Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’, who moon walked to the hearts of millions with his mesmerizing music and signature break dance, died of a suspected cardiac arrest on 25th June 2009 in Los Angeles, USA. Jackson, 50, christened ‘Wacko Jacko’ for his bizarre life-style, sex scandals and numerous plastic surgeries, was unquestionably the biggest pop star, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time. His instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and loads of sheer star power has captured the heart of millions, creating  a whole new level and trend, across the globe. His 1982 blockbuster Thriller was the biggest-selling album of all time and he was the first black artist to find stardom on MTV.  At the height of his fame, he was among the world’s most beloved figures. Heads of state clamored to meet him, silver screen legends were his close friends, and worldwide people were his mad fans.

Michael  Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, an industrial suburb of Chicago, US. The son of Afro-American parents Joseph Jackson and Katherine, he was the seventh of nine children.   Joseph Jackson was a steel mill employee who often performed in an R & B band called The Falcons with his brother Luther.

Jackson showed musical talent early in his life, performing in front of classmates and others during a Christmas recital at the age of five. He made his debut as an entertainer in 1968 as a member of ‘The Jackson 5’, a band formed by his brothers.  He  began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller became the world’s best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

In the early 1980s, Michael  Jackson became a dominant figure in American popular music and culture. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop music and contemporary R& B artists across several generations. Jackson’s Bad World Tour (1987- 1989) broke a Guinness World Record when 504,000 people attended seven sold-out shows. He performed a total of 123 concerts and gained a further Guinness World Record when the tour grossed him $125 million. In 1988, Jackson’s first autobiography, Moon Walk released and  200,000 copies were sold. Jackson’s success resulted in his being dubbed the “King of Pop”, a nickname conceived by actress and friend Elizabeth Taylor when she presented Jackson with an “Artist of the Decade” award in 1989.  In 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65 million; a record breaking deals at the time.   The HIStory World Tour( 1996-1997) in which Jackson performed 82 concerts in 35 countries of 5 continents, became the most successful in terms of audience figures. In 2001, his album ‘HIStory’ became  the best-selling multiple-disc album of all-time, with 20 million copies sold worldwide.

Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for his charity and others.  He founded the “Heal the World Foundation” in 1992 which sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war and disease. All profits from his Dangerous World Tour (1992-1993), in which Jackson performed  in 67 concerts, went to the “Heal the World Foundation”.  In 2000, Jackson was listed in the book of Guinness World Records for his support of 39 charities.

 Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. By taking drugs for reduction of pain during his concerts and tours, Jackson became a drug addicted. Jackson married twice and fathered three children. In 1994, Jackson married singer-song-writer Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. During his concerts of the HIStory World Tour 96-97 in Australia, Jackson again married a nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, who bore him two children. The couple divorced in 1999.

Jackson  was one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records- including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”, 13 Grammy Awards and the sale of 750 million records worldwide.  At the time of his death, Jackson was preparing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held at The O2 arena in London at the beginning of July 13, 2009. But on June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles in cardiac arrest. The world mourned the sudden death of the legendary singer who taught a whole generation how to dance, and spawned a million look alike.