Amzar File

Michael Jackson dies at 50



Pop star Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles, aged 50.
Jun-26-09 4:01am 2009-06-25T14:01:45

UPDATED 3:23 PM: Legendary musician Michael Jackson has died, law enforcement sources have confirmed.

TMZ reports that someone at Jackson's Holmby Hills home called 911 at 12:21 pm. When paramedics arrived at his home, he was not breathing. The Los Angeles Times reports by the time he reached the UCLA Medical center, Jackson was in a coma. He was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon.Paramedics were called to the singer's home around midday local time on Thursday after he stopped breathing.

He was pronounced dead two hours later after arriving at hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the LA County Coroner's office.

The star, who had a history of health problems, had been due to begin a series of comeback concerts in the UK on 13 July.

Concerns were raised last month when four of the concerts were postponed, but organisers insisted the dates had been moved due to the complexity of staging the show.

A spokeswoman for The Outside Organisation, which was organising the publicity for the shows, said she had no comment at this time.

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said: "I always doubted that he would have been able to go through that schedule, those concerts. It seemed to be too much of a demand on the unhealthy body of a 50 year old.

"I'm wondering that, as we find out details of his death, if perhaps the stress of preparing for those dates was a factor in his collapse.

"It was wishful thinking that at this stage of his life he could be MJ again."

Uri Gellar, a close friend of the star, told BBC News it was "very, very sad".

Hip hop star P Diddy wrote on Twitter: "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat.

"He made the music come to life! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!"
Speaking outside the UCLA medical centre in Los Angeles, civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton paid tribute to his friend.

"I knew him 35 years. When he had problems he would call me," he said.

"I feel like he was not treated fairly. I hope history will be more kind to him than some of the contemporary media."


Musical icon
Paramedics were called to the singer's house in Bel Air at 1221 following an emergency phone call.

They performed CPR on Jackson and rushed him to the UCLA medical centre, where crowds have since gathered.

Jackson began his career as a child in family group The Jackson 5.

He then went on to achieve global fame as a solo artist with smash hits such as Billie Jean and Bad.

Thriller, released in 1982, is the biggest-selling album of all time, shifting 65m copies, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

He scored seven UK number ones as a solo artist and won a total of 13 Grammy awards.
Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys, also paid tribute: "Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent and vision as Michael Jackson.

"He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim."

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced Thriller, Bad and Off The Wall.

"He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

Family
The singer had been dogged by controversy and money trouble in recent years, becoming a virtual recluse.

He was arrested in 2003 on charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy, but was found not guilty following a five-month trial.

The star had three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II.

He is survived by his mother, Katherine, father, Joseph and eight siblings - including Janet, Randy, Jermaine and La Toya Jackson.

Jackson Family Attorney:
Jackson Was Surrounded By Enablers.

It is not yet known what caused Michael Jackson's death from cardiac arrest; an autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow. But the Jackson family's attorney, Brian Oxman, called CNN to shed light on Michael's medical condition.

Oxman wanted people to know that Michael was not gravely ill, as had been rumored for months. The singer was, however, debilitated by a dependence on prescription medication. He told CNN in a shaking voice:

Michael has always been in very fine physical condition. The one thing which has bothered me so much is the discussion that one day he was going to be dead, and...I don't know if this is that day, I can only tell you that this is something that was not unexpected...the medications which Michael was under, this family has been trying for months and months and months to take care of Michael Jackson.

The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him. If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, it's nothing in comparison to what we have seen taking place in Michael Jackson's life. Oxman also confirmed that Jackson was struggling to get in shape for the 50 performances he had scheduled at London's O2 Arena.


MICHAEL JACKSON 1958-2009
Full name: Michael Joseph Jackson
Born: August 29, 1958, Gary, Indiana, US
Also known as: The King of Pop, Wacko Jacko
Biggest hits: I Want You Back, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Bad, Black or White, Earth Song

-BBC/zimbio-