By the age of six, he was already performing with his brothers in Gary, Indiana, and by the age of 11, Michael Jackson, recognized as a musical prodigy, had a #1 record as the lead vocalist for the Jackson 5’s “I want You Back”. Three more #1s quickly followed and in 1971 Motown decided to introduce Jackson as a solo artist. The following year he released the first of his 13 #1 solo singles, “Ben”, an ode to a pet rat.

            Michael’s solo career really began to take off, however, in 1979 when, recording now for Epic Records, he teamed with producer Quincy Jones and released the pop/R&B/dance/funk masterwork Off the Wall. With sales of over 20 million worldwide, the album features the Grammy winning disco classic “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”, the seductive “Rock With You”, and the wrenching ballad “She’s Out of My Life”. In late 1982 Jackson, again working with Jones, released the album that would propel him into the music stratosphere, Thriller. With sales of 70 million and counting, it is still the biggest selling LP of all-time. Winner of 8 Grammys, Thriller‘s three best tracks were penned by Jackson- the aggressive “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”; the snarling rock infused “Beat It”, with its great Eddie Van Halen guitar work; and, probably, Jackson’s best loved single, “Billie Jean”. In fact it was during Michael’s performance of “Billie Jean” on the Motown 25 TV special in May of 1983 that he debuted his famous moonwalk dance move and had his moment that’s been compared to the Beatles 1964 American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Jackson also released a series of arresting music videos to support the songs, none more iconic than the John Landis directed “Thriller”, and helped shatter MTV‘s so-called color barrier.

            Four more #1 albums would follow, with 1987’s Bad and 1991’s Dangerous both selling over 30 million copies. Some celebrated tracks include- the reflective “Man in the Mirror”; the dark but breathtaking “Smooth Criminal”; and the pop/rock ode to racial inclusion, “Black or White”.

            That Michael Jackson became the biggest artist since Elvis and the Beatles is undeniable. He was huge around the world, the most famous person on the planet. His charitable reach was staggering, but he was also a constant presence in the tabloids for increasingly odd behavior as the years went on- whether remaking or masking his face (long before Covid) or dangling his child from a hotel balcony. Initially seen as a generous pied piper to underprivileged children, he was, in time, arrested on child molestation charges, and, though acquitted by a jury, the ordeal took its toll. While planning a comeback in 2009, Jackson died of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 after overdosing on propofol, a victim of overmedication at the hands of his doctor.

            Jackson’s memorial service was reputedly viewed by billions around the world; and, though his legacy is considered controversial by many, Jackson is among the three or four best-selling artists of all-time and he has been honored by inclusion in multiple halls of fame- Rock (two times), Songwriters, Vocal Group; R&B, and Dance. His impact on the music of countless others is incalculable and artists such as Beyoncé, Usher, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, and Bruno Mars have acknowledged their debt.

            -Steve Williams (9/7/23) Greatest Recording Artists Blog Post #43