Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer and entertainer. Referred to as the
King of Pop,
he is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time, and
one of the most influential. His contributions to music, dance and
fashion,
[1] and a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.
Alongside his brothers, Jackson made his debut as lead singer and youngest member of
The Jackson 5 in 1964. He began his solo career in 1971. His 1982 album
Thriller remains the
best-selling album ever, having sold more than 110 million copies. He is credited with having elevated the
music video from a mere promotional tool into an art form: His videos for
Billie Jean,
Beat It and
Thriller made him the first
African American artist to amass a strong
crossover following on
MTV. Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the
robot and the
moonwalk.
His distinctive musical style, vocal style and choreography were
recognized across generational, racial and cultural boundaries.
Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
Other achievements include several
Guinness World Records (including the
Most Successful Entertainer of All Time), 15
Grammy Awards (including the
Living Legend Award and the
Lifetime Achievement Award), 26
American Music Awards (24 only as a solo artist, including one for
Artist of the Century)—more than any artist— 17
number one singles in the US (including four as a member of the Jackson 5), and estimated world sales of over 750 million records,
[2] making him one of the
best-selling recording artists ever.
[3]Jackson's personal life and
relationships generated controversy for years. His
changing appearancewas noticed from the late 1970s onwards, with changes to his nose, and
skin color, causing much media speculation. In 1993 he was accused of
child sexual abuse, though no formal charges were brought. In 2005 he was
tried and acquitted of similar charges. He married twice, first in 1994 and again in 1996. He brought up three children, one born to a
surrogate mother. Jackson
died on June 25, 2009 from a
drug overdose while preparing for his
This Is It concert tour, which was to have started in mid-2009. He had reportedly been administered drugs such as
propofol and
lorazepam. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled his death to be a
homicide, and prosecutors charged his personal physician with
involuntary manslaughter. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and his
public memorial service, broadcast live across the world, was watched by millions.
[4]