 1962 and by 1968 they were signed to Motown record label. Michael sang lead vocals for most of the band’s songs and his unique and youthful sound helped them soar to the top of the charts.
The Jackson 5 was Michael Jackson’s entrance into the ABC’s of rock and roll. He soon set out on his own.
By his teen years, Michael Jackson had risen to international fame. In 1971, he went solo and his singles “Got to Be There,” “Rockin’ Robin” and “I Wanna Be Where You Are” topped the charts.
Jackson dances with his 21-year-old sister LaToya in their New York apartment they shared on the East Side in 1977. Michael had just left the Jackson 5 and was out on his own.
Jackson didn’t just shine on stage. In 1978 he took his talents to the silver screen where he made his film debut as the Scarecrow in “The Wiz,” a retelling of “The Wizard Of Oz” featuring an all-Black cast.
Michael’s talents certainly did not go unnoticed. In 1981 he won the American Music Award for favorite soul album. He posed alongside Diana Ross, who won for favorite female soul vocalist.
Thriller nights! Michael Jackson and Ola Ray worked hard on the set of the “Thriller” music video in 1983, perfecting the famous dance that everyone still knows today. Jackson’s 13-minute “Thriller” video cost half a million dollars to make.
Actress Brooke Shields, (l.), and singer Michael Jackson were full of smiles as they arrived for the American Music Awards in 1984.
At the 1984 Grammy Awards, no artist could keep up with Jackson, who broke a record by taking home eight awards, including album of the year for “Thriller.”
Rocking his signature glove and bedazzled jacket, Jackson commanded the stage during his Victory Tour at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles in July of 1984.
The Victory Tour was the only tour that included all six Jackson brothers; however it was mainly Michael who drew the massive crowds thanks to the success of his “Thriller” album.
In 1984 Michael Jackson’s hit song “Beat It” became the theme song for a campaign against drunk driving. Jackson was rewarded with a Presidential Special Achievement Award by President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy.
Michael Jackson brought his talent to the Big Apple, appearing in concert at Madison Square Garden in 1988.
A royal meeting! It’s no surprise that the Princess of Wales was a fan of the King of Pop. Michael Jackson chats with Princess Diana at his concert for the Prince’s Trust in London in 1988.
The king and queen of pop. Michael Jackson kept the company of another pop icon, Madonna. The two attended an after party for the 63rd annual Academy Awards in 1991.
No one could light up the stage quite like Michael Jackson. In 1992, he began his Dangerous World Tour, where he played 70 shows around the world.
On Jan. 31, 1993, Michael Jackson captivated the nation during his performance at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in Pasadena, California.
Love was in the air at the 1994 MTV Music Awards where Michael Jackson and his wife at the time Lisa Marie Presley shared a kiss on the stage during his performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The couple divorced after 15 months of marriage.
An animal lover, Michael Jackson posed with his pet chimp, Bubbles and his bulldog, Large in 1985.
An international sensation: Disneyland Paris was packed with devoted fans holding a banner that read “No one is above the king of pop, rock and soul” prior to his appearance at the theme park in 1995.
After his divorce from Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson married Debbie Rowe and they had two children together. Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. was born on Feb. 13, 1997, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson was born on April 3, 1998.
Always one to sport interesting accessories, Michael Jackson wore a black surgical mask while walking hand in hand with Debbie Rowe on April 28, 1996, shortly before they were married.
Jackson performed on stage during his “HIStory” world tour concert in Vienna in 1997.
Jackson performed with guitarist Slash during the benefit concert “Michael Jackson & Friends – What more can I give” at the Munich Olympic stadium in 1999.
Not many could understand the friendship between Jackson and Hollywood golden girl Elizabeth Taylor, but their deep friendship lasted for more than three decades. On Feb. 16, 1997, Jackson escorted her to her birthday celebration.
The King of Pop might have met his match on stage with Britney Spears during their performance of “The Way You Make Me Feel” during Jackson’s “30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years” concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sept. 7, 2001.
Michael Jackson, in his signature black fedora, performed on stage at the taping of the “American Bandstand’s 50th: A Celebration!,” on May 3, 2002.
Police and prosecutors’ investigators raided Jackson’s “Neverland” ranch in 2002, declining to give the reason for the search. The raid on the reclusive superstar’s country mansion came nine months after prosecutors investigated his admission in an interview that he slept in the same bed as a 12-year-old boy before dismissing claims of wrongdoing. Here, Jackson arrives inside the Santa Maria Superior Court in November 2002, in a trial in which he is accused of canceling concert appearances, costing the promoter several million dollars.
Fans rejoice: On June 13, 2005, the jury found Jackson not guilty on all 14 charges of child molestation.
The photo that shocked the world. Jackson was seen dangling his eight-month-old son Prince Michael II over the balcony of his hotel in Berlin while he was there to accept a lifetime achievement award on Nov. 19, 2002.
An aerial view of Jackson’s home, the Neverland Ranch, in Santa Ynez is shown on Nov. 20, 2003, the day Jackson surrendered to police on multiple child-molestation charges.
Michael Jackson was photographed by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s office following his arrest for child molestation. The 45-year-old singer was released after posting $3 million bail on Dec. 18, 2003.
Michael Jackson arrived with his father Joe Jackson (r.), lawyer Brian Oxman, (back left), and three members of his personal security detail on March 15, 2005, at Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial.
Jackson flashed a peace sign to his still adoring fans on March 17, 2005, in Santa Maria, California to begin the 14th day of his trial.
Jackson was cleared in the molestation case as jurors didn’t believe the young boy who had brought the charges.
The Pop King was rehearsing for his planned shows in London in 2009. Jackson passed two days after these photos were taken at what would be his final rehearsal at the Staples Center on June 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif. The singer died on June 25, 2009.
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson was found dead in his Los Angeles home. The world mourned Jackson’s death during a live broadcast of his funeral service on July 7, 2009, where his brothers carried his casket.
In a tearful goodbye, the singer’s family mourned the loss of Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009.
Al Sharpton and Joe Jackson admired the outpouring of love and support from Michael Jackson’s fans at a sidewalk memorial in Encino, California.
