KING OF POP

American superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958, and he began entertaining audiences at a very young age. He continued to do so nearly his entire life. By the early 1960s, his older brothers Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city. By 1964, Michael and Marlon were also part of the group and they were called The Jackson 5.

A musical legend, Michael's singing and dancing talents were amazingly mature, and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of The Jackson 5. As a product of the 1970s, the boys were known as one of the most accomplished black pop/soul vocal groups in music history.

For Michael it was clear that he would find success as a solo artist, and by the 1980s, he was more popular than his brothers’ group. Record sales continuously increased with the biggest-selling album of all time, "Thriller" in 1982, which sold between 65 and 110 million copies worldwide. A natural on TV, he also started acting in films.

In the 1990s, Michael grew terribly child-like, his physical appearance began to change drastically, and his behavior grew very strange, making him a favourite target for scandal, despite his numerous charitable acts.

Michael Jackson was a true humanitarian. In his lifetime, he was listed in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for breaking the world record for the "Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star." He had supported 39 charities. He truly cared about people suffering from leukemia, AIDS and cancer. He donated millions of dollars to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children. In 1986, he set up the “Michael Jackson United Negro College Fund Endowed Scholarship Fund.”

Despite it all, Michael Jackson's passion and talent as a singer, dancer, writer and businessman are unparalleled, and it is these legendary talents that will be hidden under the extremely negative aspects of his seriously troubled adult life. For it all to end on June 25, 2009, with his sudden death at age 50 of a heart attack, seems so cruel and tragic. Millions and millions of dedicated fans will remember where they were "the day Michael died."