Michael Joseph Jackson was one of the most successful, influential and instantly recognizable entertainers in modern history. Born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, he began performing professionally as a child, became the charismatic young star of the Jackson 5 and eventually developed into a solo performer whose music, dancing, videos and stage productions altered popular entertainment around the world. Known as the “King of Pop,” Jackson achieved a level of international fame reached by remarkably few entertainers and left behind songs and performances that remain embedded in popular culture decades after their release.

Jackson was the eighth of ten children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. The family lived in a modest home in Gary, an industrial city near Chicago, and music was an important part of family life. Katherine enjoyed singing and playing music, while Joseph had played guitar in a rhythm-and-blues group before concentrating on supporting his growing family. When several of the Jackson children demonstrated musical ability, their father began organizing them into a performing group and supervising rehearsals with considerable intensity.

The Jackson brothers started performing locally during the 1960s, appearing in clubs, talent competitions and other venues throughout the Midwest. Michael was still very young when his remarkable singing ability and natural stage presence became obvious. Although his older brothers had begun the group, Michael increasingly became its focal point. He possessed a powerful voice, extraordinary rhythmic instincts and an ability to connect with an audience that would have been impressive in an adult performer, never mind a child who was still supposed to be worrying about homework.

The group eventually became known as the Jackson 5 and signed with Motown Records in 1968. Berry Gordy's company had already created stars including Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations, and the Jackson brothers soon became one of the label's biggest attractions. Their first nationally released Motown single, “I Want You Back,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning an extraordinary run.

“ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I'll Be There” followed it to the top of the chart. The Jackson 5 became the first group in pop history whose first four nationally released singles reached No. 1. At the center of those performances was Michael, still barely into adolescence and already singing with the confidence of somebody who appeared to have skipped the usual awkward stage entirely.

The Jackson 5 became a merchandising and television phenomenon. Their records sold enormously, they toured extensively, appeared on television and even inspired an animated series. Michael's childhood therefore bore little resemblance to an ordinary one. While most children his age were deciding whose turn it was to ride a bicycle, he was recording hit records, rehearsing choreography and appearing before screaming audiences.

Motown soon began developing Michael as a solo artist while he remained part of the group. His early solo recordings included “Got to Be There,” “Rockin' Robin” and “Ben.” The latter, recorded for a film about a boy and his pet rat, became Jackson's first No. 1 solo single in 1972. Few careers could survive having one of their earliest signature songs addressed affectionately to a rat, but Michael Jackson was already demonstrating that normal rules were going to be of limited use.

During the mid-1970s, the Jackson brothers left Motown for Epic Records, although brother Jermaine remained with Motown. Because the label owned the Jackson 5 name, the group continued as the Jacksons. Michael became increasingly involved in songwriting and production, and the brothers enjoyed further success with songs including “Enjoy Yourself,” “Blame It on the Boogie” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).”

A crucial moment in Jackson's development came when he appeared as the Scarecrow in the 1978 film musical The Wiz, an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz featuring a predominantly Black cast. Diana Ross played Dorothy, and the production introduced Jackson to producer Quincy Jones. That meeting would help change popular music.

Jackson asked Jones to recommend someone to produce his next solo album. Jones suggested himself.

The result was Off the Wall, released in 1979.

The album marked Michael Jackson's arrival as a fully developed adult solo artist. Drawing upon disco, funk, soul, R&B and pop, Off the Wall produced major hits including “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough,” “Rock with You,” “Off the Wall” and “She's Out of My Life.” Four singles from the album reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” earned Jackson his first Grammy Award as a solo performer. The partnership between Jackson and Quincy Jones had worked rather well.

Neither of them was finished.

Jackson returned to the studio with Jones to create an album that was intended to surpass Off the Wall. Released on November 30, 1982, Thriller did considerably more than that.

It became a cultural phenomenon.

The album blended pop, R&B, rock, funk and dance music in a way that allowed it to reach audiences that record companies had traditionally treated as separate markets. Songs included “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin',” “The Girl Is Mine,” “Thriller,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Human Nature,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and “The Lady in My Life.” Seven singles from the album reached the Billboard Top 10, an unprecedented achievement at the time.

“Billie Jean” became one of Jackson's defining recordings, built around an instantly recognizable bass line and a performance combining suspicion, tension and irresistible rhythm. “Beat It” deliberately crossed musical boundaries by combining Jackson's pop and R&B sensibilities with hard rock, including a celebrated guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. The result attracted audiences from several musical worlds that had not always been invited to the same party.

The importance of Thriller extended far beyond records and radio. Jackson recognized the possibilities of the rapidly expanding music-video format and approached videos as short films rather than simple promotional clips. The video for “Billie Jean” became enormously popular on MTV at a time when Black performers had struggled to receive substantial exposure on the network, helping push open doors that should never have been closed in the first place.

