It’s a sad day for music lovers as 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.

A music genius, who got the world grooving to his signature style and heart thumping numbers, Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in Holmby Hills. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at his home for nearly three-quarters of an hour, then rushed him to the hospital, where doctors continued to work on him.

“It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known,” his brother Jermaine said. Police said they were investigating, standard procedure in high-profile cases.

Sources at the UCLA Medical Centre said that the self-styled “King of Pop” did not come out of a coma and died.
Jackson’s mother Katherine and sister La Toya had rushed to the singer’s bedside at the hospital, while hundreds of tearful fans gathered outside.

Earlier, the singer’s father Joe said that he had been told his son was “in a bad way”.
Jackson is widely credited with revolutionising pop music with albums including Thriller, Bad and Dangerous but his career was tainted with allegations of child abuse.

He was due to perform a highly anticipated 50-date “farewell” residency at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, south-east London, starting next month. Fears for his health emerged after he postponed the earliest dates, and his aides were forced to deny that he was fighting skin cancer.
Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and kidnap.

While lauded by fans and critics for his infectious pop songs, pioneering dance moves and innovative videos, his increasingly eccentric behaviour earned him the nickname “Wacko Jacko”.

He repeatedly denied undergoing cosmetic surgery, despite very visible changes to his face and skin tone, and was criticised for forcing his three children to wear veils whenever they were in public.
Last night leading figures in the entertainment industry expressed their shock at news of his sudden death, which was broken on the US celebrity website TMZ.

Quincy Jones, the music producer who worked with Jackson on Thriller, said: “I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news.”
Paying tribute to the singer’s “talent, grace, professionalism and dedication”, he added: “I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Jackson’s friend, the illusionist Uri Geller, said there had been no indication that the singer was in a frail condition. “I really have no words. He was a young and terribly fit man and he was getting ready for performances in England. He was just fine, the last I heard.”

There was speculation that the pressure of his upcoming London dates may have been too much for him. Jackson last toured 12 years ago.
AEG Live, which organised the O2 concerts, said Jackson had passed a lengthy physical exam in early 2009.

But Max Clifford, the publicist and friend of Jackson, said: “You wonder if the strain of getting fit for this major tour proved too much. In recent pictures he looked anything but healthy. He was always someone who seemed to find it difficult to cope with fame.”
Born in 1958, Jackson made his musical debut with four of his older brothers in the Jackson Five before embarking on a solo career.

His 1982 album Thriller - which included the hits Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller - is still the best-selling album of all time, with more than 26?million copies sold. His lifetime sales tally is estimated at 750?million.
In 1994, he married Lisa Marie Presley, the 26-year-old daughter of Elvis Presley. The couple separated two years later and Jackson later married Debbie Rowe, a 37-year-old nurse he met while undergoing plastic surgery in 1997. They had two children, Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine, before divorcing in 1999.

Jackson had custody of the two children and of a third, Prince Michael II, whose mother’s name has never been made public.

Principal dates in the life of pop star Michael Jackson, who died in Los Angeles on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

August 29, 1958: Born in Gary, Indiana.

August 1962: Singing debut with his brothers, The Jackson Five.

March 1969: First Jackson Five contract with Tamla Motown, Detroit’s black-owned record label. Michael’s voice propels the group onto the hit parade with “ABC” and “I’ll Be There”.

1970: Launch of solo career alongside that of the Jackson Five.

August 1979: Release of “Off The Wall” album, produced by Quincy Jones, which sold 11 million copies.

December 1982: release of “Thriller” album, whose seven hits included “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” pushing sales to 50 million copies worldwide.

1984: Jackson’s face gets burnt during filming for a Pepsi ad.

1985: Buys ATV Music — a company with rights to John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs — for 47.5 million dollars.

1985: Jackson writes “We Are The World,” which benefited the fight against hunger in Africa.

1987: Release of “Bad,” which sold 26 million copies and marked the end of his collaboration with Quincy Jones.

1988: His autobiography “Moonwalk” comes out.

1990: Michael Jackson is seen for the first time wearing a surgical mask in public/

1992: Release of “Dangerous,” which sold 22 million copies/

August 1993: A father accuses Jackson of molesting his 13-year-old son, but settles out of court/

May 1994: February 1996: marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis/

June 1995: Release of “History” album/

November 1996-October 1999: Marriage to Debbie Rowe, a 37-year-old nurse with whom he has two children, Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine
.
October 2001: Release of “Invincible”.

July 2002: Jackson accuses record labels of exploiting artists, especially African-Americans.

November 19, 2002: Scandal after Jackson dangles his third son, nine-month-old Prince Michael II, from a Berlin hotel balcony.

January 31, 2003: Sotheby’s auction house sues for non-payment of 1.7 million dollars for two paintings.

February 3: In documentary “Living with Michael Jackson” broadcast on ITV, Jackson claims never to have abused a child, merely to have shared his bed.

February: The singer’s manager brings a 13-million-dollar lawsuit for back salary, which is settled out of court in June.

November 18: Police raid Jackson’s Neverland ranch in California as “Number Ones” album is released.

November 19: Warrant issued for Jackson’s arrest on several counts of child molestation.

November 20: Jackson is arrested and handcuffed after surrendering to police, held briefly then released on bail.

December 18: Michael Jackson is formally charged with child molestation.

January 16, 2004: Jackson pleads not guilty during his first appearance amid a media circus.

January 31, 2005: Michael Jackson trial begins with jury selection.

February 28, 2005: Opening arguments begin in trial.

June 4, 2005: Jurors begin considering their verdict.

June 13, 2005: Jackson acquitted on all charges against him.

March 5, 2009: Jackson announces series of comeback concerts in London — billed as the “final curtain” — his first major shows for more than a decade.

May 20, 2009: Jackson delays comeback shows. Concert organizers say singer’s health is “fantastic”.

June 25, 2009: Jackson dies in Los Angeles.

(News Agency)