Michael Jackson Has Died
By Jeffrey Hyatt
The King of Pop is dead.
Recording artist, entertainer and global superstar Michael Jackson has died from an apparent heart attack in Los Angeles, Calif. He was 50 years-old.
Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.
It was reported earlier by various news sources that Michael Jackson suffered a heart attack this afternoon at his home and was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center this afternoon by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.
Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said paramedics responded to a call at Jackson’s home at 12:26 p.m. He was not breathing when they arrived. The paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took him to the hospital, Ruda told the Los Angeles Times.
According to the L.A. Now blog, Paramedics were called to a home on the 100 block of Carolwood Drive off Sunset Boulevard. Jackson rented the Bel Air home for $100,000 a month.
A Jackson family member, who was not identified, had told TMZ.com that Michael was in “really bad shape” as the brothers headed to the hospital.
“We’ve just learned Michael Jackson has died,” TMZ later reported. “Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him. We’re told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.”
A true celebrity icon, Jackson had been slated to start a series of comeback concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010. The pop star had been rehearsing in Los Angeles for the past two months.
Born on August 29, 1958, Jackson made his debut with four of his older brothers in the Jackson Five. By 1969, the Jackson 5 had signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown Records, becoming one of the last great acts to emerge from the legendary label. Jackson would later leave the band to embark on what can only be described as a mega-successful solo career, recording such iconic albums as Off the Wall and Thriller.
A musical genius with a child’s heart, Jackson reached the zenith of pop music superstardom.
The circus-like trial in 2005 to fight charges of child molestation resulted in an acquittal, but left the already reclusive star even more detached from any sense of normalcy, both in his personal life and with his fledgling career.
One of the most important pop culture figures of the 20th century, Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; his influence on pop music, hip-hop and contemporary R&B, not too mention contemporary dance technique, is simply remarkable.
Even as big hits like “Billie Jean” and “Bad” felt like a lifetime ago, and his personal life had slowly become a tabloid circus, the love for the pop megastar has never faltered – a kind of pop star worship maybe only Elvis could understand.
Even with Jackson’s success as a child star, many will point to Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever, the 1983 TV special where close to 50 million people watched Jackson sing, dance and moonwalk across the stage. It was a night when a great music label was honored, but also an event that ultimately launched Jackson into the the next level of pop stardom — the moment when he truly became the King of Pop.
And while chortling at the plastic surgeries and bizarre behavior had become almost too easy, it’s the music, I imagine, most people will recall when they think about Michael Jackson. From “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “I Want You Back,” to “Rock with You” and “Human Nature,” Michael Jackson has given us some wonderful music to enjoy through the years.
It will take many months of Blog posts, magazine articles, TV specials, newspaper columns and, perhaps most importantly, everyday conversation among fans to truly grasp the music and entertainment history created by Michael Jackson.
The legacy lives on – and forever.
Read more about the King of Pop now…
- Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Cancelled
- Michael Jackson To Receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy
- This is It Earns Over 100 Million Dollars
- This Is It: Movie Review Redux
- Michael Jackson’s Glove Sold for $48,000
- Hear Michael Jackson’s Single, This is It
- Michael Jackson’s MTV VMA Tribute
- Michael Jackson Finally Laid To Rest In L.A.
- What If Michael Jackson Is Still Alive?
- Prince Considering A Michael Jackson Tribute Performance
- Videos of Speeches and Songs at Michael Jackson’s Memorial
- Michael Jackson’s Death Boosts Album Sales
- Michael Jackson’s Life in Pictures
- Michael Jackson: Life in Videos
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:09PM
RIP – Michael Jaskson, True legend you will never be forgotten.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:10PM
no more funky basslines
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:10PM
That is so sad.He will forever be the king of pop.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:10PM
wow.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:10PM
everbody will mise this be loved pop singer and let god be with him
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:10PM
omg.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:10PM
Finally the pedophile is dead. Let's have a parade!
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:11PM
Why do other sites show that he is still in a coma?
