Michael Jackson: Life, Biggest Songs and Legacy of the King of Pop
Muhammad Fikri Gunawan · · 9 min read
Michael Jackson (1958–2009) is known as the King of Pop. Here is his story from the Jackson 5 to Thriller, his records, his most-streamed songs and why he still matters.
Michael Jackson (29 August 1958 – 25 June 2009) was an American singer, songwriter and dancer known as the King of Pop. He started as a child star with the Jackson 5, became a global solo superstar with Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, and left behind Thriller, widely cited as the best-selling album of all time.
This guide covers his life and career, his records and awards, his most-streamed songs today, his charity work, the controversies, how he died, and why a 2026 biopic sent his music back up the streaming charts.
Key takeaways
- Born and died: 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana, USA, and 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles, at the age of 50.
- Early fame: the Jackson 5 scored four number-one singles in the US in 1970, with Michael as the lead singer.
- Biggest album: Thriller (1982), widely cited as the best-selling album ever, with an estimated 70 million copies sold worldwide.
- Awards: 13 Grammy Awards, eight of them in a single night in 1984, and two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions.
- Most-streamed songs: Billie Jean, Beat It and Smooth Criminal lead his catalog on Spotify.
- 2026: the biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, passed US$1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Early life and the Jackson 5 (1958–1975)
Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the eighth of ten children of Joe and Katherine Jackson. His father built a family band around his older sons, and Michael soon became its lead singer. The group, the Jackson 5, was Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.
The brothers signed with Motown in 1968. Their first four singles all reached number one in the US in 1970: “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I'll Be There”. Michael also began recording solo for Motown from 1971, with songs such as “Got to Be There” and “Ben”. In 1975 the brothers left Motown for Epic Records and continued as The Jacksons.
Off the Wall: the solo breakthrough (1979)
Working with producer Quincy Jones, Michael released Off the Wall in 1979. Two of its singles, “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You”, reached number one in the US, and the first earned him a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. The album sold an estimated 20 million copies and proved he could succeed far beyond the family group.
Thriller (1982): the biggest album in history
Thriller came out on 30 November 1982. Seven of its singles reached the US top 10, including the number-one hits “Billie Jean” and “Beat It”, and the album spent 37 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200.
On 25 March 1983 Jackson performed “Billie Jean” on the Motown 25 television special in Pasadena, California, and showed the moonwalk to a mass audience; the show aired on NBC on 16 May 1983. He did not invent the move, since dancers such as Jeffrey Daniel had used versions of it earlier, but he made it world famous.
The 14-minute short film for “Thriller”, directed by John Landis, followed in December 1983 and changed what a music video could be. At the Grammy Awards on 28 February 1984 he won eight trophies in one night, a record at the time. In May 1984 President Ronald Reagan presented him with a Presidential Public Safety Commendation at the White House, recognising his support for a campaign against teenage drunk driving (the photo at the top of this article).
Thriller was recognised by Guinness World Records as the best-selling album of all time, and estimates of its worldwide sales go up to about 70 million copies.
Bad, Dangerous and the world tours (1987–1993)
Bad, released on 31 August 1987, became the first album to produce five consecutive US number-one singles: “I Just Can't Stop Loving You”, “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror” and “Dirty Diana”. The Bad World Tour that followed ran from 1987 to 1989 and played to more than four million people.
Dangerous arrived in November 1991 and produced the number-one single “Black or White”. The Dangerous World Tour ran through 1992 and 1993, and on 31 January 1993 Jackson headlined the halftime show of Super Bowl XXVII, a performance widely credited with turning the halftime show into a showcase for major pop stars.
HIStory, Invincible and the later years (1995–2009)
HIStory (1995) was a double album, and its single “You Are Not Alone” became the first song ever to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2001, after entering with the Jackson 5 in 1997. His last studio album released in his lifetime, Invincible, came out in October 2001.
In 2009 he announced “This Is It”, a planned series of 50 concerts at The O2 in London. Rehearsals were under way when he died.
Records and awards
- Best-selling album: Thriller, recognised by Guinness World Records and still widely cited as number one.
- Grammy Awards: 13 Grammys, plus the Grammy Legend Award (1993) and a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award (2010).
- Eight Grammys in one night: on 28 February 1984, a record at the time.
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: inducted twice, with the Jackson 5 (1997) and as a solo artist (2001).
- Five number-ones from one album: Bad was the first album to produce five US number-one singles.
- First to debut at number one: “You Are Not Alone” (1995) on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael Jackson's most-streamed songs
On Spotify, his most-streamed songs are led by tracks from Thriller and Bad. Streaming totals change every day and trackers differ by a few hundred million, so treat the numbers as approximate and check Spotify for live counts.
