“A star can never die. It turns into a smile and melts into the cosmic music, the dance of life,” Michael Joseph Jackson once said. Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, musician and dancer. He was one of nine children born into a working-class African-American family. Michael was introduced to music by his parents at a young age and since then his potential in singing and dancing began to emerge. His contributions to music, dance and fashion, as well as his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for more than four decades ("Biography"). Although Michael Jackson is a controversial figure, he has had a tremendous influence on the world, through inspiring music, breathtaking performances and generous charitable works; he will always be remembered as one of America's most important artists. Michael Jackson's first solo album, Off The Wall, was a breakthrough for Jackson and for African Americans. It had four top 10 singles and "invented modern pop as we know it", said music critic Rob Sheffield. Off The Wall became the best-selling album by a black artist and transformed Jackson from a former child into a mature artist (Vogel 31). Although it was a huge success, the album was snubbed at the Grammy Awards. Jackson refused to accept defeat and planned to make an album better than any other. After years of hard work, Jackson released his second album in 1983, Thriller. It wasn’t just the best-selling album by a black artist; it was the best-selling album of all time. It sold over 45 million copies worldwide, reached #1 in every Western country, and topped the US charts for 37 weeks. The thriller was so great that it broke down the racial barriers separating music and k...... middle of paper ...... race in music and also made efforts to "heal" the world. His unique sound and musical style have influenced many hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B, pop and rock artists ("Biography"). “The incomparable Michael Jackson had a greater impact on music than any other artist in music history. He was magical. He was what we all strive to be. He will always be the King of Pop... For anyone who has ever seen, felt or heard his art, we are all honored to have lived in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson," lamented Beyoncé, a famous American singer after hearing about the tragic death of Michael Jackson left a remarkable impact on the world and even after his death, the legacy of the “King of Pop” lives on forever. He will always enter the Temple. fame, will enter people's lives and, above all, walk on the moon..