Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) began performing with The Jackson 5, his family's band, in 1964 when he was six years old.  He was the lead singer and was seen as a child prodigy with extreme musical talent. He would become a solo artist in 1971, but he wouldn’t become a global superstar until 1979 with the success of his album Off the Wall, produced by Quincy Jones.  His sixth album Thriller, also produced by Quincy Jones, was the bestselling album globally in 1983, with approximately 70 million sales. Songs from this album included hits such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller”, the latter featuring guitar wonder Eddie Van Halen.  Jackson would explore many different genres with his music, mainly focusing on pop, funk, disco, and other similar genres.

During a commercial shoot for PepsiCo in 1984, his hair accidentally caught on fire, causing second-degree burns on his scalp, forcing him to go on painkillers and undergo rhinoplasty. Michael has won many awards during his lifetime, including 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, and 39 Guiness World Records.