The Journey
A Life in Motion
Six decades of milestones — the records, the performances and the moments that shaped a cultural phenomenon. Filter by era to trace a single chapter.
- 1958August 29, 1958Life
Michael Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana
Michael Joseph Jackson is born in the steel town of Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children in the Jackson family. The modest home on Jackson Street would soon send a wave of talent out of the industrial Midwest and into the wider world.
- 1964Music
The Jackson brothers begin performing
The young Jackson brothers start rehearsing and playing local shows around Gary and the Chicago area. Michael, still a small child, steps forward as lead singer, drawing attention with a voice and stage instinct far beyond his years.
[reported] - 1969Music
The Jackson 5 sign to Motown
The Jackson 5 join Motown Records and are introduced to the public with heavy promotion. Diana Ross is closely linked to their launch. The group's bright, tight harmonies and Michael's lead vocals set the stage for national fame.
- 1970Music
"I Want You Back" and "ABC" top the charts
The Jackson 5 score a run of number-one hits, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC." The songs are fast, joyful, and built around Michael's lead. The group becomes one of Motown's biggest young acts almost overnight.
- 1972January 24, 1972Music
Solo debut: "Got to Be There"
Michael releases his first solo album, Got to Be There, while still a member of the Jackson 5. The record shows a softer, more personal side of his young voice and marks the first real step in a solo path that would later reshape popular music.
- 1972August 4, 1972Music
"Ben" album released
Ben arrives the same year as his solo debut. Its tender title song becomes one of Michael's early signature ballads and a major hit, proving that the child star could carry an emotional lead entirely on his own.
- 1973April 13, 1973Music
"Music & Me" released
Michael's third solo album, Music & Me, continues his output as a young singer at Motown. The record leans on gentle ballads and shows an artist still finding his own voice apart from the family group.
- 1975January 16, 1975Music
"Forever, Michael" released
Forever, Michael closes out his early Motown solo run. As his voice begins to change, the album points toward the more mature performer he would become once he left the label and reached for a bolder sound.
- 1978Film
Michael plays the Scarecrow in "The Wiz"
Michael takes the role of the Scarecrow in The Wiz, directed by Sidney Lumet. During production he meets Quincy Jones, the music director on the film. That meeting would soon lead to one of the most important partnerships in pop history.
- 1979August 10, 1979Music
"Off the Wall" released
Off the Wall, produced by Quincy Jones with Michael co-producing, marks his true arrival as an adult solo star. Sleek disco, funk, and ballads blend into a polished whole. Rod Temperton contributes key songs, including the title track.
- 1982October 1982Music
"The Girl Is Mine" with Paul McCartney
The first single from Thriller pairs Michael with Paul McCartney on the light, playful "The Girl Is Mine." The duet links two of pop's biggest names and previews the album that would soon dominate the world.
- 1982November 30, 1982Music
"Thriller" released
Thriller reunites Michael with Quincy Jones and becomes the best-selling album of all time. Its nine tracks range from funk to rock to ballad. Seven singles follow, and the record turns Michael into a global phenomenon.
- 1983Music
"Beat It" fuses pop and rock
"Beat It" pushes Michael into rock territory, with Eddie Van Halen playing the searing guitar solo. The song and its West Side Story-style video help break down barriers on radio and on early MTV.
- 1983May 16, 1983 (aired)Performance
The moonwalk debuts on "Motown 25"
During "Billie Jean" on the Motown 25 television special, Michael glides backward across the stage in the move the world would call the moonwalk. Taped in March and aired in May, the performance becomes one of the most famous moments in pop.
- 1983December 2, 1983Film
"Thriller" short film premieres
John Landis directs the roughly fourteen-minute "Thriller" short film, a horror-themed mini-movie with dancing zombies and a spoken-word part by Vincent Price. It redefines what a music video could be and became a cultural landmark.
- 1984Performance
The Victory Tour with the Jacksons
Michael reunites with his brothers for the Victory Tour, a large-scale summer run across North America. It would be his final tour as part of the family group before he focused fully on his solo career.
- 1984January 27, 1984Life
Pepsi commercial accident
While filming a Pepsi commercial, pyrotechnics ignite and Michael's hair catches fire, causing burns that require treatment. The incident draws wide attention and marks the start of years of health challenges tied to the injury.
