“A star can never die. It simply turns into a smile and melts into the cosmic music, into 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 an African-American family in working class. Michael was introduced to music by his parents at an early age and since then his potential in singing and dancing began to emerge. His contribution to music, dance and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades ("Biography"). remembered as one of the most significant artists in America. Michael Jackson's first solo album, Off The Wall, was a turning point for Jackson and for African Americans. It had four top singles and "invented modern pop as we know it", Rob Sheffield, a music critic. Off The Wall became the best-selling album by a black artist and transformed Jackson from a former child to a mature artist (Vogel 31). Despite being 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 before. After years of hard work Jackson released his second album in 1983, Thriller. It wasn't simply the best-selling album by a black artist; it was the best-selling album of all time. It sold more than 45 million copies worldwide, ranked first in every Western country, and dominated the US charts for 37 weeks. The thriller was so great that it broke through the racial barriers that divide music and k...... middle of paper...... race in music and also made efforts to “heal” the world. His unique musical sound and style have influenced numerous 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 the history of music. 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, heard or listened to his art, we are all honored to have lived in this generation and to experience the magic of Michael Jackson,” said a grief-stricken Beyoncé, a famous American singer after hearing about Michael Jackson's tragic death. 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 walk in the Hall of Fame, enter people's lives and, most importantly, walk on the Moon.