Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as <a href="/facts/Cultural_impact_of_Michael_Jackson/bT1j70pF">one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century</a>. Over a four-decade career, <a href="/facts/List_of_Michael_Jackson_records_and_achievements/FprVjeNb">his music achievements</a> broke <a href="/facts/Timeline_of_African-American_firsts/kIeYT7MB">racial barriers in America</a> and made him a dominant figure across the world. Through songs, stages, and fashion, he proliferated visual performance for artists in <a href="/facts/Popular_music/Q5yhxIwY">popular music</a>; popularizing street dance moves including the <a href="/facts/Moonwalk_(dance)/A6vo7vaG">moonwalk</a>, the <a href="/facts/Robot_(dance)/bgvAWkJ5">robot</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Anti-gravity_lean/FTQFDx4H">anti-gravity lean</a>. Jackson is often deemed the greatest entertainer of all time based on his acclaim and records.
The eighth child of the <a href="/facts/Jackson_family/Dg8nRDeY">Jackson family</a>, Michael made his public debut in 1964 at age six, as a member of <a href="/facts/The_Jackson_5/pMAVrKL8">the Jackson 5</a> (later known as the Jacksons). After signing with <a href="/facts/Motown/c3uuwLK9">Motown</a> in 1968, the band achieved worldwide success with him as its lead singer. Jackson achieved solo stardom with the release of his fifth album <a href="/facts/Off_the_Wall/hqXzrYxF">Off the Wall</a> (1979). He followed it up with <a href="/facts/Thriller_(album)/x5Nus6lN">Thriller</a> (1982), the <a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_albums/6btu6YSd">best-selling album of all time</a>, which catapulted him to a rare level of fame, whilst aiding in the popularization of <a href="/facts/MTV/S5gxqCxh">MTV</a> and revolutionizing the music video medium with the videos for <a href="/facts/Thriller_(song)/yNUXoIM9">its title track</a> along with "<a href="/facts/Beat_It/1y9L9Dfu">Beat It</a>" and "<a href="/facts/Billie_Jean/YczPUNLp">Billie Jean</a>". Jackson furthered his position as a global superstar with <a href="/facts/Bad_(album)/F34rPK1r">Bad</a> (1987), the world's best-selling album of both 1987 and 1988, as well as the first album to produce five US <a href="/facts/Billboard_Hot_100/gwKl8VL9">Billboard Hot 100</a> number-one singles: "<a href="/facts/I_Just_Can%2527t_Stop_Loving_You/Gc64UIs0">I Just Can't Stop Loving You</a>", "<a href="/facts/Bad_(Michael_Jackson_song)/PvdNatX7">Bad</a>", "<a href="/facts/The_Way_You_Make_Me_Feel/QK4ByqB1">The Way You Make Me Feel</a>", "<a href="/facts/Man_in_the_Mirror/hc48SCdK">Man in the Mirror</a>", and "<a href="/facts/Dirty_Diana/CNh3R1dX">Dirty Diana</a>". <a href="/facts/Dangerous_(Michael_Jackson_album)/FhpnBq6D">Dangerous</a> (1991) marked a new era for Jackson, lauded as his most artistic and socially conscious album. <a href="/facts/HIStory%3a_Past%2c_Present_and_Future%2c_Book_I/ssjryDu3">HIStory</a> (1995) produced "<a href="/facts/You_Are_Not_Alone/a4dEP1fd">You Are Not Alone</a>", the first song to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. His final album, <a href="/facts/Invincible_(Michael_Jackson_album)/Qxk3NFDL">Invincible</a>, was released in 2001.
