But somewhere underneath that collision of figures that is his career - 12 No. 1 records, 51 million copies sold of Thriller, 80 million copies of the others, 13 Grammy Awards - there's a man, and one whose achievements are far greater than mere numbers. His '80s success opened up white America to black music in a way not seen since his predecessor Little Richard banged out "Tutti Frutti" in 1956. Without Jackson there is no Prince. No Whitney Houston. No Lenny Kravitz. And the world is a lesser place.

Michael Joe Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Ind. His middle name was his father's. At 5 he became the vehicle for steelworker Joe's dreams when mother Kate found him practicing dance steps in front of a mirror. Michael and brother Marlon joined a trio of older siblings as the Jackson 5 in 1963 and began playing local clubs.

From the get-go it was obvious Michael was the star. When Gladys Knight recommended the

1979's Off the Wall was something new and unexpected. Baby days were finished. Here Michael sings in a commanding falsetto on the album's first No. 1, "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," then goes marshmallow soft on the second, "Rock With You." Jones observed, "He behaves like an adolescent and, at the same time, like a wise old philosopher." For his part, the producer drilled the musicians like a Motown revue, with horns riveting down sheets of synths over microchip-precise rhythm. It was the future, and sold 10 million copies.

Michael is pop's last great entertainer. He's so focused on performance and applause, he skirted a true childhood because it interfered with professionalism. The need to please made him a candidate for solo stardom, and he enjoyed his first personal No. 1 in 1972 with "Ben," the title track of a film about a boy and his rat. Noted lyricist Don Black, "He enjoys anything that crawls or flies."

Some topics in this essay:
Billie Jean, Quincy Jones, Jones Jackson's, Elephant Man's, Jackson Michael, Song He's, Exhibit Jackson, Jean Beat, Don Black, Startin' Somethin', billie jean, stop till, don't stop till, don't stop, jackson's own, quincy jones,