Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), often referred to as MJ[1] and The King of Pop,[2] is an American musician and entertainer. The seventh child of the Jackson family, Michael Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at the age of ten as a member of the Jackson 5,[3] and went on to become a pop icon as a solo artist. His successful career and controversial, enigmatic personal life have been a part of pop culture for almost four decades.[4] Jackson has dominated pop music since the late 1970s,[5] becoming the first black entertainer to amass a strong cross-over following on MTV with his revolutionary transformation of the music video as an art form and as a promotional tool.[6] The popularity of videos aired on MTV such as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" created a tremendous synergy[7] that helped to put the relatively young channel "on the map"[8] and Jackson continued to be a dominant figure on MTV with videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream". Jackson also popularized physically-complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, that have redefined mainstream dance and entertainment.[9] His distinctive style, dance moves, and vocals have influenced a whole generation of hip hop, pop, and R&B artists. He has been cited as the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by Guinness World Records,[10] and holds the record for the best-selling album ever, Thriller.

Michael Jackson has received thirteen Grammy Awards[11] (eight on a single night in 1984) and two of his solo albums have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[12] Jackson has charted thirteen #1 singles in the United States, more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era.[13] In November 2006, the World Music Awards announced that Jackson had sold over 750 million units worldwide[14] and given $300 million to charity,[15][16] making Jackson one of the best-selling music artists and one of the most philanthropic performers of the 20th and 21st century.[17]