| D:\IKS\michael-jackson.txt Donnerstag, 27. Mai 2010 10:13 |
| Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter, |
| dancer, actor, choreographer, businessman, philanthropist and record producer. Referred to |
| as the King of Pop, he became the most successful entertainer of all time. He is also one |
| the most influential.[1][2][3] His contributions to music, dance and fashion,[4] and a |
| much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four |
| decades. |
| Jackson made his debut alongside his brothers in 1964 as lead singer and youngest member of |
| The Jackson 5. His solo career started in 1971. He produced ten studio albums. The 1982 |
| album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, having sold more than 110 million |
| copies worldwide. Four of his other albums rank among the world's best-sellers. Jackson is |
| credited with having elevated the music video from mere promotional tool into an art form. |
| His videos for Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller made him the first African American artist |
| to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. He popularized a number of complicated dance |
| techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical style, vocal style, |
| and choreography continue to transcend generational, racial and cultural boundaries. |
| Jackson has been inducted into twelve music halls of fame, more than any other act. He is |
| one of the very few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. |
| Other achievements include several Guinness World Records (including the Most Successful |
| Entertainer of All Time); 15 Grammy Awards (including the Living Legend Award and the |
| Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, and |
| including recognition as Artist of the Century); 17 number-one singles in the US (including |
| four as a member of The Jackson 5); and estimated global sales of over 780 million |
| records,[5][6] making him one of the best-selling recording artists ever.[7] Jackson's |
| personal life and relationships generated controversy for years. His changing appearance was |
| noticed from the late 1970s onwards, as changes to his nose and skin color caused much media |
| speculation. In 1993 he was accused of child sexual abuse, though no formal charges were |
| brought. In 2005 he was tried and acquitted of similar allegations. |
| Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from a drug overdose, amidst preparations for his This Is It |
| concert series. Before his death, Jackson had reportedly been administered drugs such as |
| propofol and lorazepam. The Los Angeles County Coroner concluded that his death was |
| homicide. Prosecutors formally charged his personal physician with involuntary manslaughter. |
| The death triggered a global outpouring of grief. It was estimated that as many as a billion |
| people around the world may have watched the memorial service on live television.[8][9] On |
| March 16, 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a record-breaking $250 million deal with |
| Jackson's estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings until 2017 and release |
| seven posthumous albums over the next decade. |
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