Singer Michael Jackson dies at 50

Michael Jackson had been due to play 50 concert dates in the UK this summer

Pop star Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles, aged 50.

Paramedics were called to the singer's Beverly Hills home at about midday on Thursday after he stopped breathing.

He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July.

Speaking on behalf of the Jackson family, Jermaine said doctors had tried to resuscitate the star for more than an hour without success.

Jermaine Jackson on his brother's sudden death

He added: "The family request that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time."

"And Allah be with you Michael, always. I love you."

TV footage showed the star's body flown from UCLA to the LA County Coroner's office where a post-mortem is expected to take place on Friday.

Concerns were raised last month when four of Jackson's planned comeback concerts were postponed, but organisers insisted the dates had been moved due to the complexity of staging the show.

AT THE SCENE Rajesh Mirchandani BBC News Michael Jackson was brought here to the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles around 12 hours ago. Earlier there were several hundred people here, before it got dark - there was a sense of grief, of disbelief. But in the last few hours, these people have been singing his songs, dancing, there was a guy on a keyboard earlier, playing his songs for people to dance along to. This has turned into an impromptu celebration of Michael Jackson's music. He's the king of pop as far as they're concerned. They're still shocked by his sudden death but they're here because they want to show their support.

A spokeswoman for The Outside Organisation, which was organising the publicity for the shows, said she had no comment at this time.

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said: "I always doubted that he would have been able to go through that schedule, those concerts. It seemed to be too much of a demand on the unhealthy body of a 50 year old.

"I'm wondering that, as we find out details of his death, if perhaps the stress of preparing for those dates was a factor in his collapse.

"It was wishful thinking that, at this stage of his life, he could be Michael Jackson again."

Tributes have poured in from the entertainment industry. Sir Paul McCartney described Jackson's death as " sad and shocking".

The pair worked together on two hit tracks, Say Say, Say and The Girl Is Mine from Jackson's Thriller album.

He said " I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy-man with a gentle soul.

"His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.

"I send my deepest sympathy to his mother and the whole family, and to his countless fans all around the world."

Speaking outside New York's historic Apollo theatre, civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton paid tribute to his friend.

"I knew him 35 years. When he had problems he would call me," he said.

"I feel like he was not treated fairly. I hope history will be more kind to him than some of the contemporary media."

Melanie Bromley, west coast bureau chief of Us Weekly magazine, told the BBC the scene in Los Angeles was one of "pandemonium".

"At the moment there is a period of disbelief. He was renting a home in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles and the scene outside the house is one of fans, reporters and TV cameras - it's absolute craziness.

"I feel this is the biggest celebrity story in a long time and has the potential to be the Princess Diana of popular culture."

Musical icon

Tributes from the world of music and film have already flooded in from celebrities including Madonna, Arnold Schwarzenegger and ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

Large numbers of fans have also gathered outside Jackson's home and at the UCLA medical centre with lit candles to mourn the star while playing his greatest hits.

Facebook groups have also been set up for fans to share their memories.

The singer's albums are occupying the top 15 slots of online music retailer Amazon.com's current best-seller chart, led by his 1982 smash hit Thriller.

Paramedics were called to the singer's house in Bel Air at 1221 (1921GMT) following an emergency phone call.

They performed CPR on Jackson and rushed him to the UCLA medical centre.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department said the robbery and homicide team was investigating Jackson's death because of its "high profile", but there was no suggestion of foul play.

Jackson began his career as a child in family group The Jackson 5.

MICHAEL JACKSON 1958-2009 Full name: Michael Joseph Jackson Born: August 29, 1958, Gary, Indiana, US Also known as: The King of Pop, Wacko Jacko Biggest hits: I Want You Back, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Bad, Black or White, Earth Song

He then went on to achieve global fame as a solo artist with smash hits such as Billie Jean and Bad.

Thriller, released in 1982, is the biggest-selling album of all time, shifting 65m copies, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

He scored seven UK number ones as a solo artist and won a total of 13 Grammy awards.

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced Thriller, Bad and Off The Wall.

"He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

The singer had been dogged by controversy and money trouble in recent years, becoming a virtual recluse.

