Michael Jackson

For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation).
Michael Jackson


At the White House in 1984
Background information
Birth name Michael Joseph Jackson
Born August 29, 1958(1958-08-29)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Died June 25, 2009 (aged 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Pop, rock, new jack swing, adult contemporary, gospel, R&B, soul, funk
Occupations Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, dancer, choreographer, actor, peace activist, businessman, philanthropist
Instruments Vocals, piano, beatbox, guitar, bongos, drums
Years active 1964–2009
Labels Motown, Epic, Legacy
Associated acts The Jackson 5
Website www.michaeljackson.com
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, choreographer, published poet, businessman, philanthropist and record producer. Referred to as the King of Pop, he is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records while also being regarded as one of the most influential..[1][2][3] His contribution to music, dance and fashion,[4][5] and a much-publicized personal life made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.

Jackson made his debut alongside his brothers in 1964 as lead singer and youngest member of The Jackson 5. His solo career started in 1971. He produced ten studio albums. The 1982 album Thriller was and remains the best-selling album of all time, having sold more than 110 million copies worldwide. Four of his other albums, Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (best-selling double-album by a solo artist of all time) rank among the world's best-sellers making him the artist with the most best-selling albums. His 1997 release, Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix is the best-selling remix album of all time.

Jackson is credited with having elevated the music video from mere promotional tool into an art form. He created groundbreaking videos such as Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller which often referred to and voted as the greatest music video of all time ,[6][7]it is the only music video inducted into the national film registry in the library of congress where inductions are preserved forever.[8] He was the first African American artist to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, it is stated that Jackson music videos made MTV and Cable TV the successes they are today.[9][10]He popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical style, vocal style, and choreography continue to transcend generational, racial and cultural boundaries.

Jackson has been inducted twelve times into various music halls of fame, more than any other act. He is one of the very few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Other achievements include thirteen Guinness World Records[11][12][13][14] (more than any other artist, and 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 (more than any other artist, and including recognition as Artist of the Century); 17 number-one singles in the US (including four as a member of The Jackson 5). He also has estimated global sales of over 780 million records,[15][16] making him one of the best-selling recording artists ever.[17] Jackson's personal life and relationships generated controversy for years. His appearance began to change in the mid 1970s, and his changing appearance was noticed from the late 1970s onwards, as changes to his nose and skin color caused 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 allegations.

Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from a drug overdose, amidst preparations for his This Is It concert series. Before his death, Jackson had reportedly been administered drugs such as propofol and lorazepam. The Los Angeles County Coroner concluded that his death was a homicide. Prosecutors formally charged his personal physician with involuntary manslaughter. Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and was estimated that as many as a billion people around the world may have watched his public memorial service on live television.[18][19] On March 16, 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a record-breaking $250 million deal with Jackson's estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings until 2017 and release seven posthumous albums over the next decade.[20]

Contents [hide]
1 Life and career
1.1 Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)
1.2 Move to Epic and Off the Wall (1975–1981)
1.3 Thriller and Motown 25 (1982–83)
1.4 Pepsi, "We Are the World" and business career (1984–85)
1.5 Appearance, tabloids, Bad, autobiography and films (1986–87)
1.6 Autobiography, changing appearance and Neverland (1988–1990)
1.7 Dangerous, Heal the World Foundation, Poetry and Super Bowl XXVII (1991–93)
1.8 First child sexual abuse allegations and first marriage (1993-94)
1.9 HIStory, second marriage and fatherhood (1995–99)
1.10 Label dispute, Invincible and third child (2000–03)
1.11 Second child sexual abuse allegations (2003–05)
1.12 Final years and death (2006–09)
1.13 Posthumous works
2 Death and memorial
3 Artistry
3.1 Influences
3.2 Musical themes and genres
3.3 Vocal style
3.4 Music videos and choreography
3.5