Description
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist widely known as the “King of Pop” and regarded as one of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century. Beginning his career as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, he rose to unprecedented global stardom as a solo artist with landmark albums such as *Off the Wall* (1979), *Thriller* (1982)—the best-selling album of all time—and *Bad* (1987), the first album to produce five U.S. number-one singles. Jackson broke racial barriers in popular music, transformed music videos into a respected art form, and redefined live performance through innovative choreography, popularizing moves such as the moonwalk and the anti-gravity lean. His later albums, including *Dangerous* (1991), *HIStory* (1995), and *Invincible* (2001), further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest entertainers in history.
