Contents
Michael Jackson
Making Thriller and redefining the pop music video.
The Jackson 5 · Moonwalk
- Born
- 29 August 1958
- Birthplace
- Gary, Indiana, United States
- Died
- 25 June 2009
More people
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter and dancer whose recordings and tightly choreographed performances reached a worldwide audience. From childhood stardom with his brothers, he developed a solo career that linked pop music with ambitious visual storytelling.
Early life
Gary childhood
Grew up in a large musical family in Indiana.
Family group
Rehearsed and performed with his brothers from childhood under their father’s management.
Career
- 1960s–1970s
The Jackson 5
Rose to fame with the family group after its signing to Motown.
- 1979–1987
Solo expansion
Worked with producer Quincy Jones on Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.
- 1990s
New collaborators
Expanded his production partnerships and international touring.
- 2009
Final rehearsals
Prepared the This Is It concert series but died before its London opening.
Selected work
Off the Wall
Joined disco, funk and pop in a major adult solo breakthrough.
Thriller
An album spanning pop, rock and R&B that became a global commercial landmark.
Billie Jean at Motown 25
A televised performance made his moonwalk a signature image.
Beyond work
Charitable work
Co-wrote We Are the World with Lionel Richie for the 1985 famine-relief recording.
Allegations and trial
Faced allegations of child sexual abuse, which he denied; a jury acquitted him of all charges at his 2005 criminal trial.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Thriller recording ↗Photo: Matthew Rolston; Distributed by Epic Records. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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