Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958–June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman, whose unique contributions to music and dance, along with his highly publicized personal life, made him a central part of popular culture for four decades. One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his achievements included multiple Guinness World Records—including the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles, and the sale of over 750 million records worldwide.

The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5, beginning a solo career in 1971 that saw him dubbed the "King of Pop." His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with four others among the best-selling: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995). He popularized several physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, and was widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form. Videos such as Thriller, "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" helped make him the first African American to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him an enduring staple on MTV well into the 1990s.