Michael Jackson well and truly earned his title of King of Pop during an illustrious career that spanned the course of three decades.
Jackson, who today would have turned 60, took the music industry by storm with his powerhouse vocals which gave him the ability to bridge multiple genres.
Even if you weren’t a Michael Jackson fan, you couldn’t escape the Californian king, wherever you were in the world.
As much as Jackson was praised for his talent and humanitarian efforts, his life and career was not without its controversies.
Here is a look back on Jackson’s life:
Early Years
Jackson rose to fame as part of the Jackson 5, alongside elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon.
The group debuted as Motown’s newest act in 1969, with their first taste of success following just a year later after hits ABC, The Love You Save and I’ll Be There all reached number one on the Billboard charts.
1979 saw Jackson catapult to fame on the back of his first solo album Off the Wall.
The King of Pop is born
The early 80s saw Jackson cement his superstar status.
In 1982 he released the iconic Thriller, which eventually ended up selling more than 100 million copies making Jackson the biggest pop star of the decade.
A special broadcast of Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever in 1983 saw Jackson stun the audience with a rendition of Billie Jean.
However, despite Jackson’s vocals taking centre stage the date is more notably recognised as the birth of the jaw-dropping moonwalk.
The decade also saw the memorable release of Jackson’s 1987 record Bad, which sold more than eight million copies.
In 1988 Jackson fronted a campaign to kick-start fundraising to preserve and improve the Motown Historical Museum in America by donating $125,000.
Later Life
In the years to follow Jackson released 1991 album Dangerous which was certified for seven million in sales.
1993 saw Jackson conduct his first TV interview in 14-years with Oprah Winfrey. He reveals that the change in his skin complexion is due to skin condition vitiligo.
In 1994 Jackson married Elvis Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie Presley. The couple divorced two-years later.
That same year Jackson wed nurse Debbie Rowe and the couple welcomed son Prince Michael.
In 1997 the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cementing their status in music history.
Just a year later Jackson welcomed daughter Paris and his third final child, Prince Michael II, was born four years later.
In the years before Jackson’s death he was plagued with allegations of child molestation, to which he plead ‘not guilty’.
In June 2005 Jackson was acquitted of all charges following an 18-month trial.
On June 25 2009, Jackson was found dead following cardiac arrest due to acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.
The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide and Jackson’s physician Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Jackson was honoured in a star-studded memorial including Kobe Bryant, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder.
Earlier this year, marking what would have been Jackson’s 60th birthday, an exhibition was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery featuring work from 48 different artists including Grayson Perry and Kehinde Wiley.
