'King of Pop'. Nicknamed 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson hardly knew life outside the public eye. With shocking suddenness his turbulent and complex life ended that robbed the entertainment world as he 'moonwalked into history.' Born in the gritty steel-making town of Gary, Indiana, into the family group, The Jackson 5, with four of his brothers singing at talent shows, and Michael Jackson as the lead singer. The Jackson 5's first four singles topped the US charts between 1969 and 1970, an unprecedented achievement. In 1971 Michael Jackson launched his solo career, which flowered with his hits album Off the Wall in 1979 and then went stratospheric with Thriller, the most successful album in history, with estimated sales of 109m since its 1982 release. At his peak, Jackson was the most complete song-and-dance star of razzle-dazzle performances. He sang in sweet high tenor punctuated with pleading cries or insinuating growls, while performing dazzling mechanistic dance moves, as with conveyor-belt glide of his trademark 'moonwalk'. The desire to transcend racial barriers reflected Jackson's links with 'Motown', the black-owned record label to popularise black music among white audiences with instantaneous and spectacular success. I Want You Back, The Love You Save, ABC and I'll Be There went to the top of the US charts. Incessant plastic surgery and blanched skin gave his a bizarre, ghoulish look. Jackson blamed a skin disorder, but many assumed he was bleaching himself to appear white. Michael had a deeply unhappy childhood. The fantasies of his Californian ranch, in Santa Barbara County, 'Neverland' spoke of a childish need for love. There he created a zoo, a miniature railway and a Ferris wheel. Michael Jackson lived reclusively, eccentrically and tragically. Michael Jackson reportedly converted to Islam when he formally joined the Nation of Islam in 2003. There was an outpouring of music and praise for a Fallen Star after Michael Jackson died. The event of his death turned into a media moment. Networks interrupted their regular programming to cover it. Everybody around the world appeared to have stopped what every one was doing - on television, on the Internet and on the street - to look and listen. His memorial service was solemnly presented on television as a state funeral. This was a star-studded live concert, held in Los Angeles, infused with all the pageantry and sorrow of a beloved and troubled star.