Michael Obituario

Remembering Michael Jackson
June 25, 2009 marked the passing of the one and only "King of Pop." With over four decades in the spotlight, he never ceased to amaze us. Fittingly, we've witnessed his incredible highs and tragic lows with rapt attention. In tribute, we take a look at the life of pop music's greatest entertainer.

Retna / Getty Images / AP / WireImage

'Got To Be There'
Jackson, seen here during a 1972 'Top of the Pops' television appearance, was poised for greatness. During that year, he released a total of four solo studio albums with the Motown Records label, among them 'Got to Be There' and 'Ben.'

Retna

'I'll Be There'
During the mid-1970s, Michael Jackson evolved from kiddy-pop singer to teen music sensation. Not only did he achieve sterling success with his varied solo projects, the Gary, Indiana native simultaneously recorded hit records with his brothers under their new moniker, The Jacksons.

Sunshine / Retna

'Greatest Show On Earth'
Jackson played the Scarecrow in the 1978 film, 'The Wiz,' an elaborate re-envisioning of 'The Wizard of Oz,' directed by Sidney Lumet and starring a cavalcade of the biggest black celebrities of the time, most notably Diana Ross as Dorothy, Nipsey Russell as The Tin Man, Ted Ross as The Cowardly Lion, Lena Horne as Glenda The Good Witch and Richard Pryor in the title role.

Getty Images

'We've Got A Good Thing Going'
Jackson-- pictured here in 1980 reportedly after breaking his nose during a complex dance routine leading to his initial rhinoplasty surgeries -- was riding a wave of success from the Quincy Jones-produced 'Off The Wall' album. It sold millions of copies and garnered a slew of awards, including American Music Awards, Billboard Awards and a Grammy Award.

Getty Images

'Pretty Young Thing'
Jackson was considered a heartthrob to many of his female fans. During his heyday as an adult solo artist, he made the scene with and was romantically linked to a slew of celebrity women, including Stephanie Mills, Tatum O'Neal and Brooke Shields, whom he is pictured with February 7, 1984.

Getty Images

'Come Together'
In 1980, The Jacksons released the 'Triumph' album, featuring the hits "Lovely One" and "Can You Feel It." Their live opus, which followed the next year, used recordings from the group's "Triumph Tour," which was later described by as one of the best 25 tours from 1967 to 1987.

Retna

'Thriller'
Jackson posed with a group of dancers dressed as zombies while filming his groundbreaking 1983 music video, 'Thriller,' in Los Angeles. The 13-minute film was helmed by 'An American Werewolf in London' director John Landis and featured choreography by award-winning hoofer Michael Peters. Make-up FX wiz Rick Baker transformed Jackson into a werewolf and a zombie.

Corbis

'Unbreakable'
A force to be reckoned with, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones (who also produced the soundtrack for 'The Wiz,' and the 'Off the Wall' album) made history with the 'Thriller' opus. Thriller was first recognized as the world's best-selling album on February 7, 1984, when it was inducted into the 'Guinness Book of World Records.' On February 28, 1984, the two dynamos were awarded the Grammy for "Producer of the Year." That evening, Jackson made history as the first artist to win eight of the coveted statues in one year.

Corbis

'Remember The Time'
In 1984, The Jacksons released the album 'Victory' and supported the project with the massively successful world tour. Shortly after the jaunt, Michael Jackson left the group as his 'Thriller' album started to gain momentum.

Hulton Archive / Getty Images