Did Michael change that much? In the pictures above, from left to right, from childhood to manhood, Michael the 50 year old man is demonstrating the same self expression as Michael the kid. The change in appearance during the course of his life is irrelevant to the beauty that was within him. His unconditional love for people, his sincere self-expression, and his grace had never changed he will always be loved and missed forever...

From the very first time young Michael stepped on stage at the age of five those who saw him knew he was destined to become a very special entertainer. By the time he was eight to early teens it was already clear that he had become one of the greatest singers and dancers the world had ever seen. Even before he went solo Michael had already sold 100 million records with the Jackson 5, he was the youngest singer ever to top the pop charts.

Michael was the most explosive, charismatic and dynamic person on stage. The natural energy of love and truth flowed through him flawlessly, with unparalleled grace rhythm and movements. During live performances Michael had a sincere state of self expression and joy about him that really captured audiences everywhere he went. Singing and dancing was some of the most joyful moments in his life, such an extraordinary talent did not come without complex problems however!

Michael was born the seventh of nine children on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana to an African American working-class family. He showed talent early in his life, performing in front of classmates during a Christmas recital in kindergarten. In 1964 he and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers as backup musicians playing congas and tambourines. The band formed by brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine. Michael began performing backup vocals and dancing at the age of eight and quickly established himself as the lead vocalist along with Jermaine, the group's name was then changed to The Jackson 5. The band was very popular and toured the Midwest extensively from 1966 to 1968.

The Jackson 5 recorded several songs, including "Big Boy", for the local record label Steel town in 1967, and signed with Motown Records in 1968. Rolling Stone magazine later described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts," writing that he "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer." The group set a chart record when its first four singles ("I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There") peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Between 1972 and 1975, Michael released four solo studio albums with Motown, among them Got to Be There and Ben, released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise.

1975-81: The Jackson 5 signed a new contract with CBS Records in June 1975 and renamed themselves The Jackson's. They continued to tour internationally, releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984, during which Michael was the lead songwriter, writing hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "This Place Hotel," and "Can You Feel It". Michael officially left the Jackson 's in 1984 to focus more on his very successful solo career.

His Vitiligo Disease: In 1986, he was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus; the vitiligo partially lightened his skin, and the lupus was in remission; both illnesses made him sensitive to sunlight. The treatments he used for his condition further lightened his skin tone. Michael obviously did not intentionally charged his skin color to white the change had occur due to the vitiligo disease that he had. Vitiligo is a condition which occurs when the melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation which are derived from the neural crest, die or are unable to function.

The relationship with his father:Michael had a troubled relationship with his father Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson who at the time was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B band called The Falcons. Joe was very strict with Michael and the rest of his brothers that made up the Jackson 5. Constant whippings and name-calling was a part of the process. Michael first spoke openly about his childhood abuse in an interview with Oprah Winfrey broadcast on February 10, 1993. He said that he had often cried from loneliness and would sometimes vomit when he saw his father.

The disciplinary actions of Michael's father was abusive but Michael still credited him in part for his success.

World Tours: During the peak of his career Michael did three major world tours, Dangerous, Heal the World and the History world tour. On the HIStory world tour alone he performed in 58 countries for over 4.5 million fans. "You Are Not Alone" from the history album holds the Guinness World Record for the first song ever to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Earth Song" was the third single released from History, and topped the UK singles chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995; it sold a million copies, making it Michael's most successful single in the UK. The History World Tour began on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. His most recent major musical accomplishment was his being named the “2000 Millennium Artist”.

Source-Click here