Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson (1958-2009) began performing in Gary, Indiana, as the youngest member of the Jackson 5, the group formed with his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. After signing with Motown, the Jackson 5's early hits included "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." Jackson launched his adult solo career while still in the group, recording albums for Motown before moving to Epic Records. His 1979 album Off the Wall, produced by Quincy Jones, yielded the singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You" and established him as a major solo pop artist. It also earned him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance. Jackson's 1982 album Thriller became the best-selling album in history, according to Guinness World Records. Produced again by Quincy Jones, it included "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Human Nature," and "The Girl Is Mine," a duet with Paul McCartney. The video for "Thriller," directed by John Landis, became a landmark of music television. On Motown 25, first broadcast in 1983, Jackson performed "Billie Jean" and unveiled the moonwalk to a nationwide audience. Thriller won eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including Album of the Year, and Jackson received a record-tying eight awards at that ceremony. Its commercial success transformed industry expectations for pop music videos permanently. His public image was closely linked to elaborate choreography and ambitious music films. He collaborated with director Martin Scorsese on the 1987 "Bad" video and with filmmaker John Landis on the 1991 "Black or White" video. Bad, released in 1987, produced five Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," and "Dirty Diana." Dangerous, released in 1991, included "Black or White," "Remember the Time," and "Heal the World." In 1993, Jackson performed at Super Bowl XXVII's halftime show, an appearance widely credited with increasing the event's entertainment profile. He also co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie for African famine relief efforts. Jackson's career also involved intense scrutiny and legal disputes. In 2005, a Santa Barbara County jury acquitted him of all charges in his criminal trial concerning allegations of child molestation and related offenses. He planned a series of London concerts titled This Is It when he died on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles, aged 50. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled his death a homicide caused by acute propofol intoxication, with other drugs contributing. His memorial service at Staples Center included performances and tributes from family members and fellow artists. His posthumous concert film This Is It used rehearsal footage.