Michael Jackson dies after suffering a heart attack in his California home. Jackson's death is a shock as he was only 50.
Michael Jackson dead is a shock to everyoneJackson was not breathing when emergency crews were called to his LA home around noon on Thursday, June 25. Los Angeles Fire Department Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times that paramedics performed CPR on Jackson while transporting him to UCLA Medical Center.
Michael Jackson dead
It is reported that paramedics never regained a pulse. Michael Jackson died before he arrived at the medical center. Members of the Jackson family were seen gathering at the hospital throughout the day.
The life of Michael Jackson was one of rags to riches, but also one of a sad, isolated man who faced continuing controversy over personal and professional actions.
Rising to childhood fame as the front man of the Jackson 5, Michael and his brothers carried the family out of working class Gary, Indiana and onto the international stage. Jackson spoke openly about his childhood abuse at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1993 and how his meteoric rise to stardom negated any chance of having a childhood, resulting in his fascination with all things child-like.
Michael Jackson: to the top
Jackson continued his rapid career trajectory with his first solo album Off the Wall, which produced four top ten hits and three American Music Awards. But it was his second solo album, Thriller, which firmly entrenched Jackson as the King of Pop.
The moonwalk, Jackson’s signature dance move, was debuted while he performed his huge hit Billy Jean live on the TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.
But despite his wild success, Jackson was dogged by rumors and allegations of strange and sometimes criminal behavior offstage. Jackson was accused of lightening his skin to look less ethnic; doctors confirmed the singer actually suffered from vitiglio and lupus, the treatment for which causes changes in skin pigmentation and sensitivity to sunlight.
Jackson personal issues
Michael Jackson also had repeated and obvious facial plastic surgeries, including (according to medical professionals) at least four nose jobs, a forehead lift, thinned lips, cheekbone implants and a cleft put into his chin. Many believe Jackson suffered from body dysmorphic disorder, possibly caused by his abusive childhood and early fame.
Other rumors about Michael Jackson included him sleeping in a hyperbolic chamber to prevent aging, keeping a pet chimpanzee and purchasing the bones of the Elephant Man. Jackson disputed all but the chimp claim in his 1993 Oprah interview.
Michael Jackson’s public image took a turn for the worse when he was accused of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy who was a regular guest in Jackson’s home, along with his family. Jackson strongly proclaimed his innocence, yet made a financial settlement to the victim’s family of $22 million, after which the alleged victim refused to cooperate with the police investigation. Jackson was never formally charged, but the damage was done to his public persona. An image that would remain until Michael Jackson died.
See more Michael Jackson death coverage hereSeveral years later, Jackson was brought up on charges of child sexual abuse and administering an intoxicating agent after a documentary titled Living with Michael Jackson showed him holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 14-year-old boy. Jackson again denied the allegations and was acquitted on all counts in 2005.
During these two trials, Jackson became addicted to various prescription medications, including Valium, Xanax, Ativan, morphine and Demerol.
ON THE NEXT PAGE: About ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, the Jackson family and Michael Jackson's legacy
Michael Jackson dies after suffering a heart attack in his California home. Jackson's death is a shock as he was only 50.
First wife Lisa Marie Presley helped Jackson kick his drug habit after the first molestation allegations came to light. She said, "I believed he didn't do anything wrong and that he was wrongly accused and yes I started falling for him. I wanted to save him. I felt that I could do it." Presley encouraged Jackson to settle out of court and go to rehab. He did both, and afterwards the couple married in secret, not telling the press for two months. They divorced amicably two years later.
Michael Jackson dies at the age of 50
Jackson family
A second marriage to nurse Deborah Jean Rowe resulted in two children, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. Rowe gave Jackson full rights to the children upon the couple’s divorce in 1999. A third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, was born in 2002 by an undisclosed mother.
Hard times recently befell Jackson, who was in deep debt and had to sell multiple assets, including his beloved Neverland Ranch. The singer just announced a series of ten comeback shows in London beginning in July, selling 75,000 tickets in four hours. The shows were later increased to 50, then postponed until 2010, leading to rumors of health problems -- problems denied by promoters.
Michael Jackson death: a lasting legacy
No matter what his public image may have been at the time of his death, Michael Jackson’s musical legacy cannot be disputed. He is the fourth top selling music artist of all time, coming in behind The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby -- not including his Jackson 5 sales. He released ten albums, enjoyed 13 number one hits as a solo artist, won 22 American Music Awards, 40 Billboard Awards and 19 Grammys, and holds 13 Guinness World Records and 56 certifications and awards through the RIAA. Jackson’s albums Thriller and Off the Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008, and Thriller is certified as the best selling album of all time by Guinness.
In addition to his professional achievements, Jackson supported 39 charities. Despite rumors of pedophilia, Jackson -- who attributed his love of all this childlike to not being allowed to enjoy a childhood of his own -- supported multiple children’s charities alongside good friend Elizabeth Taylor.
