but vulnerable artist should have left himself

open to all manner of attacks

in such open and innocent fashion.

However, his music is a lasting legacy.

Michael Jackson began his musical career at the age of seven

as the lead singer of The Jackson 5

and released his first solo recording,

Got to Be There in 1971,

while remaining a member of the group.

He began a full-fledged solo career in 1979

and formally parted with his siblings in 1984.

In his solo career,

Michael Jackson recorded and co-produced

the best-selling album of all time, Thriller,

which was named as the world's best-selling album

at the 2006 World Music Awards.

It has worldwide sales exceeding that of 104 million.

Michael Jackson has received thirteen Grammy awards

and charted thirteen number-one singles in the United States.

Throughout his four-decade career,

Michael Jackson has been awarded numerous honors

including the World Music Award's Best-Selling

Pop Male Artist of the Millennium,

American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award

and the Bambi Award's Pop Artist of the Millennium Award.

He is a double-inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

(once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997,

and as a solo artist in 2001)

and an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Raymone Bain, Michael Jackson's PR,

claims that Michael Jackson has sold over

750 million units worldwide.

From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch

property, on which he built an amusement park and

private zoo for economically disadvantaged

and terminally ill children.

Biography:

1966-1980: Early life and career

Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.

He is the second-youngest brother of seven

and the eighth of ten children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson.

In 1966, after taking co-lead singing duties

with brother Jermaine, the group's name changed

from The Jackson Brothers to The Jackson 5.

The group played at local clubs and bars,

building up a following and eventually

signing a contract with Motown Records in 1968.

The group hit stardom, with their first four singles

which charted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100.

As a solo artist, Michael Jackson released

Got to Be There in 1971 and Ben in 1972.

These were released as part of the Jackson 5

franchise and produced successful singles

such as "Got to Be There", "Ben",

and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin".

The group's sales declined after 1973,

and the group chafed under Motown's strict refusal

to allow the Jacksons creative control or input.

In 1976, the group signed a new contract with

CBS Records

(first joining the Philadelphia International division and then Epic Records).

When this became apparent to Motown Records,

they sued the group for breach of contract.

As a result of the legal proceedings,

which were complicated further by the fact that

Jermaine Jackson was married

to the daughter of Motown president (Berry Gordy),

the Jacksons lost the rights to use the

"Jackson 5" name and logo and also Jermaine,

who wanted to stay at Motown.

They changed their name to "The Jacksons",

feat youngest brother Randy in Jermaine's place,

and continued their successful career,

touring internationally and releasing six more albums

between 1976 and 1984,

with Jermaine eventually re-joining in 1983, making them a sextet.

In 1978, Jackson starred as the scarecrow in The Wiz

with former-label mate Diana Ross playing Dorothy.

The songs for the musical were arranged by Quincy Jones,

who established a partnership with Jackson during the film's

production and agreed to produce his first solo album

in four years.

Off the Wall, released in 1979, was a worldwide hit,

and became the first album in history to spawn four

top-ten hits, including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

and "Rock With You".

In January 1980, Jackson won his first awards for his

solo efforts at the American Music Awards.

He won "Favorite Soul/R&B Album" (for Off The Wall),

"Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist" and Favorite Soul/R&B Single

(for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").

Later that month, he also won two Billboard Awards

(for "Top Black Artist" and "Top Black Album").

On February 27, 1980, Michael Jackson won a Grammy Award

for "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male"

(for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").