From the late 1980s, Jackson became a figure of controversy and speculation due to <a href="/facts/Health_and_appearance_of_Michael_Jackson/Fhq4C3kS">his changing appearance</a>, <a href="/facts/Personal_relationships_of_Michael_Jackson/WXBvJ455">relationships</a>, behavior, and lifestyle. He was <a href="/facts/1993_Michael_Jackson_sexual_abuse_allegations/G6aDyB4Y">accused of sexually abusing</a> the child of a family friend in 1993. In 2005, Jackson <a href="/facts/Trial_of_Michael_Jackson/lyuP7VcL">was tried and acquitted</a> of further child sexual abuse allegations and all other charges. While preparing for <a href="/facts/This_Is_It_(concert_residency)/qSXavwz6">This Is It</a> (a series of comeback concerts), <a href="/facts/Death_of_Michael_Jackson/ow5QU3gp">Jackson died</a> in 2009 from an overdose of <a href="/facts/Propofol/t34FW3fL">propofol</a> administered by his personal physician <a href="/facts/Conrad_Murray/Ho4qIfCl">Conrad Murray</a>, who was <a href="/facts/People_v._Murray/Jm4a4K7G">convicted in 2011</a> of <a href="/facts/Involuntary_manslaughter/NGPBCB66">involuntary manslaughter</a>. Jackson's death triggered reactions around the world, creating unprecedented surges of internet traffic and a spike in sales of his music. <a href="/facts/Michael_Jackson_memorial_service/W4YxrH9V">His televised memorial service</a>, held at the <a href="/facts/Staples_Center/2FmbRRM2">Staples Center</a> in Los Angeles, was estimated to have been viewed by more than 2.5 billion people.
Jackson is one of the <a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_music_artists/LnwvfKQU">best-selling music artists of all time</a>, with estimated sales of over 500 million records worldwide. He had 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles (<a href="/facts/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_chart_achievements_and_milestones/At55y3Kw">the fifth-highest in Hot 100 history</a>) and is the first artist to have a top-ten single on the chart in five different decades. Jackson was inducted into the <a href="/facts/List_of_Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame_inductees/fe4BEjrT">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> (twice), the <a href="/facts/National_Rhythm_%2526_Blues_Hall_of_Fame/wvbaYVkL">National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame</a>, the <a href="/facts/Vocal_Group_Hall_of_Fame/U7MnBTjH">Vocal Group Hall of Fame</a>, the <a href="/facts/Songwriters_Hall_of_Fame/6uv4LrM0">Songwriters Hall of Fame</a> and the <a href="/facts/National_Museum_of_Dance_and_Hall_of_Fame/0oUpPsFp">Dance Hall of Fame</a> (the only recording artist to be inducted). One of the most-awarded artists in popular music, <a href="/facts/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Michael_Jackson/ecfd9eBq">his accolades</a> include 13 <a href="/facts/Grammy_Awards/2bxYJjPV">Grammy Awards</a>, the <a href="/facts/Grammy_Legend_Award/YYjP9mqM">Grammy Legend Award</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Grammy_Lifetime_Achievement_Award/4x6TepeI">Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award</a>; 26 <a href="/facts/American_Music_Awards/3rSsshn4">American Music Awards</a>, including Artist of the Century; 12 <a href="/facts/World_Music_Awards/vQu1oADp">World Music Awards</a>; six <a href="/facts/Brit_Awards/bxtQ4aR2">Brit Awards</a>; the <a href="/facts/Bambi_Award/v2vTQuom">Bambi</a> Pop Artist of the Millennium Award; and three <a href="/facts/President_of_the_United_States/oMsfmLb1">presidential honors</a>. In 1992, Jackson founded <a href="/facts/Heal_the_World_Foundation/3r5LnWco">Heal the World Foundation</a>, donating an estimated $500 million to charity <a href="/facts/Philanthropy_of_Michael_Jackson/FlLMH6E6">throughout his lifetime</a>. In 2024, half of <a href="/facts/Mijac_Music/DsIfYgkL">his music catalogue</a> sold to Sony for $600 million, the <a href="/facts/List_of_largest_music_deals/C1kXqqcS">largest music acquisition</a> for a single artist in history.

Michael Jackson open-in-new

Michael Jackson