The youngest member of the Jackson 5

Jackson arrived on the red carpet outside Madison Square Garden accompanied by his great friend, the actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Liza Minnelli and Marlon Brando were among other showbusiness stars at the event.

Actor Marlon Brando was booed at the event as he delivered a speech about child poverty and starvation.

The performers included Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child and Gladys Knight.

The most anticipated event, however, was the reunion of the Jackson Five, bringing together the Jackson Brothers who first came to fame in 1970.

Fans had gathered outside the venue from early in the day, most of whom did not have tickets, but they came to show their support for their favourite musician.

Some had paid up to $2,500 for a ticket for the concert.

Solo classics

The concert is being seen not merely as a celebration of a long career, but as a real attempt at a comeback by the singer whose popularity has been on the wane, at least in America, for several years.

He has a new album due for release soon, his first in six years.

The concert began with R&B stars Usher and Mya singing Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Somethin and included performances by stars such as Whitney Houston and Ray Charles of other Jackson hits.

Jackson himself performed a string of his solo classics, including The Way You Make Me Feel, Beat It, Billie Jean and Black and White.

The second Jackson concert takes place on Monday 10 September.