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SACOBSERVER.COM
STAFF REPORT
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"King of Pop" Michael Jackson died Thursday, June 25, at the age of 50. He was found in his rented Bel Air home and is believed to have suffered from cardiac arrest.
Photo © Observer File Photo.
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The world held a collective gasp at the news of controversial
music icon Michael Jackson's sudden death Thursday.
The 50-year-old "King of Pop" was found in his
rented Bel Air home unconscious and not breathing, according
to news reports. His death is reported to be caused by cardiac
arrest.
News resources indicate that a 9-1-1 call was placed at 12:16
p.m. Thursday. Paramedics arrived at the home eight minutes
later and tried to resuscitate Jackson and brought him to
UCLA Medical Center where emergency doctors pronounced him
dead at 2:26 p.m.
He was in Southern California preparing for his comeback
tour, which reported has already sold out 50 dates in London.
This tour was to jumpstart his lagging career which had been
plagued by years of scandal, both sexually and financially,
of which Jackson denied.
The news of his death spread quickly throughout cyberspace
as noted across Twitter (#Rip
MJ, #MJ's,
#P
Michael Jackson, and #MichaelJackson)
as celebrities and fans voiced their shock, grief and memories
of Jackson.
Rapper Bow Wow said, "say it ain't (sic) so," upon
hearing the news. Some were in so shocked that Tweeting their
reactions were delayed, like Busta Rhymes who said, "MY
DELAYED TWITT IS AS A RESULT OF STILL BEING IN DIBELIEF...MICHAEL
JACKSON UR THE GREATEST TALENT EVER KNOWN 2 MANKIND.R.I.P.
& GOD BLESS."
Others paid homage to the icon, like Puff Daddy who honored
the icon by saying, "Michael Jackson showed me that you
can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!!
He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!"
And as the night progressed and the Internet and broadcast
television continued its coverage of Jackson's death, some
continued to Tweet remembering Jackson, such as Snoop Dogg
who updated his followers that he was "playn some# MJ
right now LIVE!!!"
Despite the gossip, what people celebrate today is his musical
genius. Throughout this decades long career, starting with
this early years with the Jackson 5, Jackson has sold an estimated
750 million albums worldwide. His albums produced 13 No. 1
singles and 13 Grammy Awards. He also has been inducted to
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
Jackson started in the music industry singing with his brothers
- Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito - in the Jackson 5. The
successful group released chart topping tunes, such as "ABC,"
"I'll Be There," "Never Can Say Goodbye,"
and "The Love You Save."
By the late '70s, Jackson and Quincy Jones teamed up for
his first solo album "Off the Wall" which amassed
more than 20 million units in global sales. He soon topped
that achievement with the critically acclaimed "Thriller,"
which produced eight Grammy Awards and more than 100 million
copies sold worldwide. Epic Records celebrated the 25th anniversary
of "Thriller" in 2008 with expanded, deluxe edition.
Jackson is survived by his three children, parent, brothers
and sisters, and millions of fans.
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