- 1984February 28, 1984Award
Thriller wins eight Grammy Awards
At the 1984 Grammy Awards, Thriller takes home a then-record eight awards in a single night. The sweep confirms Michael's place at the very top of the music world and caps a remarkable run for the album.
- 1985January 28, 1985Music
"We Are the World" recorded
Michael co-writes "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie for USA for Africa, produced by Quincy Jones. Recorded by a large group of stars in one night, the charity single raises funds and awareness for famine relief.
- 1986September 12, 1986Film
"Captain EO" opens at Disney parks
Captain EO, a 3D film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and executive-produced by George Lucas, debuts at Disney theme parks. Michael stars as a space captain in a short blend of music, dance, and special effects.
- 1987August 31, 1987Music
"Bad" released
Bad, again produced by Quincy Jones with Michael co-producing, follows the impossible act of Thriller. The album produces five Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, a record run, and shows a harder, more assertive artist in full command.
- 1987September 12, 1987Performance
The Bad World Tour begins
Michael launches the Bad World Tour, his first solo concert tour. Over more than a year it crosses continents and plays to huge crowds, presenting his dance-driven stage show to a worldwide audience for the first time as a solo act.
- 1988Music
"Man in the Mirror" tops the charts
"Man in the Mirror," written by Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard, becomes one of the signature songs of the Bad era. Its message of personal change and its gospel-tinged climax make it a lasting favorite in Michael's catalog.
- 1988Life
Michael buys Neverland Ranch
Michael purchases the large California property he names Neverland Ranch, filling it with gardens, a private amusement park, and a zoo. The estate becomes his home and a symbol closely tied to his public image for years.
- 1988December 1988Film
"Moonwalker" film released
Moonwalker, an anthology film built around Michael's music, reaches audiences. Its centerpiece is the "Smooth Criminal" sequence, with its famous anti-gravity lean and sharp choreography that became one of his most imitated routines.
- 1991November 14, 1991Film
"Black or White" video premieres
John Landis directs the "Black or White" short film, famous for its groundbreaking face-morphing sequence in which people of different backgrounds blend into one another. The video draws a massive global audience on its premiere.
- 1991November 26, 1991Music
"Dangerous" released
Dangerous marks a new chapter, co-produced with Teddy Riley and Bill Bottrell rather than Quincy Jones. Riley's new jack swing gives the record a harder, more rhythmic edge, updating Michael's sound for a new decade.
- 1992Film
"Remember the Time" video, set in ancient Egypt
John Singleton directs the lavish "Remember the Time" video, staged in an ancient Egyptian court with an all-star cast and intricate choreography. The clip pairs Michael's new jack swing hit with cinematic spectacle.
- 1993January 31, 1993Performance
Super Bowl XXVII halftime show
Michael performs at the Super Bowl halftime show, a set that helped turn the game's intermission into a major stage for top artists. His medley and the field full of children close with "Heal the World."
- 1993February 10, 1993Culture
Live television interview with Oprah Winfrey
Michael gives a rare, widely watched live interview from Neverland, speaking about his childhood, his fame, and his health. The broadcast draws an enormous audience and offers a candid glimpse of a very private star.
- 1994Life
Marriage to Lisa Marie Presley
Michael marries Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. The union between two figures from music royalty draws heavy press attention. The marriage would last a relatively short time before ending in divorce.
- 1995May 29, 1995Music
"Scream" duet with Janet Jackson
"Scream," a duet with his sister Janet, arrives with a sleek black-and-white sci-fi video reported to be among the most expensive ever made. The song channels frustration with the press into a hard, propulsive beat.
- 1995June 20, 1995Music
"HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I" released
HIStory arrives as a double set, pairing a disc of greatest hits with a disc of new songs. Ambitious and often confrontational, it reflects a defiant artist responding to years of intense public scrutiny.
- 1996Music
"Earth Song" becomes an anthem
"Earth Song," a sweeping ballad about the planet and human suffering, becomes one of Michael's biggest hits outside the United States. Its dramatic video and live stagings reflect his growing focus on social and environmental themes.
- 1997Life
Marriage to Debbie Rowe and first children
Michael marries Debbie Rowe, and the couple have two children, Prince and Paris, during this period. He would later have a third child. Fatherhood becomes a central and closely guarded part of his private life.
