From his youth as a prodigious talent in a gifted musical family, it was apparent that Michael Jackson was destined for fame and stardom. But his emergence from the Jackson Five in the 1970s and his explosion as a solo act in the 1980s skyrocketed him to a magnitude of super stardom that few people in popular history have attained. His ability to write and play music, sing, and dance vaulted him into worldwide acclaim and guarantees his immortality in pop culture alongside Buddy Holly, Elvis, John Lennon, and the like. This lavishly illustrated book provides an unprecedented glimpse into the fascinating and often misunderstood life of this superstar, and chronicles in words and pictures a career filled with triumph and tragedy.