Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, choreographer, poet, businessman, philanthropist and record producer. Referred to as the King of Pop, he is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time, as well as one of the most influential. His unrivaled contribution to music, dance and fashion, and a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.

Jackson made his debut, alongside his brothers, in 1964 as the lead singer of The Jackson 5. His solo career started in 1971, and resulted in ten studio albums. Of these, the 1982 album Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, having sold more than 110 million copies worldwide. Four of his other albums Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (best-selling double-album of all time by a solo artist) rank among the world's best-sellers making Jackson the artist with the most best-selling albums. His 1997 release,Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, is the best selling remix album of all time .

Jackson is credited with elevating the music video from a mere