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:12PM
oh god please nooo
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:12PM
that is so crazy.
i pray for his family.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:13PM
he aint dead i watched the news and they said he aint dead
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:13PM
Rest in peace, Michael.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:13PM
R.i.p Michale you'll be missed greatly
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:13PM
caraaioo morreuu tiooo
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:13PM
Well, I am surprised. Home-made GM works as badly as commercial GM.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:14PM
Yeah, he's not dead… get your story straight before you post something like that.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:14PM
is this true!!!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:15PM
Bizzare is the only word to describe him.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:15PM
They haven't said that he's died. All they're saying is that he's in the hospital from a heart attack. He's in a coma right now.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:15PM
Has this been confirmed yet?
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:16PM
I hope this is all a mistake.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:16PM
Today is a sad day…
I don't know what else to say…
It's his own fault, but damn….
He was too young.
May he rest in peace.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:18PM
dam he was a hero
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:18PM
danm that really Sad Rest In Peace
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:18PM
WHOA! What an absolute shock!
Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:20PM
This is NOT true, check you fucking facts before posting such things!
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:30PM
man… so crazy. i remember rocking out to MJ when I was a kid, glued to the tv. he will be missed.
-bradley riot
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:44PM
It's been confirmed by LA Times, CNN, BBC…
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:49PM
I am still bad, don't you feel sorry for me! I am right at home here in hell, the devil even looks like my dad. Those suckers in London, it was like stealing candy from a baby and then getting the baby to pay for it all, the bytches!
Oooh, I spoke too soon! I am black again! No have mercy!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it real Michael, stand close to the fire and brimstone and you will look more red than black, it is very painful but Cha-Mone the red indian look is worth it!
Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:05PM
You were almost like the King! Elvis! but He loved Women Not Little Boy's!!!!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:07PM
wow………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:16PM
so so so so sad today MICHAELL JACKSON thank he would died first love in alwys MICHAEL JACKSON
R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON A.K.A KING OF POP
Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:39PM
you are right bad robot!!!! My mom was talking about this on facebook. Is he dead or alive? It would be a shame if he was dead. If he is alive he is one lucky man. If he is dead……………………
RIP MICHAEL JACKSON
Thursday, June 25, 2009 6:33PM
It’s so insane. I’m still in shock. I can’t help but think that this is similar to how the world felt when Elvis died. Despite the idiosyncracies, there’s no doubt that fans the world over loved him, and were moved by what energy and passion he infused into the music world. It’s so surreal.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:46PM
That’s ashame. He had some good music. More and more people are dying young.
May Michael Jackson rest in peace despite some of the negative things said about him.
Friday, June 26, 2009 11:17AM
when he was dead . i don't know any thing
Friday, June 26, 2009 6:53AM
[...] at the BeatCrave offices it’s still sinking in that Micheal Jackson has died, he is such a part of our child hood. Here is a collection of my favorite Jackson Album [...]
Saturday, June 27, 2009 1:08AM
hi Michael I love you for you are verry the king of pop now you go but god can help you. rest and peace.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 2:51PM
[...] that had, until Thursday, been almost pointless to think about. But now, in the aftermath of Jackson’s death, we must deal with a subject that no doubt will be discussed in the months to [...]
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:54PM
Gone, never forgotten… cause he is….. AWESOME!
Thursday, August 20, 2009 10:31PM
[...] Jackson’s death was a tragic one, and it gets a bit more depressing when Hollywood sees his cardiac arrest at 50 as a goldmine. However, the industry must give the people what they want. Details for an epic event [...]
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 8:11PM
[...] King of Pop died on June 25, 2009 of cardiac arrest. The cause? An overdose of [...]
Friday, August 28, 2009 11:26AM
[...] the death of Jackson; the whispers most likely began just hours after the music star was pronounced dead of a cardiac arrest on June [...]
Saturday, August 29, 2009 3:51AM
Michael Jackson was my hero same age as me too! I will have to live without my hero. God Bless him!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 4:59PM
What you say for the KING!! You could never be like him cause you are a …………. ! Don't say nobody again taht Michael was a pedophile 'cause he wasn't and if he was you haven't right to judje him! Understood? ! MICHAEL was the only and the one!! Something that you and no one never could BE !
I wrote and I answered to somebody who callin' 'Guido'. My name is Elen Louka Jackson.
Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:39AM
the one & only Micheal Jackson is an angel in heaven,06/25/09 around 11:30 to12:00 noon the sky had the most peace & beatiful look, I have ever seen. (for real)