Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 June 25,
2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and
philanthropist. Referred to as the King of Pop, Jackson is
recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by
Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance and
fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a
global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The
eighth child of the Jackson family, Jackson debuted on the
professional music scene along with his brothers as a member
of The Jackson 5 in the mid-1960s, and began his solo career in
1971.
In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in
popular music. The music videos for his songs including "Beat
It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller", were credited with transforming
the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the
popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new
television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or
White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s.
Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson
popularized a number of dance techniques, such as the robot
and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal
style have influenced numerous hip hop, pop, contemporary
R&B and rock artists.
Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of
all time. His other records, including Off the Wall (1979), Bad
(1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995), also rank among
the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have
been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Some
of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World
Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend
Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26
American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including
the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the
United States in his solo career (more than any other male
artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over
800 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of
awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording
artist in the history of music. He was also a notable
humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising hundreds
of millions of dollars for beneficial causes and supporting more
than 39 charities.
Aspects of Jackson's personal life, including his changing
appearance, personal relationships and behavior, have
generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of child sexual
abuse, but the case was settled and no formal charges were
brought. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further sexual
abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury ruled
him not guilty on all counts. While preparing for his concert
series This Is It, Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering
from cardiac arrest. Before his death, Jackson had reportedly
been administered drugs such as propofol and lorazepam. The
Los Angeles County Coroner declared his death a homicide, and
his personal physician pleaded not guilty to charges of
involuntary manslaughter. Jackson's death triggered a global
outpouring of grief, and as many as a billion people around the
world may have watched his public memorial service on live
television. In March 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a
US$250 million deal with Jackson's estate to retain distribution
rights to his recordings until 2017, and to release seven
posthumous albums over the decade following his death.
Michael Jackson
Jackson at the White House in 1984
Background information
Birth name
Born
Died
Genres
Michael Joseph Jackson
August 29, 1958
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
June 25, 2009 (aged 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Pop, disco, dance, rock, R&B, soul, funk,
new jack swing
Singer, songwriter, record producer,
Occupations
composer, dancer, choreographer, actor,
author, businessman, philanthropist
Instruments
Vocals, piano, guitar, drums, beatbox
Years active
19642009
Labels
Associated
acts
Motown, Epic, Legacy
The Jackson 5
