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- Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, and was later known as the "King of Pop". He was a singer, songwriter, and member of Jackson 5 and The Jacksons, as well as a successful solo artist. Guinness World Records recognized him as the most successful entertainer of all time. His music videos for "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller" helped break down racial barriers and transformed the music video into an art and promotional form. His 1982 album "Thriller" is the best-selling studio album of all time. Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Beverly Hills.
- Michael Jackson released his fifth studio album “Off the Wall” on Epic Records. The album reached No. 3 in the US and No. 5 in the UK, driven by four Top 10 singles: “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” (US #1, UK #3), “Rock With You” (US #1, UK #7), “Off the Wall” (US #10, UK #7), and “She's Out of My Life” (US #10, UK #3). Despite the album's great success, it received only two Grammy nominations, and Jackson won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough”.
- Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5's compilation album “18 Greatest Hits” began a three-week run at No. 1 on the British chart, knocking The Beach Boys' album “20 Golden Greats” from the top spot. It remained on the British chart for more than 50 weeks and was later certified platinum.
- He outbid Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono at auction and acquired ATV Music Publishing for $47.5 million, a company controlling the rights to The Beatles' catalog. The catalog contained the rights to more than 4,000 songs, approximately 250 of which were Beatles compositions. Three years after their collaboration on “The Girl Is Mine”, Paul McCartney recommended that Jackson invest in music publishing rights. McCartney had previously negotiated with Yoko Ono, who withdrew from the deal for “astrological” reasons. The investment proved highly profitable but permanently damaged the friendship between Jackson and McCartney.
- A Los Angeles radio station bypassed Epic Records' strict security measures concerning master tapes and broadcast a pirated sample of Michael Jackson's song “Bad” four days before its official release. The leak did not slow the album's expected success, as pre-orders had already exceeded 2.2 million copies.
- Michael Jackson released the album "Bad", which followed his album "Thriller".
- Michael Jackson released “Bad”.
- Michael Jackson's album "Bad" reached No. 1 on the British albums chart and began a five-week run at the top.
- CBS Records recorded the largest advance order of albums in its history when it shipped 2.25 million copies of Michael Jackson's "Bad" to stores in the United States. The album followed "Thriller", Jackson's best-selling album, and later sold more than 13 million copies.
- Michael Jackson's "Bad" music video was broadcast for the first time on CBS-TV.
- Michael Jackson performed at Roundhay Park in Leeds, England.
- Michael Jackson performed at Roundhay Park in Leeds, England.
- Los Angeles police began investigating allegations of child abuse made against Michael Jackson. No criminal charges were ultimately filed, and the civil lawsuit was settled out of court in January 1994.
- Police raided Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch after a child staying there made allegations of sexual abuse. Jackson allowed police to conduct a personal search, which was deeply humiliating for him. He was not charged, but later faced further allegations.
- The Los Angeles Police Department formally announced that Michael Jackson was the subject of a criminal investigation following allegations of child sexual abuse.
- A man who escaped from a psychiatric facility near Helsinki, Finland, was arrested after planning to set fire to the stage where Michael Jackson was due to perform. He had already placed petrol on the stage but was arrested before he could ignite it.
- Two jurors who voted to acquit Michael Jackson of charges involving child sexual abuse and other offenses later said on NBC's Today show that they regretted their decision.
- The woman whose son accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse was charged with welfare fraud for allegedly obtaining nearly $19,000 illegally. In November 2006, she pleaded guilty without admitting liability and was ordered to pay restitution and complete 150 hours of community service.
- A Los Angeles judge awarded Katherine Jackson permanent custody of Michael Jackson’s three children; Debbie Rowe was granted visitation rights.
- A Los Angeles coroner ruled that Michael Jackson's death was a homicide caused by a combination of drugs used to treat insomnia. Doctor Conrad Murray was later charged with involuntary manslaughter and in November 2011 was sentenced to four years in prison.
- The Los Angeles coroner confirmed that Michael Jackson's death was classified as a homicide, with propofol identified as the primary cause. The report listed propofol and lorazepam as the main substances responsible for his death and also found four other drugs.
- Two months after Michael Jackson's death, on what would have been his 51st birthday, 13,597 people in Mexico City danced to "Thriller", setting a new Guinness World Record.
- A New York judge dismissed a $300 million lawsuit filed against Michael Jackson's estate by Allgood Entertainment. The company claimed that Michael Jackson and his agent Frank Dileo had backed out of planned Jackson 5 concerts. According to the court, the decisive factor was that Michael and his brothers had never signed the contract.
- A New York judge dismissed a $300 million lawsuit brought against Michael Jackson's estate by Allgood Entertainment because no contract with The Jackson 5 had been signed.