Michael Jackson: Legend

Dive into Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking career and discover how he reshaped music, entertainment, and culture over five decades.

In fifty years, forty-five of which were spent on stage, Michael Jackson redefined the rules of the music and entertainment industries. The inventor of the music video and an all-time record-seller, he also broke down racial barriers, notably by becoming the first black artist to be broadcast on MTV in the early 1980s. Discover the King of Pop’s global impact and enduring legacy in Michael Jackson: Legend, with a detailed chronology and a full analysis of his work. This book also explores the myths and legends that marked the musician’s life, not forgetting an unprecedented tribute to his humanitarian efforts.

Michael Jackson: Legend corresponds to the release of Michael, a biographical musical drama directed by Antoine Fuqua, scheduled for release in the United States in April 2025.

A leading expert on Michael Jackson and black American music, Richard Lecocq set up the mjdatabank.com website in 2001, which earned him recognition from Jackson’s entourage and the artist himself. He helped write the official book Thriller 25; is the author of King, a complete portrait of the star; and was a consultant on the Bad 25 project for the Legacy label. He is editor-in-chief of JAM, a twice-yearly magazine devoted to Michael Jackson, and chairman of the MJStreet association, which promotes Michael Jackson’s artistic and humanitarian legacy.