Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut as an entertainer in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5. He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group, and that successful career led to him being dubbed the "King of Pop" in subsequent years. Jackson's 1982 album Thriller remains the world's best-selling album of all time and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and History (1995).
Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his Heal the World Foundation, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy that damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s along with conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, actions which caused further controversy. In 2005, during People v. Jackson, Jackson was tried and acquitted of different sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.
Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009, at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California His personal physician, Conrad Murray, says he found Jackson in bed, not breathing but with a faint pulse, and administered CPR to no avail. Initial reports indicated that Jackson died one hour after receiving an injection of pethidine (Demerol), a painkiller to which his friends say he was addicted. Murray has said he did not prescribe or furnish Jackson with Demerol.
His death triggered an outpouring of grief around the world, creating surges of internet traffic and causing sales of his records to soar. He had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010, which he had implied during a press conference would be the last of his career.
