June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson: A Life In The Spotlight
"King of Pop" Was Entertainment World's Most Influential Performer - And Tabloid World's Most Disturbing Celebrity
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(CBS/ AP)
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Photo Essay Michael Jackson: 1958-2009 The "King Of Pop" had a life full of number one hits and personal scandals
Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. 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. 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.
His 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.
Jackson burst onto the music scene with his brothers in the 1960s. The Jackson Five quickly went from their hometown of Gary, Indiana to the top of the charts.
By the age of 11, he was the most popular member of the band - but he left the group in his 20s to moonwalk his way to superstardom, becoming one of the most popular people on the planet.
Michael Jackson: 1958-2009
Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller" still is the top-selling album of all time, and Michael Jackson was the top performer in the world through much of the 1980s. But somewhere along the way, Jackson went from the "King of Pop" to wacko Jacko.
Some say it started with an accident during the filming of a TV commercial that burned his scalp severely and led to a dependence on prescription pain killers. He became an increasingly reclusive and odd figure.
Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. He united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie, and Jackson's death immediately evoked that of Presley himself, who died at age 42 in 1977.
"I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family," Lisa Marie Presley said in a statement. "This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."
Jackson was a father of three, despite ongoing speculation that they could not be his natural children. He sparked one of his many scandals when he dangled one of the children over a balcony, causing concern of his parenting skills.
All of those scandals paled to the ongoing suspicion of child abuse. He paid one boy more than $20 million to make his allegations go away, but it happened again one day in November 2003.
The charges stemmed from a documentary in which Jackson stated again his belief that having young boys in his bed was completely natural.
"It's very right. It's very loving. That's what the world needs now," Jackson said at the time.
Much of the world saw it differently. Jackson was arrested, handcuffed, booked and eventually stood trial. The court case was a surreal spectacle befitting Jackson's bizarre way of life, including dancing on top of SUVS, pajamas worn to court, and a string of celebrities walking in and out of the courthouse in Santa Maria, California.
"Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court," Jackson said.
But the inconsistent testimony from the boy and his family members, including a truly bizarre five days on the stand from the boy's mother, convinced the jury Jackson was not guilty. Still, the acquittal never completely put to rest the questions surrounding Michael Jackson, a curious figure who leaves behind a legacy of staggering musical genius, and stunningly bad judgment.
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.
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news," said music producer Quincy Jones, who worked with Jackson on numerous projects. "I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
More Michael Jackson coverage:
Pop Legend's Life Had Ups And Downs
Throngs Of Fans Pay Tribute To Jackson
Jackson's Health Woes Took Center Stage
From Tokyo To Rio, Fans Mourn King Of Pop
Family Attorney Blames Prescription Meds
A Collection Of CBS Videos Of Michael Jackson
The Death Of Michael Jackson, Full Coverage
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."
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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but He also said that there was one sin that he would not forgive: The sin against the Holy Spirit.
I hope Micheal did not commit that sin.
There were two thieves on either side of Jesus and one repented just before he died. That thief will be in heaven. I hope Micheal did what that thief did just before he died like that thief so that he will be in heaven too, like that thief.
I also used to like seeing the cartoon of The Jackson Five.
I lost interest with Micheal's performances when he struck out on his own, as soon as I saw his "hip thrusting, crotch grabbing moves." I decided that as long as he would not abandon those vulgar, sensual, moves he was to be scratched off my list of singers no matter how talented he was.
Then, when he became the "King of plastic surgery," and bleached his skin to where one could not tell what race he belonged to anymore, that was it for me.
I was totally surprised, however, when I fell in love with his song in the movie, "Free Willy," I had no idea that it was Micheal Jackson singing that song. I did not know that he had it in him to sing uplifting songs without being vulgar and sensual.
So I would listen to that song and try to overlook his vulgarities and freakishnesses.
Then he died, and for the first time, I decided to listen and watch some of his performances on You-tube like, "Thriller," and "Billie Jean." to see what it was that made him so famous etc.. I must admit that Micheal was very gifted and talented. It is just so sad to me that such a talented person had to ruin it with his vulgar-sensual moves and freakish plastic surgeries. Reminds me of the story of "Doctor Jackal and Mr. Hyde." You cannot be good sometimes and bad sometimes and not expect that the bad will ever destroy you. The bad side will eventually win out and it is all based on choices. Michael made too many bad choices just to be popular.
He would have been better off to have abandoned his vulgar sensual moves in his dancing and stayed away from his freakish plastic surgeries, not to mention his extreme views on sleeping with underage children that were not his own, and I think that he would have still been popular enough with the rest of his musical talents. Stevie Wonder is still popular, and there are others that I could mention who did not have to be freakish, race denying or vulgar to do so.
I remember Mike in 1971 on center stage. He became the pop superstar throughout the world. His disco and R&B numbers were the best in the business. I hope the Public remembers how much money he donated to charity, especially during the 1980s when HIV was the epidemic.
None of that can make up for his abuse of little boys.
anyone?
Thank you for the good times, and wonderful memories!
From: a lover of music and dance
All too often child stars morf into their own personalities, without help from the people that put them where they are.
Many of the talents die before their time. Or, with all of their money, die trying different treatments for conditions that exist only in their own minds.
His musical talent was excellent - His troubled personal life was due to a lack of guidance. From within in his formative years to the decisions he made when he was older.
Now, the troubled decision making is over.
- by blog_fever2 June 25, 2009 7:24 PM EDT
- Rest in peace!
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