Michael Jackson's body is delivered by helicopter for a post mortem report

He was arrested in 2003 on charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy, but was found not guilty following a five-month trial.

The star had three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II.

He is survived by his mother, Katherine, father, Joseph and eight siblings - including Janet, Randy, Jermaine and La Toya Jackson.

Michael Jackson's death: No information on Demerol use, LAPD detective says

The top Los Angeles Police Department official on the Michael Jackson case says police so far have no information that Jackson was injected with Demerol or other painkillers -- an allegation that has been widely reported in Britain and the United States.
Claims that Jackson collapsed after an injection of painkillers "are coming from outside the investigation," said Lt. Gregg Strenk, head of the LAPD's Homicide Special Section 1, which is assigned to the Jackson case.
Strenk confirmed that his detectives were searching for Jackson's physician, standard procedure when investigating a death of unknown causes. Law enforcement sources have identified the physician as Conrad Murray.
The doctor, Strenk said, would be questioned about Jackson's medical condition and any treatment the physician was administering. He would also be asked to sign the death certificate if it were determined that the death was related to some condition for which he had been treating Jackson.
Strenk said detectives were not searching for anyone else in relation to Jackson's death.
--Joel Rubin

Michael Jackson's death probed at doctor's trial

Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial opens, case compared to Simpson trial

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Michael Jackson's doctor had been trying to wean the singer off using a powerful sedative as his sleep-inducing agent, defence attorneys said in a Los Angeles court Tuesday, as the trial of Conrad Murray got underway.

Murray is charged with iinvoluntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of Jackson, who at the time was in rehearsals for an upcoming series of concerts in London, England. If convicted, Murray faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical licence.

In his opening statement on Tuesday, defence attorney Edward Chernoff painted the King of Pop as a man fully aware and completely in charge of his life and forthcoming concert series — a faded pop icon desperate to achieve a massive comeback.

Chernoff said it was Jackson, anxious about the upcoming concerts, who proposed using the drug propofol to get some rest — a practice he had reportedly tested out on previous tours, the singer told Murray. Still, at the time of Jackson's death, the doctor was attempting to wean him off propofol in hopes of treating the singer's insomnia through other methods, the lawyer said.

He also emphasized Murray's expertise as a cardiologist and said he would introduce witnesses who would testify to the physician's good character and professionalism — contrary to the portrait the prosecution had painted earlier in the day of a doctor who violated "every standard of care."

Dr. Conrad Murray, centre, Michael Jackson's personal physician, sits with his lawyers Edward Chernoff, left, and Michael Flanagan during his arraignment on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. Irfan Khan/Reuters

"You need to hear the full story about him," Chernoff said, with Murray seen at times wiping his eyes with a tissue. According to defence attorneys, Jackson's inability to sleep was a byproduct of his longtime use of other drugs, like the pain reliever Demerol.

It was the singer's own decision to ingest a fatal mix of drugs (the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam as well as propofol) while Murray was absent from the room that caused a "perfect storm in his body" that led to the singer's death on June 25, 2009, Chernoff said.

Shocking recording, images

Chernoff's statement — during which he pledged to focus on scientific testimony concerning propofol — contrasted with the prosecution's opening, which included a shocking audio recording of a drugged Michael Jackson, his distinctive voice nearly unrecognizable.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren outlined the prosecution's case against Murray, claiming that the doctor administered a lethal dose of the powerful sedative to Jackson, that he failed to monitor the singer, and that he delayed a potentially life-saving call to 911. Authorities contend that Murray lacked the proper life-saving equipment to revive Jackson.

'That misplaced trust in Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life.'—David Walgren, deputy district attorney

Jackson trusted Murray as his physician, Walgren said. "That misplaced trust in Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life."

Along with showing photo slides of Jackson's body slumped on a gurney in a California hospital and the bed at home where he died, Walgren played several audio recordings — including a startling one Murray had captured on his cellphone in May 2009.

The famed singer's speech is slurred as he speaks about wanting to impress fans with his forthcoming concert series.

"When people leave this show, when people leave my show, I want them to say, 'I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen nothing like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world," Jackson says on the recording.

