Michael Jackson's famous but dysfunctional family always rallied round him in the end.

Despite their history of feuds, the clan that gave the world the "Jackson Five" rushed to Michael's side tonight just as they had during his child abuse trial.

Sister LaToya was seen running through the hospital sobbing after her brother - the seventh of nine children - was pronounced dead.

Michael Jackson may have been the self-proclaimed "King of Pop" but his siblings have also grown up as household names.

Joe and Katherine Jackson raised nine children - Maureen "Rebbie", Sigmund Esco "Jackie", Toriano Adaryl "Tito", Jermaine, LaToya, Marlon, Michael, Randy and Janet - in near poverty in the rustbelt town of Gary, Indiana.

At their original home at 2300 Jackson Street, the boys all slept in one bedroom, the girls in another.

"We sang from bunk beds," Jackie once recalled. "Tito and Jermaine at the top, Michael and Marlon in the middle, and me and Randy at the bottom. We'd sing in harmony and just fall asleep."

Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and, eventually, Michael soon began singing together under the tutelage of their strict father, whom both Michael and LaToya later accused of abusing his children.

Michael complained that his father criticised him for his acne and his "huge" nose, and said his childhood was marred by non-stop tours and rehearsals.

"He would tear you up if you missed. So not only were we practising, we were nervous rehearsing because he sat in the chair and he had this belt in his hand, and if you didn't do it the right way he would tear you up, really get you," Michael said in a British documentary in 2002.

Legend held that Tito broke a string on his father's guitar and Joe decided to punish him by training his children to sing and dance.

Billed early on as Ripples and Waves Plus Michael, they were renamed when a local woman heard them practising and shouted: "Listen to the Jackson five."

Discovered by the singer Gladys Knight, the Jackson Five auditioned for the legendary black-owned Motown record label, whose founder called their music "Soul Bubblegum".

The Jackson Five appeared on Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem in 1967, winning a standing ovation from one of the world's most demanding audiences.

By 1971, they had four No 1 singles, their own Saturday morning cartoon show and had appeared on the cover of Life magazine.

As they grew up, the Jackson Five renamed themselves "The Jacksons" and made hit singles such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "Lovely One" and "Heartbreak Hotel".

As moonwalking Michael dazzled fans, sister Janet also became a solo superstar, memorably flashing her breast during a half-time show in the American football Superbowl. Older sister LaToya posed for Playboy magazine.

The family became mired in disputes. The children broke their management contract with their father; LaToya accused her parents of trying to kidnap her; and Jermaine got caught up in a fight between the clan and Motown.

When Michael went on trial for child abuse in 2004. But the whole family turned up to support him in a black bus, all dressed in white.

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