Jackson is also credited with crossing the color barrier and improving race relations during turbulent times.
"Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color," the Rev Al Sharpton says. "To say an 'icon' would only give these young people in Harlem a fraction of what he was. He was a historic figure that people will measure music and the industry by."
The life of Michael Jackson was one of rags to riches, but also one of a sad, isolated man who faced continuing controversy over personal and professional actions.
Rising to childhood fame as the front man of the Jackson 5, Michael and his brothers carried the family out of working class Gary, Indiana and onto the international stage. Jackson spoke openly about his childhood abuse at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1993 and how his meteoric rise to stardom negated any chance of having a childhood, resulting in his fascination with all things child-like.
Michael Jackson: to the top
Jackson continued his rapid career trajectory with his first solo album Off the Wall, which produced four top ten hits and three American Music Awards. But it was his second solo album, Thriller, which firmly entrenched Jackson as the King of Pop.
The moonwalk, Jackson’s signature dance move, was debuted while he performed his huge hit Billy Jean live on the TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.
But despite his wild success, Jackson was dogged by rumors and allegations of strange and sometimes criminal behavior offstage. Jackson was accused of lightening his skin to look less ethnic; doctors confirmed the singer actually suffered from vitiglio and lupus, the treatment for which causes changes in skin pigmentation and sensitivity to sunlight.
Jackson personal issues
Michael Jackson also had repeated and obvious facial plastic surgeries, including (according to medical professionals) at least four nose jobs, a forehead lift, thinned lips, cheekbone implants and a cleft put into his chin. Many believe Jackson suffered from body dysmorphic disorder, possibly caused by his abusive childhood and early fame.
Other rumors about Michael Jackson included him sleeping in a hyperbolic chamber to prevent aging, keeping a pet chimpanzee and purchasing the bones of the Elephant Man. Jackson disputed all but the chimp claim in his 1993 Oprah interview.
Michael Jackson’s public image took a turn for the worse when he was accused of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy who was a regular guest in Jackson’s home, along with his family. Jackson strongly proclaimed his innocence, yet made a financial settlement to the victim’s family of $22 million, after which the alleged victim refused to cooperate with the police investigation. Jackson was never formally charged, but the damage was done to his public persona. An image that would remain until Michael Jackson died.
See more Michael Jackson death coverage hereSeveral years later, Jackson was brought up on charges of child sexual abuse and administering an intoxicating agent after a documentary titled Living with Michael Jackson showed him holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 14-year-old boy. Jackson again denied the allegations and was acquitted on all counts in 2005.
During these two trials, Jackson became addicted to various prescription medications, including Valium, Xanax, Ativan, morphine and Demerol.
ON THE NEXT PAGE: About ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, the Jackson family and Michael Jackson's legacy
Michael Jackson dies after suffering a heart attack in his California home. Jackson's death is a shock as he was only 50.
First wife Lisa Marie Presley helped Jackson kick his drug habit after the first molestation allegations came to light. She said, "I believed he didn't do anything wrong and that he was wrongly accused and yes I started falling for him. I wanted to save him. I felt that I could do it." Presley encouraged Jackson to settle out of court and go to rehab. He did both, and afterwards the couple married in secret, not telling the press for two months. They divorced amicably two years later.
Michael Jackson dies at the age of 50
Jackson family
A second marriage to nurse Deborah Jean Rowe resulted in two children, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. Rowe gave Jackson full rights to the children upon the couple’s divorce in 1999. A third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, was born in 2002 by an undisclosed mother.
Hard times recently befell Jackson, who was in deep debt and had to sell multiple assets, including his beloved Neverland Ranch. The singer just announced a series of ten comeback shows in London beginning in July, selling 75,000 tickets in four hours. The shows were later increased to 50, then postponed until 2010, leading to rumors of health problems -- problems denied by promoters.
Michael Jackson death: a lasting legacy
No matter what his public image may have been at the time of his death, Michael Jackson’s musical legacy cannot be disputed. He is the fourth top selling music artist of all time, coming in behind The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby -- not including his Jackson 5 sales. He released ten albums, enjoyed 13 number one hits as a solo artist, won 22 American Music Awards, 40 Billboard Awards and 19 Grammys, and holds 13 Guinness World Records and 56 certifications and awards through the RIAA. Jackson’s albums Thriller and Off the Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008, and Thriller is certified as the best selling album of all time by Guinness.
In addition to his professional achievements, Jackson supported 39 charities. Despite rumors of pedophilia, Jackson -- who attributed his love of all this childlike to not being allowed to enjoy a childhood of his own -- supported multiple children’s charities alongside good friend Elizabeth Taylor.
Jackson is also credited with crossing the color barrier and improving race relations during turbulent times.
"Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color," the Rev Al Sharpton says. "To say an 'icon' would only give these young people in Harlem a fraction of what he was. He was a historic figure that people will measure music and the industry by."
