Michael Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. Jackson's popularity helped propel the television channel MTV into a prominent highlight of 1980s pop culture.
Rod Temperton was an English songwriter, record producer and musician. He initially made his mark as the keyboard player and main songwriter for the 1970s R&B, funk, and disco band, Heatwave, whose hit songs included Boogie Nights, Always and Forever, and The Groove Line. After being recruited by producer Quincy Jones, he wrote several internationally known songs for Michael Jackson, including Off the Wall, Rock with You and Thriller. He also wrote George Benson's hits Give Me the Night and Love X Love among many others.Thriller was recorded by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, released in November, 1982. A mix of disco and funk, Temperton wanted to write a theatrical song to suit Jackson's love of film. The music and lyrics evoke horror films, with sound effects such as thunder, footsteps and wind. It ends with a spoken-word sequence performed by horror actor Vincent Price. Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest entertainers in the history of music. Jackson's contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his well-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Through stage and video performances, he popularised complicated dance techniques such as the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His sound and style have influenced artists of various genres. The eighth child of the Jackson family, Jackson made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 and began his solo career in 1971 while at Motown Records, rising to solo stardom with his fifth studio album Off the Wall in 1979 during the peak of disco.
