Author Description

An international star from the age of 11, Michael Jackson’s story is one that stretches the boundaries of credibility, even in the larger-than-life world of megastardom. The eighth child of the Jackson family, and already a major recording star with the Jackson 5, he began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. His 1982 album Thriller became the bestselling record of all time, and four other solo studio albums are also among the world's bestselling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995). The first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, Jackson pushed the boundaries of the rock video and popularized a number of revolutionary dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop, and contemporary R&B artists. One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, Jackson’s other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, and 13 number-one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist. His highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a fixture in global culture for almost four decades.