Read CNN’s Fast Facts on Michael Jackson and learn more about the Grammy Award-winning pop music legend.
Birth place: Gary, Indiana
Birth name: Michael Joseph Jackson
Father: Joseph Jackson, crane operator/Jackson 5 manager
Mother: Katherine (Scruse) Jackson
Marriages: Debbie Rowe (November 15,1996-October 8,1999, divorced); Lisa-Marie Presley (May 18,1994-January 18,1996, divorced)
Children: with an anonymous surrogate: Prince Michael II (aka Blanket), 2002; with Debbie Rowe: Paris, April 3,1998; Prince Michael Joseph Jr., February 12,1997
Other Facts:Nicknamed « The King of Pop. »
Seventh of nine children.
Began performing at age 5 with four of his five brothers (Marlon, Jermaine, Tito and Jackie).
Nominated for 38 Grammy awards, with 13 wins.
Timeline:1968 – The Jackson 5 is signed by Motown Records.
November 1969 – The first single by the Jackson 5, « I Want You Back » is released.
1971 – « Got to Be There » is released as Michael Jackson’s first solo single.
1972 – « Ben » is Jackson’s first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
1975 – The group leaves Motown for Epic Records and changes its name to The Jacksons.
1978 – Jackson plays the Scarecrow in « The Wiz. » « Ease On Down the Road, » a duet with Diana Ross, is a hit single.
1979 – Debut solo album with Epic Records, « Off The Wall, » sells over 20 million copies and has four Top 10 singles. Released in August, the album is certified platinum in December.
1980 – Wins his first Grammy for the song, « Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough, » in the Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male category.
November 30,1982 – « Thriller » is released and is certified platinum the following January. That album and the song, « Billie Jean, » make him the first artist to have a number one pop single, pop album, R&B single and R&B album charts simultaneously.
1984 – Jackson wins eight Grammy Awards for « Thriller, » including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, male. He sets a record for the most Grammy wins on a single night.
1985 – Co-writes and performs on « We Are The World, » to help raise money for African famine relief.
1987 – « Bad » is released in August and is certified 4x platinum in December. Its five number-one singles set a record for a solo artist on one album.
November 1991 – Jackson’s 11-minute video for « Black or White » debuts during primetime on FOX, MTV and BET.
February 1993 – In response to speculation about intentional bleaching, Jackson’s dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, releases a statement saying Jackson has a skin disease called vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go).
