Born on Aug. 29 1958, singer, musician and entertainer Jackson was the seventh child of the Jackson family. He debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971. In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many artists. __