Then came “Thriller.”

Directed by John Landis, the nearly fourteen-minute production featured elaborate costumes, choreography, makeup effects and a narrative in which Jackson transformed into monsters, danced with zombies and generally made an evening at the cinema look rather tame. Released in late 1983, Michael Jackson's Thriller helped establish the music video as an artistic and commercial event rather than merely something shown between songs.

In 2009, the Library of Congress selected the “Thriller” video for preservation in the National Film Registry, making it the first music video to receive that distinction. By then its influence could be seen everywhere from music videos and concerts to films, advertising and Halloween parties populated by people discovering that synchronized zombie dancing is considerably harder than Michael Jackson made it look.

Another pivotal moment occurred on March 25, 1983, during the taping of the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. After performing with his brothers, Jackson remained onstage for “Billie Jean.” During the performance he executed a backward gliding step already known among street dancers but new to much of the television audience.

The moonwalk became a sensation.

Jackson did not invent the underlying movement, and dancers had performed variations of it previously, but his presentation transformed it into a worldwide phenomenon. Suddenly children, teenagers and a disturbing number of optimistic adults were attempting to glide backward across kitchen floors.

By 1984, Thriller had become nearly unavoidable. At the 26th Grammy Awards, Jackson won eight awards in one evening, becoming the first artist to accomplish that feat. His victories included Album of the Year for Thriller, Record of the Year for “Beat It,” Best R&B Song for “Billie Jean” and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, shared with Quincy Jones. Across his career, Jackson won 13 competitive Grammy Awards and later received both the Grammy Legend Award and a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jackson's success helped reshape the economics and ambitions of popular music. Albums increasingly became multimedia events involving videos, elaborate tours, choreography, fashion and carefully planned international promotion. Jackson understood that audiences weren't simply buying songs; they were experiencing a complete performance world.

His distinctive visual style became nearly as recognizable as his music. Military-inspired jackets, sequins, cropped trousers, fedora hats, white socks, loafers and the famous single sparkling glove became part of his public image. A silhouette of Jackson leaning forward beneath a fedora could identify him without a face, name or caption.

In 1985, Jackson joined Lionel Richie in writing “We Are the World,” the charity single recorded by USA for Africa to raise money for famine relief. The extraordinary collection of performers included Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Billy Joel and Bob Dylan. The recording became a massive international success and demonstrated Jackson's ability to attract attention to humanitarian causes as well as entertainment.

His next studio album faced the unenviable task of following Thriller. Almost anything would have looked modest beside the best-selling phenomenon that preceded it, but Bad, released in 1987, became another enormous success.

The album produced five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100: “I Just Can't Stop Loving You,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror” and “Dirty Diana.” It was the first album to generate five American No. 1 singles, adding another record to Jackson's increasingly crowded shelf.

The Bad era also demonstrated how dramatically Jackson's performances had evolved. His choreography became sharper and increasingly intricate, while his concerts developed into enormous theatrical productions. The accompanying world tour became one of the most successful tours of its era and helped establish a stadium-show model followed by later global pop stars.

In 1988, Jackson purchased a large California property that he renamed Neverland Ranch. The estate included amusement rides, animals and entertainment facilities and became closely associated with both his public image and, eventually, controversies surrounding his private life.

Jackson released Dangerous in 1991, this time working extensively with producer Teddy Riley. The album introduced new jack swing elements into his sound while producing songs including “Black or White,” “Remember the Time,” “In the Closet,” “Jam,” “Heal the World” and “Who Is It.”

The video for “Black or White” premiered internationally to an enormous television audience, reflecting just how global Jackson's fame had become. His videos during this period continued to resemble miniature motion pictures, featuring elaborate production values and major performers. Eddie Murphy, Iman and Magic Johnson appeared in “Remember the Time,” while Macaulay Culkin appeared in “Black or White.”

Jackson's influence on dance continued developing alongside his music. The moonwalk remained his most famous move, but his performances incorporated spins, sharp robotic movements, toe stands and highly controlled isolation techniques. One particularly famous illusion involved leaning forward at an apparently impossible angle during “Smooth Criminal.” Specially designed shoes and stage equipment helped achieve the effect during concerts, thereby saving generations of fans from discovering the limitations of the human ankle in particularly unfortunate ways.

By the early 1990s, Jackson's fame had reached an almost unprecedented level, but increasing attention was also being paid to his appearance, private life and unusual lifestyle. Newspaper coverage frequently blurred the distinction between serious reporting and sensationalism, while Jackson himself sometimes encouraged mystery through carefully controlled publicity.

