Michael Jackson 1958-2009
Michael Jackson Remembered
How the child superstar grew into an icon beloved by the world – and the eccentricities that later defined him
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Updated: Thursday Jun 24, 2010 | 06:20 AM EDT By: Serena Kappes, Aaron Parsley, Brian Orloff and Cara Shultz
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THE EARLY YEARS:
CHILD PRODIGY
Born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Ind., to Joe and Katherine Jackson, Michael Joseph Jackson – the seventh child in a family of nine kids – showed a gift for singing at an early age, quickly becoming known as the little boy with a big voice. During his days with the Jackson 5, Rolling Stone magazine hailed the young singer as a prodigy with "overwhelming musical gifts."