However, the voice known from blockbuster hit songs like Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It is weak and almost unrecognizable as he was "highly under the influence of the propofol," according to Walgren.

The prosecution also outlined details of Jackson's final days, Murray's phone and email records, the doctor's actions and his interview with authorities, and the massive amount of propofol and other sedative agents Murray purchased while caring for Jackson. He also blasted the doctor for withholding information to everyone from Jackson's staffers, paramedics, emergency room medical staff and police after the singer's death.

"Conrad Murray, as the doctor on scene, had a legal duty of care to use his best medical judgment to do no harm to Michael Jackson. Conrad Murray, with his eyes on an anticipated $150,000-a-month lucrative contract, instead agreed to provide Michael with massive amounts of propofol on a regular basis [which defies] all standards of medical care," Walgren said.

On the day of the singer's death, Murray "literally and figuratively abandoned Michael Jackson," left him full of drugs and "with no medical monitoring equipment, no resuscitation equipment, to fend for himself. It violates not only every standard of care, but decency from one human being to another."

Family in the courtroom

Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson arrives to court for the trial of Conrad Murray in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Jason Redmond/Associated Press

The Jackson family was in attendance at the courthouse, including father Joseph, mother Katherine, sisters LaToya and Janet, and brothers Jermaine, Randy and Tito. The family also believes Murray was responsible for the singer's death.

"All Michael wanted to do was sleep. He didn't want to die," said his older brother, Jermaine Jackson.

The case will enter a crucial final act in a packed courtroom with opening statements and the start of testimony. Worldwide media and audiences are expected to tune into the trial, as proceedings will be televised and broadcast online. Early Tuesday morning, both Jackson fans and the doctor's supporters had gathered outside the courtroom alongside a crush of international media.

The trial will reveal new information and provide a detailed record of the singer's final hours in June 2009.

Murray's trial is expected to be the first time that the public hears — in the defendant's own words — his account of what happened in the bedroom of Jackson's rented mansion.

Following opening statements, Jackson's choreographer and friend, Kenny Ortega, testified that Jackson was in bad shape physically and mentally less than a week before his death.

He said he sent a message to Randy Phillips, producer of the "This Is It" concert, telling him that Jackson was ill, probably should have a psychological evaluation and was not ready to perform.

"It's important for everyone to know he really wants this," he wrote. "It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug. He's terribly frightened it's all going to go away."

In response to the email, Ortega said, a meeting was called at Jackson's house where Ortega clashed with Murray, who told him to stop playing amateur psychiatrist and doctor.

"He said, 'Michael was physically and emotionally capable of handling all his responsibilities for the show,"' said Ortega, "I was shocked. Michael didn't seem to be physically or emotionally stable."

Within a few days, he said, Jackson had recouped his energy and was full of enthusiasm for the show.

During the next five weeks, prosecutors will rely on Ortega and other witnesses to detail Jackson's final days and hours and explain to a jury of seven men and five women exactly how the King of Pop died. Some of the jurors are Jackson fans, but the panel is diverse. They are men and women of various ethnic backgrounds with occupations ranging from bus driver to college professor.

Powerful sleep aid central to the case

Much of the testimony will focus on the anesthetic propofol, normally administered as a sedative in hospital settings.

Prosecutors plan to play (in more detail) a recording of the physician's interview with police conducted two days after Jackson's death, when he revealed that he had been giving the entertainer propofol. The disclosure led to Murray being charged in February 2010 with involuntary manslaughter and nearly 20 months of legal wrangling over how the trial would be conducted.

Witnesses' recollections and conclusions about the events will be challenged to a far greater extent than they were during a preliminaty hearingearlier this year that resulted in a judge ruling there was enough evidence for Murray to stand trial.

Judge rules out sensational evidence

Los Angeles has not seen a trial like this since O.J. Simpson's murder trial in the 1990s, and the cameras are ready to roll. By Monday evening, 15 satellite trucks and news vans were parked within a block of the courthouse.

Michael Jackson fan Bristre Clayton stands outside a Los Angeles courthouse during the trial of Conrad Murray on Tuesday. Jason Redmond/Associated Press

In an effort to calm what is already expected to be a media circus, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor has limited what Murray's lawyers can say about Jackson's history with drugs and his financial troubles.

