From Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

June 25, 2009:
“Michael Jackson was one of the most creative and successful recording artists of the last 40 years. He became an instant star when he was only 11 years old, fronting the Jackson 5,” said Jim Henke, vice president of exhibitions and curatorial affairs at the Rock Hall of Fame and Museum. “His solo career was so extraordinary that he became known as the King of Pop. Few other artists of his era reached the peaks that he did, both in terms of sales and critical acclaim. His legacy will live on for a long, long time. We join the world in mourning the loss of this twice-inducted member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”




Essential Songs
Billie Jean
Beat It
Thriller
Bad
Black or White
Rock With You
Wanna Be Startin' Something
Man in the Mirror
Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
Scream


Recommended Reading

Michael Jackson Unauthorized
Christopher P. Anderson. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994.

Michael Jackson: The King of Pop
Lisa D. Campbell. Wellesley, MA: Branden Books, 1993.

Moonwalk
Michael Jackson. New York: Doubleday, 1988.

Michael Jackson: The Music and the Madness
J. Randy Taraborrelli. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing Group, 1991.