1958–1975: Early life and The Jackson 5

Michael Jackson in childhood [sina.com]

Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana (an industrial suburb of Chicago, Illinois) to a working-class family on August 29, 1958. The son of Joseph Walter "Joe" and Katherine Esther (née Scruse), he was the seventh of nine children. Joseph Jackson was a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called The Falcons with his brother Luther.

Jackson showed musical talent early in his life, performing in front of classmates and others during a Christmas recital at the age of five. At the age of eight, he and Jermaine assumed lead vocals and the group's name was changed to The Jackson 5. The band toured the Midwest extensively from 1966 to 1968.

The Jackson 5 [sina.com]

The Jackson 5 recorded several songs, including "Big Boy", for the local record label Steeltown in 1967 and signed with Motown Records in 1968. Rolling Stone magazine later described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts", noting that Michael "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer" after he began to dance and sing with his brothers.

Starting in 1972, Jackson released a total of four solo studio albums with Motown. Although the group scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.

1975–1981: Move to Epic and "Off the Wall"

The Jackson 5 signed a new contract with CBS Records in June 1975, joining the Philadelphia International Records division, later Epic Records.

From 1976 to 1984, Michael Jackson was the lead songwriter of the group, writing hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "This Place Hotel" and "Can You Feel It".

In 1978, Jackson starred as Scarecrow in the film musical "The Wiz". The musical scores were arranged by Quincy Jones, who formed a partnership with Jackson during the film's production and agreed to produce the singer's next solo album "Off the Wall."

In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine. He complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career.

Released in 1979, Jones and Jackson's "Off the Wall" was the first album to generate four US top 10 hits, including the chart-topping singles "Don't Stop", 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You". 7 million were sold in the US and eventually over 20 million copies were sold worldwide.

In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". He also won Billboard Music Awards for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").