Tag Archives: michael-jackson

Michael Jackson Dead at 50: A Life of Talent and Tragedy

The tragedy of Michael Jackson’s death at age 50, reportedly from cardiac arrest, pales in comparison to the tragedy of his life. To understand all that Jackson had and lost requires wiping away three decades of plastic surgeries that deformed him, erratic behavior that made his name synonymous with the warping powers of fame, and a 2005 trial for sexually abusing a child that, even though he was spared of any finding of wrongdoing, made him a pariah to all but the most brainwashed of fans. But if you can forgive or forget all that, underneath was one of the most talented entertainers of the 20th century.

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Jackson was star the world could not ignore

Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley or the Beatles but he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world. Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the “King of Pop.” The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour in London will leave his devotees feeling even more bereft

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Michael Jackson remembered as ‘consummate entertainer’

Following is a sampling of reactions from Michael Jackson’s friends and admirers to his death: Russell Simmons, pioneering hip-hop artist: “Michael Jackson was my generation’s most iconic cultural hero. Courageous, unique and incredibly talented. He’ll be missed greatly.” Lisa Marie Presley, musician and Jackson’s ex-wife: “I am completely shocked and saddened by Michael’s death.

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Remembering Michael Jackson on Twitter

As the news of Michael Jackson’s death spread around the world June 25, the social networking site Twitter came to a virtual standstill, flooded with visitors tweeting the news. Within moments of the first breaking news reports — indicating that Jackson had suffered cardiac arrest and had been rushed via ambulance to a Los Angeles hospital — both “#michaeljackson” and “Cardiac Arrest” emerged as two of the network’s highest-rated “trending topics.” As TIME’s Michael Scherer notes, nearly three times as many tweets were posted about Michael Jackson on Thursday than either Iran or swine flu. In the hour following confirmation of his death, celebrities rushed to make their grief and condolences public: Miley Cyrus : michael jackson was my inspiration.

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Michael Jackson: A look back at a pop legend’s life

Michael Jackson help usher in the age of video, and his life — for better and worse — was beamed into homes for decades. In 1984, Jackson was burned while singing for a Pepsi-Cola commercial in Los Angeles, when the special effects smoke bomb misfired.

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Michael Jackson, 1958-2009: The Talent and the Tragedy

The tragedy of Michael Jackson’s death at age 50, reportedly from cardiac arrest, pales in comparison to the tragedy of his life. To understand all that Jackson had and lost requires wiping away three decades of plastic surgeries that deformed him, erratic behavior that made his name synonymous with the warping powers of fame, and a 2005 trial for sexually abusing a child that, even though he was spared of any finding of wrongdoing, made him a pariah to all but the most brainwashed of fans. But if you can forgive or forget all that, underneath was one of the most talented entertainers of the 20th century

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Michael Jackson, pop music legend, dies at 50

Michael Jackson, the show-stopping singer whose best-selling albums — including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" — and electrifying stage presence made him one of the most popular artists of all time, died Wednesday, according to multiple sources, including the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press. CNN has not confirmed this information. He was 50.

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Michael Jackson delays some shows until ’10

Several of Michael Jackson’s comeback concerts in London have been postponed until next year because producers can’t be ready in time for the July debut, according to a "Dear Customer" e-mail sent to ticket holders Wednesday. The delay comes days after the concert promoter said Jackson was in good health, contrary to media reports he was diagnosed with skin cancer. Jackson’s “This Is It” shows were to begin July 8 at London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena.

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