Tribute to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, the singer, songwriter and dancer whose album Thriller is the biggest-selling record of all time in the United States, has died at age 50, according to a Los Angeles city official. The circumstances of his death are not yet known.
Born August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, Michael Jackson began his professional career at age six when he joined his older brothers—Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon—as part of The Jackson 5. The group signed with Motown Records and released their debut single in 1969 when Michael was only eleven. With his soulful vocals, natural charisma, and James Brown dance moves, Jackson quickly became the family star, and Motown groomed him to become a solo artist.
In 1979, working with composer/producer Quincy Jones, Jackson released his debut album, Off the Wall, which featured four Top 10 Singles, including the chart topper "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough."
But it was Jackson's second album with Quincy Jones, Thriller, that became a pop culture phenomenon, selling more than 28 million copies. The album not only produced seven hit singles, but Jackson's innovative videos for "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "Thriller," revolutionized music videos. Jackson presented each song as a short, narrative film, particularly the 10-minute version of "Thriller," directed by John Landis, which featured a horror-film plot and special effects, the voice of Vincent Price, and rhythmic zombies. The video is often called the greatest music video of all time, and the enormous popularity of Jackson's music and videos made him MTV's first black star. In 1983, during Motown's 25th anniversary television special, Jackson debuted what became his signature dance move, the "moonwalk," which was soon imitated on dance floors all over the world.
Jackson's next album, Bad, released in 1987, sold eight million copies, and he closed out the decade as its biggest pop star. Four years later he released Dangerous, which debuted at number one in 1991, but the album was knocked out of the top slot by Nirvana's Nevermind, signaling a sea change in pop music. Jackson never again climbed the heights of Thriller, but he remains one of the most popular recording artists of all time, a global superstar whose musical talents and signature dance moves transcended genre and race.
