Michael Jackson

He was an American singer, songwriter, dancer and philanthropist. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion. Jackson influenced artists across many music genres; he popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk, as well as the robot.

The eighth child of the Jackson family, Jackson made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers as a member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons). Jackson began his solo career in 1971 while at Motown Records. He became a solo star with his 1979. 

On June 25, 2009, less than three weeks before the first This Is It show was due to begin in London, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died from cardiac arrest, caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose. His personal physician, had given Jackson various medications to help him sleep at his rented mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. When paramedics arrived Jackson was not breathing and CPR was performed. Resuscitation efforts continued in route to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and for more than an hour after Jackson’s arrival there, but were unsuccessful and Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm Pacific time. He is the most awarded individual music artist in history and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He had 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era) and was the first artist to have a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. He is regarded by the RIAA as the highest-selling individual music artist of all time worldwide. His honors include 15 Grammy Awards, 6 Brit Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and 39 Guinness World Records, including the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”. Jackson’s inductions include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice), the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Dance Hall of Fame (the only recording artist to be inducted), and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.