Prosecutors are similarly prohibited from mentioning some of the messy details of the doctor's personal life, including his sizable debts and several mistresses.

If prosecutors follow the same script they employed during Murray's preliminary hearing, the early part of the case will likely move in chronological order, beginning with Jackson's final days and then moving into his final hours. After the singer's security guards, paramedics and emergency room doctors take the stand, the case will then move into more forensic and scientific territory.

The trial is expected to last about a month.

Michael Jackson death trial: paramedic describes 'chaos' at scene

The first paramedic to reach the scene of Michael Jackson's death says he doubted the information given by the singer's doctor, Conrad Murray

La Toya Jackson (centre) arrives for day four of the trial of her brother Michael Jackson's doctor. Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

The first paramedic to reach Micheakjackson's bedroom has told a jury that the information he received from the physician charged in the singer's death did not add up.

Paramedic Richard Senneff says Dr Conrad Murray told him that Jackson wasn't being treated for any specific condition. The paramedic says that didn't seem right because Jackson appeared to be underweight, had a surgical cap on his head and there was an IV bag and stand nearby.

Prosecutors contend Murray repeatedly concealed from emergency personnel that he had been giving Jackson doses of the anesthetic propofol in the singer's bedroom.

Senneff was one of four paramedics working to try to revive Jackson on June 25, 2009. Murray, 58, has pleaded not guilty.

Earlier, an executive for the maker of a medical device used by Murray to monitor the singer told jurors that the equipment was not adequate for the continuous monitoring of patients.

The $275 fingertip device that monitors the pulse and blood oxygen levels was recovered after Jackson's death and was being used by Murray while he was giving the singer doses of propofol.

Prosecutors called Nonin Medical executive Bob Johnson to try to show that Murray lacked enough equipment to care for the singer during the treatments. Propofol is normally administered in hospital settings.

Johnson said the model that Murray used had no audible alarm and was not intended to be used for the continuous monitoring of patients.

On Thursday, a pair of Jackson staffers described the chaotic scene at the rented mansion.

Personal chef Kai Chase said she was preparing a spinach Cobb salad for Jackson when a panicked and flustered Murray came down a spiral staircase shouting for her to get security and the singer's son, Prince.

"His energy was very nervous and frantic," said Chase, who added she ran to get Jackson's son in a nearby room. "I said, 'Hurry, Dr Murray needs you. Something may be wrong with your father."

Chase said later she saw paramedics and security running upstairs to Jackson's bedroom where he lay and some of the house staff were crying, unsure of what was happening.

"The children were crying and screaming," she said. "We started hugging. We came together, held hands and we began to pray."

Bodyguard Alberto Alvarez said he went to help Jackson after the singer's assistant called him on his cellphone.

Shocked at seeing Jackson lying motionless in his bed, eyes slightly open, Alvarez barely had time to react when he heard the singer's daughter scream "Daddy!" from the doorway. He led her and Prince from the room, trying to comfort them.

Alvarez then said Murray told him to put vials of medicine he scooped from Jackson's nightstand into a bag. Alvarez complied and also placed an IV bag into another bag.

Defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked whether there was enough time for Alvarez to shield Jackson's children, survey the room and stow away the drugs in the brief period that phone records show he was in the home before calling emergency responders.

The bodyguard insisted there was, telling the attorney, "I'm very efficient, sir."
Chernoff was not convinced, questioning whether 30 seconds was enough time for the dramatic sequence to play out. Alvarez assured him there was.

The defense attorney also challenged Alvarez's recollection, asking whether the collection of the vials happened after paramedics had come and whisked Jackson to a nearby hospital. Alvarez denied it happened after he called 911.

Chernoff questioned why Alvarez didn't tell authorities about Murray's commands to bag up the medication immediately after Jackson died, but instead waited until two months after the singer's death. The bodyguard said he didn't realize its significance until seeing a news report in late June in which he recognized one of the bags detectives were carrying out of Jackson's mansion.

