King of pop Jackson dies of heart attack
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Friday Jun 26 2009
MICHAEL Jackson died suddenly after suffering a heart attack at his Los Angeles mansion last night. He was just 50.
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 were not immediately clear. He was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his home about 12.30 pm local time (8.30pm Irish time). Emergency crews performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead.
Jackson, who had three children - Prince Michael, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, 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.
The King of Pop had 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.
His 1982 album ‘Thriller’ — which included the blockbuster hits ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Thriller’ — remains the biggest album of all time, selling more than 26 million copies.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Centre, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off with police tape.
The crowd, growing minute by minute, gathered in front of one of the entrances to the hospital where Jackson was rushed after collapsing at his home.
Some people in the group cried, waiting for an official announcement from the hospital as news helicopters whirled overhead and news vans clogged streets leading to the hospital.
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.
The Peter Pan of pop was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback. He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at the O2 Arena in London, 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.
‘Thriller’ producer Quincy Jones paid tribute. “I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news.”
He said Jackson “had it all - talent, grace, professionalism and dedication”. He added: “I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”
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.”
Rev Al Sharpton, a leading US civil rights campaigner, said: “As a friend of Michael's for the past 35 years, I call on people from around the world to pray for him and his family.”
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 top allaround performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.
As years went by, he became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter and his nose narrower.
He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch.
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