( Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, U.S August 29, 1958 – died June 25, 2009 ) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture. Jackson influenced artists across a variety of musical styles, and through visual presentation. He popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk, to which he gave the name, and the robot. Jackson is the most awarded music artist in history.