Jackson child sex scandal deepens

THE CHILD sex abuse scandal surrounding the pop star Michael Jackson deepened yesterday as the Los Angeles Times said police in California began focusing on his relationships with several other young boys - although the authorities have not confirmed that.

For the second time the 34-year-old entertainer, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, postponed a concert in Thailand saying he was ill, prompting speculation that he is planning to cancel his world tour and return home.

Jackson is under investigation by police after Jordan Chandler, the 13-year- old son of a wealthy Beverly Hills dentist, complained to a therapist that the star had abused him.

The boy is the subject of a bitter custody battle, in which his father sought a court order banning his mother from letting him to have contact with the multi-millionaire singer.

Matters appeared to worsen for Jackson yesterday when an 11-year-old boy appeared on NBC television in California and admitted sharing a bed with him. Brett Barnes, an Australian from Melbourne, said Jackson had kissed him 'like you kiss your mother', but insisted nothing untoward had occurred.

The boy, who was interviewed with his mother and sister, met Jackson 18 months ago and recently accompanied him on a visit to London.

He described how he was questioned by detectives, who have confirmed that they are conducting a criminal investigation into the entertainer. 'They were asking questions like, 'Do you sleep in the same bed? Do you think he buys the toys to make you not tell things?'

'But it's not true,' the boy continued. 'He didn't do anything like that. He didn't touch people in a different way than he should . . . He kisses? Yeah, like you kiss your mother. We slept in the same bed? Yes, I was on one side of the bed and he was on the other. It's not unusual for him to hug, kiss and nuzzle up to you? Yeah, just the fun stuff.'

The boy was reportedly at Neverland, Jackson's exotic ranch and fantasy amusement park, when a police sex- crime unit raided it at the weekend and seized videotapes and photographs.

When the news of the police investigation broke, representatives of Jackson claimed that he was the victim of a failed dollars 20m ( pounds 13.5m) extortion attempt which led to a baseless child abuse complaint to the authorities. Members of his family released a statement on Wednesday saying he was the victim of a 'cruel and obvious attempt to take advantage of his fame and success'.

As the controversy bubbled on, disappointed Jackson fans in Bangkok were being told that the superstar had decided to postpone his sold-out 'Dangerous' concert for the second day running. Jackson, who is on the first leg of a world tour, claimed that he was ill after performing in extreme heat on Tuesday.

In a tape-recorded message played to reporters, he apologised to his fans and promised to perform today.

Whatever the outcome of the police inquiry, it is becoming increasingly clear that his career will be damaged. His world tour is being sponsored by Pepsi- Cola, which is estimated to have invested up to dollars 50m ( pounds 33.75m) on the promotion.

Pepsi executives have been at pains to emphasise that there is no reason for the company to alter its plans, as there is no solid evidence. However, several entertainment industry experts in Los Angeles have predicted that Jackson's value as a product endorser has evaporated.

