Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009),  an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 50.  He leaves behind a family and a very impressive body of music that cannot be duplicated anywhere.  He was set to begin his “farewell” tour in Britain in just a couple of weeks on July 13th.

One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era—and the sales of over 750 million albums worldwide. Cited as one of the world’s most famous men, Jackson’s highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost forty years.

The picture above is how I will remember Michael.   This is the Michael I grew up to know and love.

Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Jacket and Belt

Janet and Michael.

Jackson’s star on the Hollywood walk of fame, set in 1984