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Aug. 29, 1958: Born at 12:13 AM as Michael Joseph Jackson in Gary, Indiana, to Katherine Esther Scruse and Joseph Walter Jackson.
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1962/1963: Michael becomes a member of the Jackson 5 along with his brothers Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon. He is lead singer. Their father, Joe, is their manager. There first playing gig is at a place called Mr. Lucky's.
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1968: The Jackson 5 sign a contract with Motown records.
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Dec. 8, 1969: Jackson 5 release their debut album Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.
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Feb. 1972: First solo number one hit to a movie rat titled "Ben.
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Dec. 1, 1982: Releases the Thriller album which sells over fifty million copies worldwide and solidifies him as the 80's king of pop.
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1984: During the filming of a Pepsi commercial, his hair catches fire. He has serious injuries and is rumored to have plastic surgery done.
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Mid 1987: Gets his 4th nose job and all of a sudden has deep cheekbones and his skin has turned white.
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1990: Begins to wear a surgical mask in public.
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May 26, 1994: Marries Lisa Marie Presley.
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Nov. 14, 1996: Marries his dermatologist's secretary, Debbie Rowe.
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Feb. 13, 1997: Rowe has a baby boy, Prince Michael Joseph, Junior. The godmother is Elizabeth Taylor. The godfather is Macaulay Culkin.
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Apr. 3, 1998: Rowe gives birth to Paris Michael Katherine. Macaulay Culkin is the godfather.
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Oct. 1999: Debbie Rowe divorces him.
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2002: Prince Michael II is born. The identity of the mother is never released.
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Reports of financial problems for Jackson became frequent in 2006 after the closure of the main house on the Neverland Ranch as a cost-cutting measure.
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Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sell out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena. The concerts would have commenced on July 13, 2009 and finished on March 6, 2010.
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On June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills district of Los Angeles. Attempts at resuscitating him by his personal physician were unsuccessful.
He was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m the same day. -
The memorial was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, preceded by a private family service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park's Hall of Liberty. Jackson's casket was present during the memorial, which was broadcast live around the world and watched by up to one billion people, but no information was released about the final disposition of the body.
