Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, U.S and died on June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century.

Michael Jackson was the eighth of ten children in the Jackson Family. Jackson made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5.

Michael Jackson began his solo career in 1971 while at Motown Records, and became a solo star with his 1979 album 'Off the Wall'.

Michael Jackson was influenced by musicians including James Brown, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Diana Ross, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, and David Ruffin. Brown was his greatest inspiration; he once said that as a small child, his mother would wake him whenever Brown appeared on television.

Over a four-decade career, Michael Jackson’s contributions to music, dance and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture. Michael Jackson influenced artists across a variety of musical styles, and through visual presentation. He popularized complicated dance moves such as the 'moonwalk', to which he gave the name, and the robot. Jackson is the most awarded music artist in history.

Michael Jackson has been referred to as the "King of Pop" because he transformed the art of music videos and paved the way for modern pop music.