Michael Jackson
USA, 1964–2009
American singer and dancer, known as the King of Pop. Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad combined rhythm and blues, soul and rock production with choreography that became central to the pop video.
MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Michael Jackson and 18 artists Michael Jackson influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Michael Jackson?
- James Brown — Jackson called Brown 'the greatest entertainer who ever lived' and built his entire dance vocabulary and stage approach around him.
- Jackie Wilson — Jackson studied Wilson's footwork and vocal acrobatics from childhood, directly modelling his performance style on him.
- Little Richard — Little Richard's uninhibited vocal energy and showmanship were formative influences on the young Jackson.
- Marvin Gaye — Gaye's blend of sensual soul and social commentary shaped Jackson's lyrical ambition on albums like 'Off the Wall' and 'Thriller'.
Which artists did Michael Jackson influence?
- Maroon 5 — Michael Jackson's pop-funk craftsmanship is among the influences Maroon 5 cite for their danceable pop.
- Rihanna — Michael Jackson is among the artists Rihanna cites as a foundational influence.
- Britney Spears — Spears's blend of dance-pop and precision choreography descends from Michael Jackson's model of the pop performer.
- Justin Timberlake — Timberlake's solo persona — falsetto pop, dance and showmanship — is modelled closely on Michael Jackson.
- Usher — Usher's dance-driven stagecraft and vocal phrasing follow the Michael Jackson model; Jackson heads the list of artists he names as formative.
- Justin Bieber — Bieber has named Michael Jackson as his inspiration and the career he set out to emulate.
- Bruno Mars — Bruno Mars's showmanship, dancing and pop-soul draw directly on Michael Jackson.
- The Weeknd — The Weeknd's falsetto and pop craftsmanship are openly modelled on Michael Jackson, his most-cited idol.
- Beyoncé — Michael Jackson is Beyoncé's declared greatest influence — she saw him live at age five, the concert that made her realise her purpose as a performer.
- Teddy Riley — The other half of that dream was Michael Jackson's pop accessibility - the polish Riley welded onto hip-hop drums, and later supplied directly on Dangerous.
- Janet Jackson — Janet credited her brothers, Michael above all, as her first musical influences and models.
- Spice Girls — Michael Jackson's blueprint for spectacular dance-pop underlies the Spice Girls' choreographed, hook-driven singles.
- Take That — Take That's early dance-pop and choreography were modelled on Michael Jackson and American new jack swing.
- Backstreet Boys — Michael Jackson's dance-pop is a foundational model for the Backstreet Boys' choreographed pop.
- NSYNC — Michael Jackson's dance-pop showmanship is a core influence on NSYNC — Justin Timberlake especially.
- Céline Dion — Michael Jackson was among the artists Céline Dion grew up listening to and later collaborated with, a model of pop craft and showmanship.
- The 1975 — Michael Jackson's slick '80s pop-funk is woven through the 1975's danceable, radio-ready songs.
- Mika — One of the four songwriters Mika names as the records he was drawn back to.