Michael Jackson

Referred to as the "King of Pop", Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958, and grew up in a musical family headed by patriarch Joe Jackson. Aged just six, he made his debut with The Jackson 5 in 1964, and was featured on the hits "I Want You Back" (1969), "ABC" and "I'll Be There" (1970), which won over both soul and pop audiences, topping both charts. While his voice was changing, he signed a solo artist's contract with Tamla Motown and recorded the albums Got to Be There (1972), Ben (1972), Music & Me (1973) and Forever, Michael (1975), before the funk- and disco-oriented group signed with Epic under the name The Jacksons, for a new series of hits. Now the main songwriter, Michael Jackson collaborated with producer Quincy Jones on the soundtrack to the Wizard of Oz -inspired film The Wiz with Diana Ross in 1978 and his subsequent solo album Off the Wall (1979), featuring the number ones "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You". Released in 1982, Thriller is a record-breaking album. Considered the best-selling album in history, with over fifty million physical copies sold, the funk hybrid spawned seven singles, including the duet "The Girl Is Mine" with Paul McCartney (#2), who returned the invitation on "Say Say Say" (#1 in 1983), but above all the world #1s "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", with its guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen, followed by "Thriller " (#4), supported by a short film directed by John Landis. He won eight Grammy Awards in 1984 alone, and reunited with his brothers on the Victory album (1984), including the track "State of Shock " with Mick Jagger (no. 3). Co-writer of the charity anthem "We Are the World", which united a host of stars under the USA for Africa banner in 1985, Michael Jackson managed to maintain his status with the album Bad (1987), which combined rap and rock with five number-one hits. Following the publication of his autobiography and a world tour, Dangerous (1991), produced by Teddy Riley, was buoyed by the hits "Black or White" (#1) and "Remember the Time" (#3). As his star began to fade in the face of a series of accusations, 1995 saw the release of HIStory: Past, Present & Future, Book 1, and his last No. 1 hit, "You Are Not Alone". In 2001, he was succeeded by Invincible (No. 1), before a highly publicized trial for sexual abuse of minors, from which he was finally acquitted. Ruined and reclusive, the artist announced a series of concerts under the title This Is It when, on June 25, 2009, a drug overdose caused a fatal cardiac arrest. Dead at the age of 50, one of the most famous and influential personalities of the 20th century has since been the subject of numerous tributes. In addition to two posthumous albums, Michael (2010) and Xscape (2014), the film Michael, released in 2026, traces his rise to the top of the pop world.