Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson, born August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, began performing at age five with the Jackson 5, signing with Motown Records in 1969. His solo career launched with "Off the Wall" (1979), but "Thriller" (1982) became the best-selling album of all time—over 70 million copies sold—producing seven top-ten singles and the most influential music video in history. The moonwalk, first performed on the "Motown 25th Anniversary" special in 1983, became one of the most recognizable dance moves ever created. "Bad" (1987) was only the second album in history to produce five number-one singles. His 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance remains the most-watched in history and is credited with transforming the halftime show into a major cultural event. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Grammy Legend Award. He sold an estimated 400 million records worldwide. His music continues to accumulate billions of annual streams, affirming a legacy that transcends time, genre, and generation.