Michael Jackson

Biography

The music world has lost a great – The King of Pop; the entertainer, dancer, singer, and icon; the visionary, maverick, artist, and ground-breaker. The legacy of Michael Jackson lives in four decades of timeless music and a sea of artists and performers for whom MJ paved the way and inspired.

Here are some musical highlights from the decorated, eccentric, and talented life of MJ:

- 1970: Their first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, includes the hit singles I Want You Back and I’ll Be There, which go to No. 1.

- 1979: Jackson’s first solo album as an adult, Off the Wall, is released. He becomes the first solo artist to place four singles from the same record in the top 10.

- 1982: His album Thriller wins a record eight Grammys and becomes the world’s biggest selling record of all time. Along with the title track, it includes the songs Billie Jean and Beat It.

- 1983: Jackson electrifies the 50 million viewers of the Motown 25 television special by singing and dancing to Billie Jean while wearing a black fedora, one white glove, and pants that end above his ankles.

- 1985: Jackson and Lionel Richie write what becomes one of the fastest-selling singles ever with We Are the World. The song was produced to raise money for victims of the Ethiopian famine. Jackson also pays $47.5 million for the rights to more than 250 songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

- 1987: His album Bad produces five No. 1 singles and sells at least 22 million copies worldwide.

- 1995: Releases the album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I. In August, the song You Are Not Alone becomes the first single in pop music history to enter the Billboard chart at No. 1.

(from NDTV.com)