For other uses, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation).
"King of Pop" redirects here. For other uses, see King of Pop
(disambiguation).
Michael Jackson
Jackson in 1988
Born Michael Joseph Jackson
August 29, 1958
Gary, Indiana, US
Died June 25, 2009 (aged 50)
Los Angeles, California, US
Cause of Cardiac arrest caused by acute
death propofol intoxication
Burial Forest Lawn Memorial Park,
place Glendale, California, US
Other nam Michael Joe Jackson
es
Occupation Singer
s
songwriter
dancer
record producer
Spouses Lisa Marie Presley
(m. 1994; div. 1996)
Debbie Rowe
(m. 1996; div. 2000)
Children 3, including Paris
Parents Joe Jackson
Katherine Jackson
Family Jackson family
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres Pop
soul
R&B
funk
rock
disco
post-disco
dance-pop
new jack swing
Instrument Vocals
Discograph Albums
y
singles
songs
Years 1964–2009
active
Labels Steeltown
Motown
Epic
Legacy
Sony
MJJ Productions
Formerly of The Jackson 5
Website michaeljackson.com
Signature
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 one of the most significant cultural figures of the
20th century. Over a four-decade career, his world record music
achievements and publicized personal life made him a global figure. His
innovations in the 1980s creatively elevated the music video medium and
broke racial barriers. Through songs, stages, and fashion, he proliferated
visual performance for singers in pop music, and popularized street dance
moves including the moonwalk (to which he named), the robot, and the anti-
gravity lean.
As part of the Jackson family, Michael at age six made his public debut in
1964 with his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member
of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons). The Jackson 5 signed
with Motown in 1968 and achieved worldwide success with Michael as lead
singer. Jackson began his solo career in 1971 while at Motown and recorded
multiple successful singles. He became a global solo star with his 1979
album Off the Wall. His music videos, including those for "Beat It", "Billie
Jean", and "Thriller" from his 1982 album Thriller, are credited with
breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and
promotional tool. He helped popularize MTV and continued to innovate with
videos for his albums Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), HIStory: Past, Present
and Future, Book I (1995), and Invincible (2001). Thriller is the best-selling
album of all time, and Bad was the first album to produce five
US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles.[nb 1]
From the late 1980s, Jackson became a figure of controversy and
speculation due to his changing appearance, relationships, behavior, and
lifestyle. In 1993, he was accused of sexually abusing the child of a family
friend. The lawsuit was settled out of civil court; Jackson was not indicted
due to lack of evidence. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child
sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct by Jackson. In 2009,
while he was preparing for a series of comeback concerts, This Is It,
Jackson died from an overdose of propofol administered by his personal
physician, Conrad Murray, who was convicted in 2011 of involuntary
manslaughter for his involvement in Jackson's death. His death triggered
reactions around the world, creating unprecedented surges of internet
traffic and a spike in sales of his music. Jackson's televised memorial
service, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was estimated to have
been viewed by more than 2.5 billion people.
Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated
sales of over 500 million records worldwide. [nb 2] He had 13 Billboard Hot 100
number-one singles (the chart's fourth-highest of any artist) and was the
first artist to have a top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 in five different
decades. Jackson's inductions include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice),
the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame,
the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame (making him the
only recording artist to be inducted). His honors include 15 Grammy
Awards including the Grammy Legend Award, six Brit Awards, 24 American
Music Awards, a Golden Globe Award and 39 Guinness World Records,
including "Youngest artist to top the Hot 100", "Longest span of number
ones for a male act", and the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time",
among other awards.