A Michael Jackson Timeline

June 26, 2009 - Follow a chronology of the singer's life, highlighted by breathtaking commercial success, intense public scrutiny and odd lifestyle choices:
Aug. 29, 1958: Michael Joseph Jackson is born to Katherine and Joe Jackson in Gary, Ind. His older siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, LaToya and Marlon. Later, brother Randy and sister Janet join the family. Katherine Jackson raises her children as Jehovah's Witnesses.
1962: Michael, Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine combine to form a band. At first, their father does not approve, but later changes his mind and manages the band. Jackson sings lead vocal on most of the songs.
1968: Motown signs The Jackson 5.
1969: The song "I Want You Back" jumps to the number-one singles spot. "ABC (1970)," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" follow suit.
1971-1972: Jackson goes solo, and his singles "Got to Be There," "Rockin' Robin" and "I Wanna Be Where You Are" storm the charts — as does "Ben," a ballad about a pet rat featured in the horror movie Ben.
1978: Jackson makes his film debut as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, an urban retelling of the classic film The Wizard Of Oz. Diana Ross co-stars as Dorothy. Jackson is said to wear his makeup long after production hours.
1979: Jackson records Off The Wall, his first album as a solo artist. The singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You" both shoot to number-one hits.
1980: Jackson nabs his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance.
1982-1983: Jackson releases the album Thriller, and it tops the charts for 37 weeks. Seven singles dash into the top 10, including "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." The extended video sequence on "Thriller" has Jackson morph into a werewolf. Jackson unveils his signature dance move, the moonwalk.
1984: Questions arise about Jackson's changing appearance, and some wonder if the singer has had plastic surgery. He builds a home on 2,700 acres in Central California, complete with its own amusement park rides, and calls it Neverland.
1985: Jackson and Lionel Richie pen "We Are The World," with the proceeds from sales of the single slated for hunger relief in Africa. Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper and other prominent artists lend their voices to the song. It sells a record seven million copies.
1987: Bad, Jackson's third album, hits the shelves. He embarks on a world tour.
1988: Doubleday publishes Jackson's autobiography, Moonwalk.
1990: Thriller goes platinum for the 21st time and the Guinness Book of World Records certifies it as the best-selling album ever. To date, it has sold 65 million copies.
1992: Jackson tells Oprah Winfrey he has vitiligo, a skin disorder that destroys melanin and, in severe cases, can leave a victim devoid of skin color. He also reveals that his father emotionally abused him as a child.
1993: Jackson is accused in civil court of molesting an 11-year-old boy. Police descend on Neverland and subject Jackson to a full body search. "It was the most humiliating ordeal of my life," he says in a televised statement in December.
1994: Jackson settles the molestation case out of court. The boy is paid more than $15 million, to be held in trust until he is an adult. The parents of the boy receive $1.5 million each.
May 26, 1994: Jackson and Lisa-Marie Presley tie the knot. The marriage will last less than two years.
1995: Sony releases HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book I. Janet Jackson performs a duet with her older brother on "Scream."
1996: Jarvis Cocker of the British band Pulp accosts jackson in mid -act at the BRIT Awards. Jackson was surrounded by children and a rabbi performing "Earth Song." Cocker claims Jackson had attempted to imitate Christ.
1997: Jackson marries Debbie Rowe, a nurse. Rowe gives birth to a son, Prince Michael. Jackson is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1998: Rowe bears a girl, Paris Michael Katherine.
1999: Jackson and Rowe split.
2000: "Billie Jean," "Rock With You," "I Want You Back" and "Beat It" make Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest songs of all time.
2001: Sony releases Invincible, which is panned by critics and does not sell well. Jackson battles a $21-million civil suit by a German concert promoter who says the singer backed out of two concerts and pocketed an advance.
2002: Jackson lifts his newborn son, Prince Michael, over a hotel room terrace so fans can glimpse — and is roundly criticized for endangering his child. The identity of the child's mother is never revealed. Jackson says the child is the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells.
2003: Jackson is charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent. All charges were made by the same boy, Gavin Arvizo, who was under 14 at the time of the alleged crime.
2005: Jackson is acquitted on all counts in the Arvizo case in the the People v. Jackson trial in Santa Maria, Calif.
2006: Financial troubles force closure on the main house on the Neverland Ranch. Jackson agrees to a Sony-backed refinancing deal. Jackson makes his first public appearance since the Arvizo trial to accept eight records from the Guinness World Records in London, including "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time." In late 2006, Jackson agrees to share joint custody of his first two children with ex-wife Debbie Rowe.
2007: Jackson and Sony buy Famous Music LLC from Viacom, which gives him rights to songs by Eminem, Shakira, Beck and others.
2008: Jackson issues Thriller 25, celebrating 25 years of the iconic album. The reissue hits number one in eight countries and reached number two in the U.S. Sony releases King of Pop, a fan-curated compilation.
June 25, 2009: Jackson dies los Angeles at 50 after going into cardiac arrest.

Michael Jackson, 1958-2009: Primary Resources, Historical Perspectives, Scholarly Insights

Michael Jackson, known as “King of Pop”, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 25th in Los Angeles at age 50. His career began when he was 11 as part of the group the “Jackson Five”, the youngest of five brothers. He is known for his extraordinary talent in music and dance, and as a gifted entertainer. He was an innovator, most notably in the music video medium and early MTV. Jackson’s career was marred by controversy caused by allegations of personal sexual misconduct. In addition to being a musician, dancer, and entertainer, Michael Jackson was known for his philanthropy, particularly his work to help South Africa, and his composing and organizing the production of the song "We Are the World", with proceeds going to African aid. Michael Jackson will always be known as a trailblazer in the field of pop music, and his recordings continue to break sales records.

