Principal dates in the life and career of Michael Jackson
Agence France- Presse | 06/26/2009 7:34 AM
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Below are the principal dates in the life of pop star Michael Jackson, 50, who died in Los Angeles on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
- August 29, 1958: born in Gary, Indiana
- August 1962: singing debut with his brothers, The Jackson Five
- March 1969: first Jackson Five contract with Tamla Motown, Detroit's black-owned record label. Michael's voice propels the group onto the hit parade with "ABC" and "I'll Be There"
- 1970: launch of solo career alongside that of the Jackson Five
- August 1979: release of "Off The Wall" album, produced by Quincy Jones, which sold 11 million copies
- December 1982: release of "Thriller" album, whose seven hits included "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," pushing sales to 50 million copies worldwide
- 1984: Jackson's face gets burnt during filming for a Pepsi ad
- 1985: buys ATV Music -- a company with rights to John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs -- for 47.5 million dollars
- 1985: Jackson writes "We Are The World," which benefited the fight against hunger in Africa
- 1987: release of "Bad," which sold 26 million copies and marked the end of his collaboration with Quincy Jones
- 1988: his autobiography "Moonwalk" comes out
- 1990: Michael Jackson is seen for the first time wearing a surgical mask in public
- 1992: release of "Dangerous," which sold 22 million copies
- August 1993: a father accuses Jackson of molesting his 13-year-old son, but settles out of court
- May 1994-February 1996: marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis
- June 1995: release of "HIStory" album
- November 1996-October 1999: marriage to Debbie Rowe, a 37-year-old nurse with whom he has two children, Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine
- October 2001: release of "Invincible"
- July 2002: Jackson accuses record labels of exploiting artists, especially African-Americans
- November 19, 2002: scandal after Jackson dangles his third son, nine-month-old Prince Michael II, from a Berlin hotel balcony
- January 31, 2003: Sotheby's auction house sues for non-payment of 1.7 million dollars for two paintings
- February 3: in documentary "Living with Michael Jackson" broadcast on ITV, Jackson claims never to have abused a child, merely to have shared his bed
- February: the singer's manager brings a 13-million-dollar lawsuit for back salary, which is settled out of court in June
- November 18: police raid Jackson's Neverland ranch in California as "Number Ones" album is released
- November 19: warrant issued for Jackson's arrest on several counts of child molestation
- November 20: Jackson is arrested and handcuffed after surrendering to police, held briefly then released on bail
- December 18: he is formally charged with child molestation
- January 16, 2004: Jackson pleads not guilty during his first appearance amid a media circus
- January 31, 2005: Michael Jackson trial begins with jury selection
- February 28, 2005: Opening arguments begin in trial
- June 4, 2005: Jurors begin considering their verdict
- June 13, 2005: Jackson acquitted on all charges against him
- March 5, 2009: Jackson announces series of comeback concerts in London -- billed as the "final curtain" -- his first major shows for more than a decade
- May 20, 2009: Jackson delays comeback shows. Concert organizers say singer's health is "fantastic"
- June 25, 2009: Jackson reported dead in Los Angeles after suffering cardiac arrest
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