Michael Jackson dead at 50

From CTV.ca

Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," has died after suffering cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home, according to multiple reports. The singer had been preparing for a major comeback after years of seclusion.
A fire department official said Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his rented Bel Air mansion at 12:26 p.m.
Jackson, 50, was treated at UCLA Medical Center. But hospital officials were reportedly unable to revive him, according to ABC News, the Los Angeles Times and TMZ.
His death came as Jackson prepared for a major comeback next month, after years of seclusion. He was scheduled to perform 50 shows in London's O2 Arena, with the financial backing of two billionaires.
In recent years, Jackson had been the subject of endless tabloid headlines and financial difficulties. If his London shows had proved successful, he was expected to embark on a major world-wide tour.
Jackson first gained fame as musical prodigy with the pop group the Jackson 5. He was just a child, but under the watchful eye of his father, Joe Jackson, the group managed a string of hit singles with Motown Records.
The singer then broke out on his own in 1971, and began to craft his reputation as the "King of Pop." His solo efforts have become some of the best-selling albums of all time, including "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad."
The latter two albums coincided with the rise of MTV, and Jackson became known for a series of ground-breaking music videos -- including the horror-themed "Thriller."
Along with his talents as a singer and songwriter, he was also a spectacular dancer. He showed off his signature move, "The Moonwalk," during a 1983 television appearance celebrating the 25th anniversary of Motown.
But as his fame rose, so did his eccentricity. He became known for his child-like demeanor and his treasure trove of toys and amusement park rides at his Neverland Ranch -- named after the fantastical island of Peter Pan.
By the late-1980s he had become fodder for the tabloids. In 1986, it was erroneously reported that he slept in a hyperbaric chamber. Other reports focused on his paling skin, which Jackson blamed on the disease Vitiligo, and his numerous plastic surgeries that completely changed his facial appearance.
And then in 1993, in the most severe blow to his career, Jackson was accused of child molestation. He eventually settled the allegations out of court, but they continued to haunt him and the public never saw Jackson the same way again.

i personally was a huge fan of michael. his music was amazing and he was a great performer. i was a late bloomer in my love for michael at age 11 when i got my hands on his newly released(at the time) Dangerous album. i listened to it constantly. i began to mimic the thriller dance with my dad when the video would be on TV. i will never forget the music.