Aug. 29, 1958: Birth of Michael Joseph, seventh of nine children born to Katherine and Joseph Jackson of Gary, Ind.

1964: Michael joins his brothers' pop group, playing tambourine and bongos.

1969: The Jackson 5 gets its record deal.

October 1969: Motown releases Jackson 5 debut single, "I Want You Back"/"Who's Loving You."

May 28, 1971: The Jackson 5 play at the Spectrum.

1972: "Ben," first solo hit.

January 1972: Got to Be There, Jackson's first solo album, released.

1975: The Jacksons decide to leave Motown Records for a more lucrative deal at CBS Records. Motown sues the band for $20 million.

October 1978: Jackson plays scarecrow in the film The Wiz. Film's soundtrack contains hit "Ease on Down the Road," duet with co-star Diana Ross.

August 1979: Off the Wall released; includes "Rock With You."

Dec. 1, 1982: Thriller released; includes "Beat It" and "Billie Jean." The album remains the biggestselling of all time, worldwide.

1983: Director John Landis transforms him into a zombie in the 14-minute video for "Thriller." The scale and ambition of this clip often have been copied, but never bettered.

May 16, 1983: NBC airs TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. Introduces viewers to the unforgettable sight of Jackson moonwalking.

1984-87: There are claims he sleeps in an oxygen tent and wants to buy the remains of Elephant Man Joseph Merrick. Jackson secures publishing rights to the Beatles' back catalog for $47.5 million, beating a bid from his old friend Paul McCartney.

Jan. 27, 1984: Jackson suffers second- and third-degree scalp burns while filming Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles.

July 6-8, 1984: Jackson family's "Victory Tour" opens in Kansas City.

Sept. 1-2, 28-29, 1984: The Jacksons' "Victory Tour" plays JFK Stadium.

Jan. 28, 1985: "We Are the World," a Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie production to benefit Ethiopian famine victims, is recorded.

1987: Martin Scorsese's video for Bad sees Jackson with distinctly lighter skin, leading to rumors of plastic surgery and skin bleaching. Jackson pens his autobiography, revealing: "I'm one of the loneliest people in the world," and releases the Moonwalker film.

April 1987: Jackson leaves Jehovah's Witnesses.