1 of 23 As one of the most celebrated performers to ever grace the stage, Michael Jackson’s untimely death sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. It’s a loss still felt today, but the “Black or White” singer’s reach transcended genre, and his influence can be heard across the board, even now. In honor of what would have been his 60th birthday, we compiled a list of artists — from Justin Timberlake to Drake and beyond — who were inspired by the King of Pop. <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
2 of 23 Beyonce wrote a tribute to the late singer on the fifth anniversary of his death, writing, in part, “Michael Jackson changed me, and helped me to become the artist I am thank you Michael.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
3 of 23 Justin Bieber revealed in a 2011 Vanity Fair interview: “Michael [Jackson] was able to reach audiences from young to old; he never limited himself. He was so broad, everybody loved him, and that's what my goal is - to basically make people happy, to inspire them, and to have everyone root for me." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
4 of 23 In an interview with the Daily Record, Bruno Mars noted Michael Jackson set a new standard for performers. “I feel like he set the bar for artists. Any artist, I don’t care what genre you do, you should always aspire to be like Michael Jackson,” he said. “Because the details, the attention to detail he did on everything he did, everything he was a part of, you can look at what made him so iconic, the glove, the hat, the dancing, the music videos, the way he sang when he sang, everything he did was Michael Jackson, and he just kind of stamped that on the world.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
5 of 23 Justin Timberlake, the former NSYNC member revealed during an episode of “Oprah’s Master Class” that Michael initially planted the seed for Justin to go solo, after the “Thriller” singer encouraged him to cut a duet version of the song “Gone”— completely removed from NSYNC. "It was the first time I ever really felt the confidence to do it." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
6 of 23 A tell-all book titled Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson, his bodyguard Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard recalled the time they witnessed Kanye meet Michael. “Once Kanye West saw Mr. Jackson, he was the one who was starstruck,” the book reads. “He started gushing. 'Oh my God, Mr. Jackson, it's such a pleasure and an honor to meet you. You just don't know. I'm your biggest fan. I love you so much.'" <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
7 of 23 "If you're a singer and you don't want to be like Michael Jackson, something is wrong," Sean Kingston said, via CNN. “He's a huge influence." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
8 of 23 Wyclef Jean released a statement shortly after Jackson’s untimely death that read via CNN, “Michael Jackson was my Musical God. He made me believe that all things are possible, and through real and positive music, he can live forever. I love Michael Jackson. God Bless him." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
9 of 23 "Michael Jackson has always been an inspiration to me as far as his music is concerned," Snoop Dogg told MTV back in 2001. "You can't take nothing from him." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
10 of 23 “MJ, you know, I can honestly say he’s probably my greatest influence,” Chris Brown told MTV in 2013. <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
11 of 23 In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, The Weeknd said, “[Michael]’s everything to me, so you’re going to hear it in my music. 'Off the Wall' was the album that inspired me to sing." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
12 of 23 Isaac, Taylor, and Zac have spoken often how they influenced they were by the Jackson 5 and MJ growing up. The band has also covered several of Michael’s hits, including “Remember The TIme” and the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
13 of 23 The 1975 frontman Matt Healy, told Hive Michael’s album Bad was a major influence on him. “If you watch just the tiny bits of footage of him in the studio, Michael Jackson is rhythm in the way that he dances,” he said. “He’s my main inspiration vocally because I write the rhythm of the vocals before I write the lyrics, and I’m pretty sure that he did that. <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
14 of 23 The Band Perry’s Reid Perry told B 104.7 that Michael Jackson served as a major inspiration for the band, saying, “We’ve looked at everything from his fashion to even, you know, how he pops out of a toaster onstage and will stand there for five minutes while the crowd just goes wild and just kinda see how he was able to do so much that he was able to.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
15 of 23 Liam Payne told Entertainment Weekly, “Whenever I’m writing these days, I do often think of Michael Jackson. And obviously he’s one of the best performers ever.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
16 of 23 Back in 2012, ZAYN tweeted, “Just before I go to bed just want to say Happy Birthday to one of music’s biggest inspirations, Michael Jackson, you truly were a legend RIP.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
17 of 23 Speaking about Michael Jackson’s untimely passing, JAY-Z noted in a guest blog for NME: “I think it gave Michael a chance to be celebrated for the genius he was without all the other stuff in the way, and I don’t know if that would ever have happened had he been alive.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
18 of 23 In an interview with MTV, Drake said, “"He was the first artist I ever experienced that made you get lost in the music.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
19 of 23 In an interview with CNN’s Larry King, Lady Gaga said, "...Michael's death was devastating for me, regardless of whether or not I was supposed to go on tour with him. He was such an inspiration and a remarkable human being." <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
20 of 23 “I remember 'Thriller' was just everyone's soundtrack. It was the biggest record on earth and everybody wanted to be Michael Jackson. I'd dance around the living room with my glove on like every other kid at that age during that time.” - Adam Levine <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
21 of 23 Jason Derulo told news.com.au: “[Michael] was my biggest influence and the sole reason I started singing and dancing in the first place. He was the greatest of all time — he’s that person you can strive to be close to. He changed the face of music forever and even to be mentioned in the same sentence as someone as talented as him is crazy.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
22 of 23 Sky Ferreira recalled Michael’s major influence on her work via PEOPLE, saying, “I wouldn’t necessarily say [he was] a mentor, because that’s a big word to put on someone like that – but he really did influence me in such a big way, and was such a lovely person.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
23 of 23 Pharrell Williams told The Guardian: “Michael was one of the most incredible performers of all time, and he was also by far one of the best beatboxers ever.” <p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>