On June 25, 2009, when the news of Michael Jackson's death broke, the entertainment industry stood still. Jackson's unparalleled position in the history of music has been recognized around the world, with millions of fans around the world mourning his death, many of them stars. The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles then moved to launch a special exhibition, "Michael Jackson: Musical Heritage," which was a follow-up to the "Michael Jackson: HIStyle" exhibition held in February of that year.
At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2010, Grammy Award winners Smoky Robinson, Celine Dion, Kelly Underwood, King Arthur and Jennifer Hudson formed an all-star 3D version of The Earth Song in honor of Jackson. That year, Jackson was awarded the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award after his death.
Jackson's album sold more than 75 million copies in the United States and ranked seventh on the Recording Industry Association's Best-Selling Artists List. On the fifth anniversary of Jackson's death, whether Michael Jackson is the king of pop music or not, the following ten aspects can give you answers.
1970: Top four hit singles
Jackson and his brothers made up the "Jackson Five Brothers" that made a glorious history, becoming the first group in the history of popular music to have all four singles topped the charts. The songs include "I Want You Back," "I'll Be There," "Your Saved Love," and "ABC." This made the "Jackson Five" the first time it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Chorus and Group.
1982: Thriller released
Following the 1979 hit album Off the Wall, Jackson released Thriller on November 30, 1982. Both albums were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008, and Thriller is widely regarded as Jackson's most successful album. The landmark album, co-produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson, became the first album to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), Thriller sold 29 million copies, tied with the Eagles' Best-Selling Album of 1971-1975 as the best-selling album of all time.
1983: Moonwalk
On May 16, 1983, to celebrate The 25th Anniversary of Motown Records, the TV special "Motown 25th Anniversary: Yesterday, Today, Forever", Jackson performed the space step for the first time while singing Billie Jean, which later became his signature dance step.
At the end of the year, on December 2, Jackson released the music video "Thriller", which completely changed the look and feel of the music video. This nearly 14-minute epic film opens up endless possibilities for music videos.
1984: Eight Grammy Awards in one night
At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards on February 28, 1984, Jackson became the first artist to win eight Grammy Awards in one night. Jackson was one of the most Grammy-winning artists of the '80s, winning 11 in total.
1984: Hollywood Walk of Fame
Jackson became the first person to receive two stars in the same field on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Before earning a record star as a solo singer, he rose to fame in 1980 as a member of the Jackson family (previously known as the Jackson Five).
1988: First Grammy solo performance
On March 2, 1988, jackson made his solo debut at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in New York. Jackson's performance was one of the greatest in Grammy history, singing "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Man in the Mirror."
1993: Grammy Legend Award
To date, only 15 individuals have received the prestigious Grammy Legend Award, which is awarded to individuals or groups for continued contributions and influences in the field of music. Jackson became the 10th person to receive the award in 1993.
1997: The Jackson brothers enter rock hall
Jackson's "Jackson Five," which was formed with his brothers Jacqueline Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, and Tito Jackson, entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. In 2001, he became a solo artist.
2009: 2.6 million downloads
Within a week of his death, Jackson became the first artist to sell more than 1 million electronic songs in a single week. A total of 2.6 million songs were sold, easily breaking the old record. He also became the first artist to have three best-selling albums in the United States. Two weeks later, he became the first artist to have 6 of the 10 best-selling albums.
2014: Jackson makes history again
On May 21, Jackson's "Love Never Felt So Good" (from his posthumous album Xscape) finished ninth, becoming the first artist in history to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 50 years.