Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson wasn't merely the biggest pop star of his era, shaping the sound and style of the 1970s and '80s; he was one of the defining stars of the 20th century, a musician who changed the contours of American culture. A preternaturally gifted singer and dancer, Jackson first rose to stardom in 1969 as the 11-year-old frontman for his family's band, the Jackson 5.