LOS ANGELES — Music icon Michael Jackson died today from an apparent cardiac arrest. He was 50.
The singer's personal physician discovered Jackson unconscious at his rented Holmby Hills home and was the first who attempted to revive him. Paramedics then rushed to the scene after receiving a 911 call around 12:30 p.m. and Jackson was quickly transported to the nearby UCLA Medical Center. The staff at UCLA attempted to save Jackson for more than an hour before he was pronounced dead at 2:26 P.T.
Jermaine Jackson fought back tears when he confirmed his brother's death during a late afternoon news conference at the hospital.
"Upon arriving at the hospital at approximately 1:14 p.m., a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, but they were unsuccessful," he said. "My family request that the media please respect our privacy during this time, and may all love be with you, Michael, always. We love you."
Jackson's death comes less than a month before what was to be the start of 50 sold-out comeback concerts at London's 02 Arena. The legendary star has been rehearsing for the string of shows in Los Angeles and appeared fine upon leaving rehearsals the night before his death.
"He just told me how happy he was and that things were finally working out the way he wanted," Jackson's manager, Frank DiLeo, told the Los Angeles Times.
Born in Gary, Ind., Jackson first gained prominence at the age of 11 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, which included his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine. Together, the siblings scored 23 Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1984.
In 1972, while he was still a member of the Jackson 5, Jackson released his first solo album, "Got to Be There." Seven years later, he released his first solo effort as an adult, the album "Off the Wall," which featured four Top 10 hits.
Jackson would achieve superstar status three years later with the release of "Thriller" in 1982. The album became the world's biggest selling record of all time and garnered Jackson a record eight Grammy Awards. In addition to the title track, the album featured such hit songs as "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." Jackson's popularity also soared on MTV as he became the first African-American artist to be featured on the music channel.
Jackson's subsequent albums failed to match the bar he set with "Thriller," despite critical acclaim for such efforts as 1987's "Bad" and 1991's "Dangerous." His last album of new material, 2001's "Invincible," was widely considered as a commercial flop and Jackson quickly became more famous for his eccentric personal life. His legal woes included being accused of child molestation on two separate occasions, accusations that Jackson strongly denied.
Jackson had two brief marriages — first to Lisa Marie Presley, whom he married in 1994, and also to Debbie Rowe, whom he married in 1996.
He is survived by his parents, Joseph and Katherine; brothers Randy, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon; sisters Maureen, LaToya and Janet; his two sons with Rowe, Prince Michael Joseph, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and a third son, Prince Michael II, 7, who was born to a never revealed surrogate mother.
Also see: Michael Jackson Music Videos
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