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Following are selected resources for more information about Michael Jackson. In addition to sources readily available through news media, also included are books in the library, encyclopedia articles, and scholarly articles, resources that most people may not have thought about in regards to a popular music figure. These resources give scholarly, insightful, and analytical perspectives of Michael Jackson such as the meanings of his dance movements, the sociological aspects of his music videos, the religious significance in "Earth Song", and more. Articles in languages other than English are a testimony to Jackson's worldwide fame and appeal. Here you will also find primary resources such as books by Michael Jackson, and interviews that he gave when he was in his teens. These in-depth perspectives you would not find anywhere else, but @ your library! Enjoy.

                                               The King Of Pop
                                  Michael Jackson

Latest CD
NUMBER ONES

Biography

Michael Jackson has gone through personal scandal, family squabbles and numerous career quakes but Michael Joseph Jackson remains one of the planet's best known figures. Born in 1958, Jackson has spent his whole life in the public eye as he began performing at the age of four. Though the youngest member of the Jackson Five, he became the group's lead vocalist, projecting a self-confident image which belies the private personality he shows today. Despite his age, he managed to make chart-toppers like I Want You Back and I'll Be There completely credible. By the time he was 10, the Jackson Five had signed to Motown Records and were well on the road to US success, bullied into fame by their father Joe. "There is a lot of sadness in my past life," Jackson told Oprah Winfrey in 1993. Solo success "My father beat me. It was difficult to take being beaten and then going onstage. "He was strict; very hard and stern." Michael Jackson's first solo release was the ballad Got to Be There. As a cute child singing sentimental but catchy ballads, he was a hit. Biography Continued

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Invincible

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Listen to "You Rock My World"

ALBUM CONCEIVED AND INSPIRED BY THE KING OF POP MICHAEL JACKSON

Management of The Estate of Michael Jackson: John Branca and John McClain

Thank you's
"You are my joy, the fullness in my heart is because of you. I love you beyond now and forever more." This is what Michael wrote to his children, Prince, Paris and Blanket. This album is dedicated to them and to Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, and to the entire Jackson family. We want to thank Akon, Eddie Cascio, Theron "Neff-U" Feemster, 50 Cent, Serban Ghenea, Taryll Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Kadir Nelson, Jon Nettlesbey, Orianthi, James Porte, Teddy Riley, C. "Tricky" Stewart and everyone who has lent their artistic talents to this album.

We want to thank Howard Weitzman, Joel "Roosevelt" Katz, Karen Langford and all of the members of "Team MJ" who have been working behind the scenes to assist us on this project and all things Michael Jackson this past year and a half including: Jim Bates, Miko Brando, Steve Burkow, David Byrnes, Vince Chieffo, Wallace Christner, Jeryll Cohen, Greg Cross, Marquis Davis, Frank Dileo, David Dunn, Paul Hoffman, Jackie Jackson, Taj Jackson, Jeff Jampol, Craig Johnson, Michael Kane, David Lande, Richard Leher, Dick LeRoy, John Lockwood, Zia Modabber, Victor Murgatroyd, Mike Sitrick, Diana St. Amand, Evvy Tavasci, Geraldine Wyle, Nick Yanez and Jamie Young

We want to acknowledge Bill Bottrell, Stuart Brawley, Brad Buxer, John Doelp, Matt Forger, David Foster, Dr. Freeze, Berry Gordy, Jimmy Jam, Quincy Jones, Robert Kelly, Lawanda Lane, Terry Lewis, Greg Phillinganes, Michael Prince, Diana Ross, Janice Smith, Mark Stewart, Rob Stringer, Bruce Swedien, Paul Surrat, Rod Temperton, Mio Vukovic, Walter Yetnikoff and all of the producers, engineers, mixers, musicians, singers, songwriters and other colleagues and friends whose talents, love and support helped Michael to achieve the many milestones of his life and career.

