Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) remains an iconic American figure. He was a versatile artist, celebrated as the “King of Pop,” and is widely recognized as one of the most influential cultural personalities of the 20th century.
Over a career spanning four decades, he made substantial contributions to the realms of music, dance, and fashion, all while leading a life that garnered significant public attention, ultimately establishing himself as a global icon of popular culture. Jackson’s impact extended across various music genres, and through his electrifying stage and video performances, he popularized intricate street dance moves, most notably the moonwalk, which he coined, and the robot.
Born as the eighth child in the Jackson family, he made his initial public appearance in 1964 alongside his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons). Jackson commenced his solo journey in 1971 under the Motown Records label. His solo career truly took off with the release of his 1979 album, “Off the Wall.” Notably, his music videos, including those for hits such as “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” and “Thriller” from his 1982 album “Thriller,” are credited with breaking racial barriers and revolutionizing the medium as an art form and promotional tool. He played a pivotal role in the success of MTV and consistently pushed the boundaries with music videos for albums like “Bad” (1987), “Dangerous” (1991), “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I” (1995), and “Invincible” (2001). “Thriller” remains the best-selling album of all time, and “Bad” notably became the first album to produce five US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles.
However, from the late 1980s onwards, Jackson became a subject of controversy and intense public scrutiny due to his changing appearance, relationships, behavior, and lifestyle. In 1993, he faced allegations of sexually abusing a child connected to a family friend, ultimately settling the lawsuit out of civil court and avoiding indictment due to a lack of evidence. In 2005, he was tried and subsequently acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and various other charges. The FBI investigation found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Jackson in either case. Tragically, in 2009, while preparing for a series of comeback concerts titled “This Is It,” Jackson passed away from an overdose of propofol administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray, who was later convicted in 2011 of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson’s death. Jackson’s death sparked a global outpouring of grief, leading to unprecedented surges in internet traffic and a remarkable increase in the sales of his music. His televised memorial service, hosted at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was estimated to have been watched by more than 2.5 billion individuals.
Michael Jackson’s legacy as one of the best-selling music artists of all time endures, with estimated global sales of over 400 million records. He boasted an impressive 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, ranking fourth among all artists in the Hot 100 era. He holds the distinction of being the first artist to achieve a top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. Jackson’s accolades encompass 15 Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and 39 Guinness World Records, including the title of the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time.” He has been inducted into several prestigious halls of fame, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice), the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Dance Hall of Fame (making him the sole recording artist to receive this honor), and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