- Billie Jean (Thriller, 1983): more than 2.5 billion streams
- Beat It (Thriller, 1983): more than 1.6 billion streams
- Smooth Criminal (Bad, 1987): more than 1 billion streams
- Thriller (Thriller, 1982): around 1 billion streams
- Rock with You (Off the Wall, 1979)
- Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Off the Wall, 1979)
- The Way You Make Me Feel (Bad, 1987)
- Man in the Mirror (Bad, 1987)
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (Thriller, 1982)
- They Don't Care About Us (HIStory, 1995), also one of his most-played songs day to day
After the biopic Michael opened in April 2026, Jackson gained roughly five million monthly listeners on Spotify, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Charity and humanitarian work
Jackson co-wrote “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie in 1985. It was recorded by USA for Africa to raise money for famine relief and sold millions of copies. He founded the Heal the World Foundation in 1992 and gave his share of the proceeds from the 1984 Victory Tour to charity. Guinness World Records has recognised him for supporting a record number of charities for a pop star.
Controversies, death and what came after
A complete picture includes the allegations against him. In 1993 he was accused of child sexual abuse, and the civil case was settled out of court in 1994. In 2005 he stood trial on criminal charges and was acquitted on all counts. The 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland revived the debate, and the Jackson estate denies the allegations.
Jackson died on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles at the age of 50. The coroner ruled his death a homicide, caused by acute propofol intoxication together with other sedatives. His doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in November 2011.
Legacy and the 2026 film
Jackson changed pop music in three lasting ways: he treated the music video as a short film, he set a new standard for choreography and live production, and he helped open radio and television to more Black artists. Many of today's pop stars cite him as an influence.
The biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, the singer's nephew, opened in cinemas on 24 April 2026. According to Variety it passed US$1 billion worldwide in July 2026, the first biopic to do so. Reviews were mixed, and some critics noted that the film leaves out the allegations. Explore more in our Music section.
Where to start listening
- Off the Wall (1979): warm disco-soul and the sound of his solo breakthrough.
- Thriller (1982): the essential album, from “Billie Jean” to “Beat It”.
- Bad (1987): harder, sharper pop, with “Smooth Criminal” and “Man in the Mirror”.
- Dangerous (1991): “Black or White” and a more experimental sound.
- The Jackson 5 (1969–1975): start with “I Want You Back” and “ABC”.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson (1958–2009) was an American singer, songwriter and dancer known as the King of Pop. He began with the Jackson 5, then became one of the best-selling and most awarded solo artists in music history.
How old was Michael Jackson when he died?
He was 50. Michael Jackson was born on 29 August 1958 and died on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles.
What is Michael Jackson's best-selling album?
Thriller (1982). Guinness World Records recognised it as the best-selling album of all time, and estimates of its worldwide sales reach about 70 million copies.
What are Michael Jackson's most-streamed songs?
On Spotify, Billie Jean is first, followed by Beat It, Smooth Criminal and Thriller. Rock with You, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and The Way You Make Me Feel also rank high.
How many Grammy Awards did Michael Jackson win?
He won 13 Grammy Awards, plus the Grammy Legend Award in 1993 and a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. On 28 February 1984 he won eight Grammys in one night.
Why is Michael Jackson called the King of Pop?
The title took hold in the 1980s as Thriller and Bad broke sales and chart records. It is often traced to a 1989 tribute by actress Elizabeth Taylor.
How did Michael Jackson die?
Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009 from acute propofol intoxication together with other sedatives. The coroner ruled it a homicide, and his doctor Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
Who plays Michael Jackson in the 2026 movie?
Jaafar Jackson, the singer's nephew, plays Michael Jackson in the biopic Michael, which opened on 24 April 2026 and was directed by Antoine Fuqua.
When did Michael Jackson first do the moonwalk on TV?
He performed it on 25 March 1983 on the Motown 25 special, and the show aired on NBC on 16 May 1983.
Sources and photo credits
- Michael Jackson – Wikipedia
- Guinness World Records: 1984, best-selling album of all time
- ABC News: Michael Jackson's moonwalk is 30 years old
- Al Jazeera: Doctor found guilty over Jackson's death
- Wikipedia: Philanthropy of Michael Jackson
- Chartmasters: Michael Jackson album sales and streaming stats
- The Hollywood Reporter: Michael Jackson streams increase after Michael opening
- Variety: Michael crosses $1 billion
- Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (public domain), victorgrigas (CC BY-SA 3.0), Zoran Veselinovic (CC BY-SA 2.0), Daniele Dalledonne (CC BY-SA 2.0) and Jan Helebrant (CC0).
