because winter needs a hero. plenty of legitimate questionshael jackson lived his life. but no one can question what he did with his talent. for generation or more he was as gifted an artist as any of us on the chance to hear or see. and tonight we journey back and explore the makings of this legend. here's my "nightline" coanchor juju chang.r: halfway between the precocious star of the jackson 5, belling out his abcs, and the ghostly middle-aged man chased zzi, michael jackson was evolving into the king of pop. >> reporter: he wrote "don't get enough," his first solo from the album "off the wall," his breakthrough as a grownup. hael jackson's journey from motown to off the wall, the subject of director spike lee's new documentary. are successful at. talent heard here on this original demo locked in the now. >> michael's not a trained musician. he cannot read music. but he told musicians, this is part to go. >> reporter: the album still inspiring today's hottest stars, from justin timberlake toend. >> "off the wall" was definitely the one that made me feel i could sing.