Michael Jackson

A superstar virtually his entire life after taking lead vocals with the Jackson 5 at the age of five, Jacko was one of the best and most influential artists of all time. His 1982 masterpiece Thriller has sold over 110 million copies - the highest-selling album of all time - and his combined sales top 750 million. Full of innovative dance routines, Jackson's dramatic stage shows revolutionised live performance and he fully earned the tag "King of Pop". His solo career began with Got To Be There in 1972, but it was his fifth studio album Off The Wall (1979) which revealed his depth and vision. Conceptual classic Thriller followed, featuring the smash hits Billie Jean and Beat It, and setting the sonic tone for the decade. Eccentric behaviour and unsavoury headlines added to the enigma of a troubled legend and charges of child molestation (of which he was acquitted in 2005) resulted in a career trough. Rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts in London in July 2009, Jackson died, aged 50.