Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson (1958–2009) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer whose recordings and performances established him as the most commercially successful entertainer of the twentieth century. Born the eighth of ten children in Gary, Indiana, he performed as part of The Jackson 5 from early childhood before launching a solo career that peaked with Thriller (1982) — the best-selling album in history — Off the Wall (1979), and Bad (1987).

His collaboration with producers Quincy Jones and later Teddy Riley produced recordings that combined soul, funk, disco, and pop into a mainstream form of enormous power and precision.