Michael Jackson dies at 50

[trey98607]

Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

The circumstances of Jackson's death was that he suffered a cardiac arrest. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 pm, Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album "Thriller" -- which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" -- remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 100 million copies worldwide.

The public first knew him in the late 1960s, when as a boy he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the music group he formed with his four older brothers. Among their No. 1 hits were "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There."

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

"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." "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."

Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. In fact, he united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie.

But as years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure -- a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him. The case took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Singer Dionne Warwick said: "Michael was a friend and undoubtedly one of the world's greatest entertainers that I fortunately had the pleasure of working with........we have lost an icon in our industry."

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off with police tape.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died," a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out, shortly after the news was announced. Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.

In New York's Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. "It's like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."

[SpiderX]

I was at work when I first heard about this. Some of my co-workers were talking about it, which made me curious. I looked it up on my cell phone, and there was the news about it.

I did record the memorial service that aired Tuesday (I was at work when it aired). It was a very moving service, with some of the participants trying to keep it together as they did their parts. I was extremely moved when his daughter spoke toward the end of the service.

[trey98607]

The sad thing about all this, here it is now July 9, 2009, and they still haven't buried him yet.

[Purple Ranger 14]

Truly sad.

[carebearmel151]

My Michael Jackson Greatest Hit's cd arrived in the mail today. It took more than a week for the order to process. He was THAT big. He was different and I admire those that aren't afraid to BE different. RIP Michael

[trey98607]

There is a chance that they could be treating his death as a murder.

[SpiderX]

I wouldn't blame them. I mean, he was preparing for this big comeback tour one day and a few days later, this happens?! It does seem like that is a possibility, considering that there was a period of time between the moment he passed out or whatever and the moment when 911 was called. That might have made a difference.

[trey98607]

There was a wild rumor going around that he really didn't want to do this tour.

[Wolf Warrior]

No offence, But this is annoying the he**l out of me and my friends in my town. The news media are over doing it, And won't drop the subject. Now they are pointing at the doctors, For his death.

[trey98607]

It's driving me nuts as well, but what can you do, the guy was very, very popular. And guess what, they still haven't buried him yet.

[Purple Ranger 14]

And they haven't announced COD. Cause Of Death.

[trey98607]

No. but the toxicology report should be out before the end of the month.

[Wolf Warrior]

How true. But, I still can't believe they haven't allowed his burial yet.

[SpiderX]

Unless they need to do more tests on the body to determine the cause of death, they should go ahead & plan his burial.

I do agree that the media is getting out of hand with the coverage. Even his family is asking the media to cool it. To be honest, I'm getting a bit tired of the media circus surrounding this.

[trey98607]

They did another raid on another doctor that worked with Jackson, taking files among other things.

[trey98607]

Here we go again, now they are calling the death of Michael Jackson murder and now his supposed burial date in sometimes in September.

[SpiderX]

From what I've read, it's supposed to be September 3rd. They've also said that the autopsy report is supposed to be released soon.

[trey98607]

Michael Jackson's death was a homicide caused primarily by the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative, the coroner announced Friday in a highly anticipated ruling increasing the likelihood of criminal charges against the pop star's doctor.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office determined the cause of death was "acute propofol intoxication." Lorazepam, another sedative sold under the brand name Ativan, contributed to the death.

Additional drugs detected in Jackson's system were the sedatives midazolam and diazepam, the painkiller lidocaine and the stimulant ephedrine.

[SpiderX]

From what I've been reading, they're going to finally bury him at Forest Lawn Cemetary. The authorities have the entire area on lockdown so the family can have this burial without paparazzi or TV cameras. The part of the cemetary where he'll be resting has extreme security to keep out unwanted visitors.

[trey98607]

Then it won't be a legal burial, there must be witnesses other than imediate family, no funeral can be private, it it is private, then the high almighty won't be on the guest list.

[Wolf Warrior]

I can't believe they are still talking about him. Give it a rest already,

[Purple Ranger 14]

Because he was a famous singer, Eddie!!! One of the best. The King Of Pop!!! Weird Al Yankovic parodied some of his songs.

[trey98607]

One of those songe that Wierd Al Yankovic did was a song called Eat It, coming from the Thriller album Michael did called Beat It.