Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer, who was the most successful music artist of all time. He is referred to as the "King of Pop", the "Emperor of Pop", the "King of Music", or just "The King", and is extremely considerate as the most influential and most famous musician of the 20th century, widely regarded as one of the most well-known people in history. He was the best selling pop music artist even in the year of his death. His contributions to music, dance, and fashion for over five decades, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture.