Michael Jackson's 60th: How his legacy will live on
He's no longer with us but he'll always be the King of Pop.
Today would have been Michael Jackson's 60th birthday and according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's vice president of education, Dr. Jason Hanley, his legacy is secure. Jackson died in 2009 after decades of game-changing music.
"When we teach school groups -- still to this day -- every kid who comes in the building, when we mention Michael Jackson, goes crazy," Hanley told ABC News. "It's a really fun and amazing thing to see. And it just shows that even though Michael is gone, the incredible power and beauty and legacy of his music lives on."
According to Hanley, Jackson was unique because he thought of music as "a real craft."
"He always tried to get better: as a songwriter, as a performer, as a producer," Hanley explained. "[He was] somebody who was thinking about his image...and how his image and his music tied together."
Hanley pointed out that Jackson cared deeply about his fans and "wanted to make sure he was always trying to do something innovative."
"That was the exciting, incredible thing about Michael Jackson. It's why, when he debuted a new song or a new music video in the '80s and '90s, people waited in front of the TV to see...'What did he do this time?'" Hanley said.
It's worth noting that a Michael Jackson song was in the top 10 this summer. His vocals are featured on the song, "Don't Matter to Me," by Drake. It was Jackson's 30th top 10 hit.
In celebration of Jackson's birthday, the Recording Industry Association of America recently re-certified a number of his albums and singles.
The song "Thriller" is now six times platinum, "Billie Jean" is five times platinum and "Beat It" is four times platinum. Meanwhile, designer Hugo Boss has created a new limited-edition version of the white suit MJ wore on the cover of "Thriller."
Members of Michael’s family -- including his children Prince and Paris and his brothers Jackie, Marlon and Tito -- will attend the Michael Jackson Diamond Birthday Celebration at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on Wednesday. A performance of Michael Jackson "One" by Cirque du Soleil will be followed by an after-party featuring a DJ set by Mark Ronson.
