All-Time Best Michael Jackson Songs

Michael Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 350 million records worldwide. His album 'Thriller' alone has sold over 70 million copies globally, making it one of the best-selling albums ever. These numbers include both solo work and his time with the Jackson 5, though the majority comes from his incredibly successful solo career.

Michael Jackson earned the title 'King of Pop' through his incredible combination of vocal talent, innovative dance moves like the moonwalk, groundbreaking music videos, and record-breaking album sales. His 1982 album 'Thriller' revolutionized the music industry, and his performances were legendary. He also broke down racial barriers in music and entertainment, becoming the first Black artist to get heavy rotation on MTV. His influence on pop culture is still felt today.

While Michael Jackson didn't technically invent the moonwalk, he definitely popularized it and made it his signature move. The dance move existed before him - it was called the 'backslide' and was performed by dancers like Bill Bailey and the Electric Boogaloos. But Michael perfected it and introduced it to mainstream audiences during his performance of 'Billie Jean' on Motown 25 in 1983. That performance is what made the moonwalk legendary and forever associated with MJ.

Michael Jackson had a skin condition called vitiligo, which causes patches of skin to lose their pigmentation. He confirmed this in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. As the condition progressed, he used makeup and treatments to even out his skin tone, which made his appearance change dramatically over the years. There was a lot of speculation and controversy about this, but vitiligo is a legitimate medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide.

Michael Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards during his solo career and shared 5 more with the Jackson 5, for a total of 18 Grammys. His biggest night was at the 1984 ceremony where he won a record-breaking 8 Grammys in one night, mostly for the 'Thriller' album. He was also honored with several special awards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame multiple times. He's considered one of the most awarded artists in Grammy history.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50, at his home in Los Angeles. The cause of death was acute propofol intoxication - essentially an overdose of a surgical anesthetic that his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, had been giving him to help with insomnia. Dr. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Michael's death shocked the world and led to massive tributes and memorials, including a public service at the Staples Center.

Before his death, Michael Jackson was preparing for a massive comeback concert series called 'This Is It' at the O2 Arena in London. It was supposed to be a series of 50 shows starting in July 2009. He was rehearsing intensively for these shows, which were being billed as his final performances. The rehearsal footage was later turned into the documentary film 'This Is It.' He was also reportedly working on new music and was excited about returning to the stage after years away from touring.