Remembering Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted "King of Pop" who emerged from childhood superstardom to become the entertainment world's most influential singer and dancer before his life and career deteriorated in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.

The person said Jackson died in a Los Angeles hospital. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., 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 26 million copies.

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.

As years went by, he became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grownup life. His skin became lighter and his nose narrower. 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.

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 annunced. 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."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[daddy_bear54]

It's very sad. He was too young to leave us. I am sure a number of things took a toll on his health.

[Justin]

Michael Jackson Was the Best There Will never be another Michael Jackson When i heard the News This evening made me very Sad He will always be THe KIng OF the music World We miss Michael Jackson

[Will]

This is truly a sad occasion. I wasn't alive during his big days, but his songs were like no others, and nobody will ever be able to sing songs like his or do the dances like he did. He and Farrah will truly be missed.

[Gary Randall]

Why is it they were so hateful to him while he was living and now that he is gone the news media is praising him. There is an ugly white racism and a hatred to anyone gay in this country that was spoored on by Bush and his administration as well as the right wing Christians who supported him. Micheal Jackson was one of the kindest most gentle people to grace this earth yet he was so misunderstood by those who love to hate anyone different from themselves he will be greatly missed but his music will live on, that is something they could not take from him.

[Renee]

I agree with Gary. Maybe the media feels guilty for dissing Michael constantly while he was alive. Strange as he may have been, God always takes something away from geniuses, and I personally feel that nobody really understood Michael Jackson. Interesting how his music has topped the charts once again, and how the media is saying he's worth more dead than alive. What an oximoron and grave contradiction to his life. He is the KING of Pop, and nobody can take that away from Jacko!