[reported] - 1997Award
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Jackson 5
Michael is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5. The honor recognizes the group's huge impact on pop and soul and the electric early performances that launched his career.
- 1997May 20, 1997Music
"Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix" released
This release pairs new songs with remixes of tracks from HIStory. Built around a dark, driving title cut, it becomes one of the best-selling remix albums and closes out the HIStory chapter of his career.
- 2001Award
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist
Michael is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a second time, now as a solo artist. Few performers earn the honor twice, and the induction underlines the scale of both his group and solo careers.
- 2001September 2001Performance
30th Anniversary Celebration concerts
Two star-studded concerts at Madison Square Garden mark thirty years of Michael's solo career. He reunites on stage with his brothers and is joined by many admirers, in what became a rare large-scale live appearance in his later years.
- 2001October 30, 2001Music
"Invincible" released
Invincible becomes Michael's final studio album of new material. Blending contemporary R&B with lush ballads, it arrives after years of work and stands as the last full-length chapter in his recording career.
- 2003November 2003Music
"Number Ones" compilation released
The Number Ones collection gathers Michael's chart-topping singles across decades into a single set. It offers a broad overview of his hits and keeps his catalog in front of new listeners during a quieter period in his career.
[reported] - 2005June 13, 2005Life
Acquitted at 2005 trial
After a lengthy and heavily covered trial in California, Michael is found not guilty on all charges. Following the verdict he steps back from public life, spending extended time abroad and away from the spotlight.
- 2006Life
Years away from the public eye
In the years after the trial, Michael lives largely outside the United States and keeps a low profile. He spends time in the Middle East and Europe with his children, stepping away from touring and new releases.
[reported] - 2009March 5, 2009Performance
"This Is It" residency announced
Michael announces a series of comeback concerts titled This Is It, planned for the O2 Arena in London. Demand is enormous, and the shows are seen as the return of a superstar after years away from the stage.
- 2009June 25, 2009Life
Michael Jackson dies in Los Angeles
Michael Jackson dies in Los Angeles at the age of fifty, just weeks before his planned London residency. News of his death spreads across the world within hours, prompting an outpouring of grief on a scale rarely seen for any artist.
- 2009July 7, 2009Culture
Public memorial at the Staples Center
A public memorial for Michael is held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, broadcast to a global audience. Fellow artists and family pay tribute in music and words, marking a shared moment of mourning around the world.
- 2009October 28, 2009Film
"Michael Jackson's This Is It" documentary released
Drawn from rehearsal footage for the O2 residency, the This Is It documentary reaches theaters worldwide. It offers a close look at Michael preparing the show, capturing his voice and dance in what became a final on-stage record.
- 2010December 10, 2010Music
Posthumous album "Michael" released
Michael, the first posthumous album of previously unreleased and completed recordings, is issued. It begins a series of posthumous releases that keep new and reworked material reaching fans in the years after his death.
[reported] - 2011Performance
Cirque du Soleil launches The Immortal World Tour
A touring arena spectacle set to Jackson’s music, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” by Cirque du Soleil brought his catalog to stages worldwide and became one of the highest-grossing tours of its kind.
- 2013Performance
‘Michael Jackson ONE’ opens in Las Vegas
A permanent Cirque du Soleil resident show built around his songs and choreography opened at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, turning his music into an ongoing live spectacle for a new generation.
- 2014May 2014Performance
Digital performance at the Billboard Music Awards
A digitally recreated Jackson performed “Slave to the Rhythm” from the Xscape album at the Billboard Music Awards, sparking wide discussion about technology, likeness and the future of posthumous performance.
- 2014May 13, 2014Music
"Xscape" and continued legacy
The posthumous album Xscape presents contemporized versions of unreleased Jackson recordings and returns him to the charts years after his passing. His music, videos, and dance continue to influence new generations of artists worldwide.
[reported] - 2022Music
Thriller marks its 40th anniversary
Four decades after release, “Thriller” remained the best-selling album of all time and was celebrated with anniversary reissues, underscoring its permanent place at the summit of popular music.
- 2025Film
Biographical film ‘Michael’ arrives
A major studio biographical film about Jackson’s life, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, brought his story to the big screen for a new generation.
[reported]