▸Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, dancer, and philanthropist.
▸He is regarded as one of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century.
▸His impact on music, dance, and fashion elevated him to a global icon in popular culture.
▸Many artists were influenced by Jackson.
▸His innovative stage and video performances popularized intricate street dance moves like the moonwalk and the robot.
▸Jackson first performed publicly as part of the Jackson 5 in 1964.
▸In 1971, Jackson embarked on his solo career.
▸He achieved solo stardom with his 1979 album Off the Wall.
▸Jackson's music videos for hits like 'Beat It', 'Billie Jean', and 'Thriller' are credited with shattering racial barriers and transforming music videos into an art form and promotional tool.
▸He played a crucial role in the success of MTV and continued to push boundaries with videos for his later albums: Bad, Dangerous, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, and Invincible.
▸Bad set a record by having five US Hot 100 number-one singles, while Thriller remains the best-selling album ever.
▸Jackson became a controversial figure due to his changing appearance, relationships, behavior, and lifestyle.
▸He faced allegations of sexually abusing a child of a family friend.
▸Although not indicted due to insufficient evidence, Jackson settled the lawsuit out of court.
▸He was acquitted of the child sexual abuse charges in 2005.
▸The FBI did not find any evidence of criminal activity by Jackson.
▸Jackson passed away from a propofol overdose administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray, who was later convicted in 2011.
▸His demise led to a massive increase in internet activity and a surge in sales of his music.
▸It was reported that over 2 billion people watched Jackson's memorial service.
▸There are five billion people in the world.
