MICHAEL JACKSON'S LIFE IN PICTURES

Fans worldwide mourn as the King of Pop dies aged 50 in Los Angeles after suffering a suspected heart attack at home.

As shocking news of the tragic loss unfolds, we take a look back at some of the megastar's most memorable moments.

As a fresh-faced youngster of five, Michael joined his elder brothers in the Jackson 5 as a backing singer and tambourinist.

But by the time he was eight, he'd been promoted to lead vocals and helped the band sign a deal with infamous soul label Motown.

Michael and brothers Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had 17 Top 10 singles during their pop reign, including massive hits I Want You Back and ABC.

Although the star had released four solo albums during his time in the family group, it was in 1979 that he really struck out alone.

Off The Wall was released to widespread acclaim, and three years later Thriller became the biggest-selling album of all time. 

MJ was now unstoppable. Seven of Thriller's nine songs make it into the Top 10, the world witneses MJ's moonwalk, and We Are The World cements his superstar status.

Skip forward five years and Jacko looks like a different entertainer altogether.

The star is plagued by reports of plastic surgery, that he lives with Bubbles the chimp and that he sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber.

Still, tabloid claims aside, the star goes from strength to strength. He releases Bad in 1987 and has five number one singles. Plus the world tour sees him perform 123 concerts to 4.4 million people.

The King of Pop releases Dangerous in 1991 and it outsells Bad, but he faces allegations of child abuse two years later.

In May 1994 MJ married Lisa Marie Presley - daughter of the late King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, Elvis.

But after just 19 months, the couple separated.

But this wasn't to be the only divorce for the megastar. After announcing that dermatologist Debbie Rowe was expecting his child in 1996 (Michael Joseph Jackson Jr), the pair married and had a second child together (Paris Michael Katherine Jackson) before divorcing in 1999.

In 2002 the troubled star was spotted dangling his third child - Prince Michael II - out of a hotel window in Berlin.

Three years later, Jacko went on trial for child abuse, and was later acquitted of all charges.

The singer's bizarre behaviour and ever-changing physical appearance had earned him the nickname Wacko Jacko.

And with reports of skin cancer infiltrating the media coverage, concern for Michael's health was mounting.

But whilst the 90s was a turbulent decade for the star, his music continued to wow fans - You Are Not Alone, the second single released from the HIStory album, became the first song ever to debut at number one in the US charts, receiving a Grammy nomination.

And with the new millenium came the sucess of Thriller 25 (a 25th anniversary edition of his famous album), that reached the top 10 in over 30 national charts. Rumours of a comeback were finally confirmed...

Tickets for the 50 comeback concerts in July sold out in a matter of hours, with fans moon-walking on air at the prospect of the King of Pop's return.

But on Thursday 25th June 2009, Michael died at home after suffering suspected cardiac arrest, and the shock resonates worldwide as a music legend is mourned.