Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25,
2009), dubbed the "King of Pop", One of the most
commercially successful artists of all time, he made his
debut in 1964 as a member of The Jackson 5 before
starting a solo career in 1971. His unique contributions
to music and dance, along with a highly publicized per-
sonal life, made him a part of popular culture around
the world for four decades.
A double-inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his other achievements feat-ure
multiple Guinness World Records—including the "Most Successful Entertainer of All
Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles, and reported sales of over 750 mil-
lion records. He was also a notable philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to the 39
charities he supported, and raising more through his own Heal the World Foundation.
His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with four others—Off
the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995)—among the best sell
ing. He popularized several physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the
moonwalk. He is widely credited with having transformed the music video from a promo-
tional tool into an art form, with videos such as Thriller, "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" mak-
ing him the first African American to amass a strong crossover following on MTV.
Jackson's personal life generated significant controversy. His changing appearance was no
ticed from the early 1980s, with changes to the shape of his nose and to the color of his
skin drawing huge media publicity. He was accused in 1993 of child sexual abuse, al-
though no charges were brought. He married twice, first in 1994 and again in 1996, and
brought up three children, one of them born to a surrogate mother. In 2005, he was tried
and acquitted of child molestation allegations. Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25,
2009, in Los Angeles, after suffering from cardiac arrest. His memorial service was broad-
cast live around the world
Jackson was born the seventh of nine children on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, an in-
dustrial suburb of Chicago, to an African American family. His mother, Katherine Esther
Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, a
steel mill worker who performed with an R&B band called The Falcons. Jackson had three
sisters, Rebbie, LaToya, and Janet, and five brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and
Randy.
Jackson had a difficult relationship with his father. He stated that he was physically and
emotionally abused during incessant rehearsals, whippings, and name-calling, though he
credited his father's discipline for his success
.
In one altercation recalled by Marlon, Jo-
seph held Michael upside down by one leg and "pummeled him over and over again with
his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks".Joseph would also trip or push the boys
into walls. One night while Jackson was asleep, Joseph climbed into his room through the
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