Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer and entertainer. Referred to as the King of Pop, he is the most successful entertainer of all time, and one of the most influential. His contributions to music, dance and fashion, and a much publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.

Alongside his brothers, he made his debut as lead singer and youngest member of The Jackson 5 in 1964. He began his solo career in 1971. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album ever, with Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995) among the world's best-selling albums ever. He is credited with having elevated the music video from mere promotional tool into an art form: his videos for Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller made him the first African American artist to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical, vocal style and choreography are credited with having transcended generational, racial and cultural barriers.

Jackson is one of the few artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Other achievements include several Guinness World Records (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 (24 only as a solo artist, including one for Artist of the Century)—more than any artist— 17 number one singles in the US (including four as a member of the Jackson 5), and estimated world sales between 350 and 750 million records, making him one of the best-selling recording artists ever.

Jackson's personal life generated controversy for years. His changing appearance was noticed from the late 1970s onwards, with changes to his nose, and skin color, causing 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 charges. He married twice, first in 1994 and again in 1996. He brought up three children, one born to a surrogate mother. Jackson died at the age of 50 from a cardiac arrest while preparing for his This Is It concert tour that was to have started in mid-2009. He had reportedly been administered drugs such as propofol and lorazepam. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled his death to be homicide. It triggered a global outpouring of grief. His memorial service, broadcast live across the world, was watched by millions. Jackson's death prompted an immense surge in album sales. He became the best-selling artist of 2009 in both the U.S. (more than 8.2 million units) and in the world as a whole: he became the first-ever artist in the U.S. to have four of the top 20 best-selling albums in a single year, and he posthumously sold 29 million albums, including an unprecedented eight of the top 25 best-selling albums, worldwide.

Michael Joseph Jackson (29 August 1958 - 25 June 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums became some of the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995). Michael Jackson sold over 750 million records during his career, thus becoming the "Most Successful Entertainer Of All Time", according to the Guinness Book. Acknowledged as "The Artist Of The Century" by the American Music Awards, Jackson's life was a mixture of success and controversy.