More serious controversies emerged in 1993 when Jackson was accused of sexually abusing a boy. Jackson denied the allegation, and the related civil case was settled in 1994 without an admission of wrongdoing. No criminal charges resulted from that investigation. The allegations nevertheless marked a profound change in how Jackson was covered by the media and would remain part of discussions surrounding his life thereafter.

His professional career continued. In 1995 he released HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, a double album combining previous hits with new material. Songs included “Scream,” recorded with his sister Janet Jackson, “You Are Not Alone,” “Earth Song,” “They Don't Care About Us” and “Stranger in Moscow.”

“You Are Not Alone” became the first single to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The elaborate video for “Scream” also became one of the era's most famous productions, placing Michael and Janet Jackson together in a futuristic setting and earning further Grammy recognition.

Jackson's relationship with the press grew increasingly hostile. Several songs from the HIStory era addressed tabloid coverage, prejudice and his perception that he was being persecuted by the media. The more famous he became, the harder it seemed for the public to separate Michael Jackson the performer from Michael Jackson the permanent international news story.

His personal life attracted equally intense attention. Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, in 1994. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Later that year he married Debbie Rowe, with whom he had two children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., commonly known as Prince, and Paris Jackson. The couple divorced in 1999. Jackson later became the father of a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, commonly known as Bigi.

Jackson released Invincible in 2001, his final studio album of newly recorded material released during his lifetime. The album included “You Rock My World,” “Butterflies” and “Cry.” Although commercially successful internationally, it did not approach the extraordinary sales of his earlier releases, and disagreements between Jackson and Sony Music became increasingly public.

In 2003, new allegations of child sexual abuse resulted in criminal charges against Jackson. His trial began in California in 2005 and received enormous international media coverage. Jackson pleaded not guilty and was acquitted on all counts in June 2005.

The trial left him financially and personally strained, and he spent much of the following years outside the United States. Regardless of the verdict, allegations concerning Jackson remain a deeply contentious part of his legacy. Further accusations were publicly discussed after his death, and his estate has strongly rejected them. Any serious account of Jackson's life must acknowledge these allegations while distinguishing accusations from established legal outcomes.

Despite years of controversy, public interest in Jackson's music remained extraordinary. His recordings continued selling around the world, and subsequent generations of performers openly acknowledged his influence. Artists across pop, R&B, hip-hop and dance incorporated elements of Jackson's vocal style, choreography, staging and approach to music videos.

In 2009, Jackson announced a major comeback through a series of concerts called This Is It, scheduled to begin at London's O2 Arena. The initial dates generated such extraordinary demand that the run expanded dramatically. Jackson began rehearsing an ambitious production featuring dancers, musicians, enormous visual effects and many of his most famous songs.

He never reached opening night.

On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died at his rented home in Los Angeles at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol intoxication. His personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death.

News of Jackson's death produced an extraordinary worldwide reaction. Websites struggled under the volume of traffic, television networks abandoned normal schedules, fans gathered outside hospitals and landmarks, and sales of his recordings surged immediately. According to the Recording Academy, in the week after his death Jackson became the first artist to sell more than one million digital tracks during a single week, with approximately 2.6 million tracks sold.

The rehearsal footage from his planned concerts was assembled into the documentary Michael Jackson's This Is It, released later in 2009. The film revealed a performer deeply involved in the details of music, choreography, lighting and staging during the final weeks of his life.

Evaluating Michael Jackson's legacy requires holding several different realities together. He was a child star whose upbringing and enormous fame shaped virtually his entire life. He was an extraordinarily gifted singer, dancer and entertainer who achieved commercial success on a scale rarely matched. He was also a deeply controversial public figure whose personal life generated serious allegations and intense debate that did not end with his death.

What is much less disputed is the scale of his influence on popular entertainment.

Jackson helped transform music videos into major cultural events. He pushed pop concerts toward increasingly theatrical production. He broke important barriers for Black performers on mainstream television and music-video networks. He combined influences from soul, funk, disco, rock and R&B into recordings capable of reaching huge international audiences without losing their rhythmic foundations.

His partnership with Quincy Jones produced three of pop music's defining albums in Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. Thriller alone generated seven Top 10 singles and spent 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. At the height of his career, Jackson wasn't simply successful; he became one of the reference points against which global popular success was measured.

He was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first with the Jackson 5 and later as a solo performer. His recordings, videos and choreography remain studied, copied and rediscovered by performers who were not even born when Thriller was released.

And then there is the moonwalk.

Thousands of records have reached No. 1. Hundreds of performers have filled stadiums. Very few have introduced one dance movement on television and caused half the planet to immediately shove the furniture out of the way.

Michael Jackson managed that too.