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From a young age, Michael Jackson was thrust into the spotlight. His exceptional singing and dancing abilities pushed him to the front of his Motown family band, The Jackson 5, and it wasn't long before he outgrew the confines of the group. His first solo album, Off The Wall, produced with the legendary Quincy Jones, was a tour de force of funky disco-pop, smooth soul and lush sentimental pop ballads, which garnered four top-ten singles and won him his first Grammy Award.
Determined to exceed expectations with his sophomore release, MJ went back into the studio with Quincy Jones in 1982. What they created subsequently became the best-selling album of all time. Breaking all manner of records, Thriller produced seven top 10 singles and won a stunning eight Grammy Awards. In terms of stardom, it launched Jackson into the stratosphere, helped by his pioneering use of music videos as a promotional tool. The video for the title track was revolutionary in itself. Through the use of narrative, intricate choreography and special effects, MJ had created an art form.
Five years later, after much charity and humanitarian work, MJ released the album Bad. Whilst, understandably, it sold less than Thriller, it was another massive success, spawning five number 1 singles and further donations toward charitable causes. MJ supported the album with an elaborate, spectacular stage show that became the highest-grossing and attended of all time, lasting nearly two years, spanning the entire globe.
MJ's next release, Dangerous, continued to keep him at the forefront of popular music and enabled him to start his own charity organisation, The Heal the World Foundation. Furthering his catalogue of hit singles, he embarked on another world tour in support of the album, donating all the profits to charity.
Having created so much himself, it was rather poignant that Jackson's next release, a two disc double album, was titled, HIStory. The first disc was a selection of Michael's greatest hits, whilst the second consisted of entirely new material. After another extensive world tour, Jackson almost retreated from the public eye entirely. Six years later came MJ's next release, Invincible, which solidified his long-standing popularity, but did not spawn a world tour.
Throughout his career and since his last album release, controversy has followed Michael Jackson thanks to his his flamboyant stage personality and the ever-present interest in his personal life. However, he is one of the most famous musicians to ever walk the planet and perhaps its ultimate iconic pop figure. He is, and always will be, the "King of Pop".