An international star from the age of 11, Michael Jackson s story is one that stretches the boundaries of credibility, even in the larger-than-life world of megastardom. The eighth child of the Jackson family, and already a major recording star with the Jackson 5, he began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. His 1982 album Thriller became the bestselling record of all time, and four other solo studio albums are also among the world's bestselling records:Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995). The first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, Jackson pushed the boundaries of the rock video and popularized a number of revolutionary dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop, and contemporary R&B artists. One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.