A recording artist, entertainer, a businessman, and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, Michael Joseph Jackson, the seventh son of the Jackson family made his fame as the King of Pop with five of his solo studio albums which are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. Five Jackson boys Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael first performed together at a talent show when Michael was 6. They walked off with first prize. Their group later became The Jackson Five, and when it was signed by Motown Records in the late 1960s it underwent its final metamorphosis to become The Jackson 5. Jackson made his first solo album in 1972. His first few albums saw moderate success, until Over the Wall was released. It netted him a number of awards as well as being a critical and commercial success.

In 1982, in what would be the best of MJ’s career, the album Thriller was released. It remained in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for 80 consecutive weeks, 37 at the peak. Seven singles from Thriller concurrently hit the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, including “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”.Thriller went on to sell upwards of 109 million copies, making it the best-selling album of all time

From a young age Jackson was physically and mentally abused by his father, enduring incessant rehearsals, whippings and name-calling. Jackson’s abuse as a child affected him throughout his grown life. In one altercation—later recalled by Marlon Jackson—Joseph held Michael upside down by one leg and “pummeled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks”. Joseph would often trip up, or push the male children into walls. One night while Jackson was asleep, Joseph climbed into his room through the bedroom window. Wearing a fright mask, he entered the room screaming and shouting. Joseph said he wanted to teach his children not to leave the window open when they went to sleep. For years afterward, Jackson suffered nightmares about being kidnapped from his bedroom

In 1993, Jackson was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy, and police raided his California ranch “Neverland.” The same year, Jackson announced he had become addicted to painkillers and abruptly canceled a world tour to promote his album, “Dangerous.” He reached a settlement in 1994, later reported to be $23 million, with the family of the boy he was accused of abusing. In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley’s only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children, before splitting in 1999. The couple never lived together.

Jackson has three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.

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A television documentary “Living with Michael Jackson“ was aired in 2003, saying that Jackson still had sleepovers with young boys and had his third child with a surrogate mother. Jackson aired his own rebuttal. Jackson went on trial in 2005 on charges of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003, as well as conspiring to abduct the boy. The singer faced nearly 20 years in prison if convicted. The four-month trial ended in June 2005 with his being acquitted of all charges. Jackson has spent time in Bahrain, Ireland and France since the child molestation case ended.

After several false dawns, Mr. Jackson and music promoter AEG Live announced he would perform 50 concerts at London’s O2 Arena. Mr. Jackson was due to start the concerts on July 13. He had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the London shows, which sold out within hours of within hours of going on sale in March.

A secret library of over a hundred songs recorded by Michael Jackson could now be released following his death. One of the singers biographers, Ian Halperin, claimed that the unheard songs had been made for his children. Mr Halperin, author of Unmasked, The Michael Jackson Story said before his death: “He wants to leave them for his kids, a very personal legacy to them. I was told he will not let them come out now.” Jackson leaves three children Prince, 12, Paris Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II aged seven.

Taken from TimesOnline – Michael Jackson: secret library of 100 songs could be released

Relevant links;
Wikipedia – List of awards received by Michael Jackson