And especially to Michael's fans, we say thank you for your love, loyalty and endless support for Michael.

—The Estate

Executive A&R for Sony: John Doelp

Special thanks to:
Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Rob Stringer, John Doelp, Steve Barnett, Julie Swidler, Kevin Kelleher, Richard Sanders, Andrea Finkelstein, Andrew Ross, Amanda Ghost, Adam Granite, Lee Stimmel, Lois Najarian-O'Neill, Lydia Kanuga, Sam Gomez, Sheri Lee, Vickie Hall, Chris Austopchuk, Al Quaglieri
A&R Consultant: Ken Komisar
Mastered by Vlado Meller at Universal Mastering Studios, NYC
Assisted by Mark Santangelo
Art Direction: Sheri Lee and Chris Austopchuk
Art Direction and Design: Sherri Lee and Christina Rodriguez
Album Cover Artwork by Kadir Nelson
Artwork Clearances: Cassandra Barbour, Entertainment Clearances, Inc.

MTV's Moon Man used with permission.

GRAMMY and the gramophone statuette and logos are registered trademarks of The Recording Academy® and are used under license.

Cirque du Soleil and Sun Logo are trademarks owned by Cirque du Soleil and used under license. Archivists for The Estate: Evvy Tavasci, Craig Johnson, Michael Prince

Numerology of the King of Pop: Michael Jackson

[This article is neither intended to extol nor defame Michael Jackson. Its purpose is simply to reveal the relationship between some aspects of his life and numbers in furthering the understanding of numerology as a science.]
It was the great bard, William Shakespeare, who said: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown (Henry IV. Part II, 1597). In many ways, Michael Jackson (born: Michael Joseph Jackson, 29 August 1958) wore an entertainment crown laden with diamonds and jewels. Yet, in many ways his diamond-studded crown left him with an uneasy head and troubled life.
It is the way of the world - kingdoms and kings, cultures and queens, rise and fall. Karmic Law cares not for princes or paupers, heroes or heroines, celebrities or nobodies, cheers or sneers. We all are bound by laws far greater than our vision, or our egos, can perceive... let alone control. Furthermore, we all have a destiny that is inexorable, inescapable, immutable. Michael Jackson's destiny is so clear in his numbers that his life serves as an excellent example of study for students of numerology. He led a famous but tragic life, a life both revered by some and reviled by others; a life which exemplified a meteoric rise to fame and fortune but an equally meteoric fall from grace into the depths of misfortune and despair. Michael Jackson was a self-proclaimed and narcissistic King of Pop who demanded the media refer to him in such terms. Yet, kings - self-proclaimed or not - are subject to the same divine laws as everyone else. No one is exempt from the Law which operates, like gravity, without regard to persons, however talented or famous. This article will briefly touch upon a few aspects of Jackson's life and explain through the science of numerology why his life was the way it tragically was.
Love of Music
Michael Jackson's love of music is clearly visible in his Basic Matrix. Not only is his first name, "Michael," a 33-6, but his Soul is a 33-6 as well, and his Material Soul [MS] is a double 66-3 with a 111-3 triple master root. This reveals an intense desire and need to express himself through art, words, music, harmony, love, pleasure, action and, unfortunately, addiction. These master numbers are the "fire in the belly" that moves the engine, regardless of whose engine they inhabit.
The master numbers 33 and 66 are powerfully creative but potentially vicious opiates. Controlled, they can elevate a person to great heights, as in Jackson's case. Uncontrolled, these pleasure-based master energies can express themselves with such destructive consequences that they lead to the most insufferable depths of despair and death, also as in Jackson's case.
Intensifying Jackson's 33-6 Soul and 66-3 Material Soul is his 6 Lifepath - a journey forcing him to learn lessons [both positive and negative] regarding love and harmony [in all aspects of life, not just music], sex, family, community, responsibility, addiction, hatred, envy, jealousy, bitterness, nurturing and its lack. This 6 Lifepath gave Jackson what his heart desired - all things 6 - but it also blinded him and, as we shall see in his Challenges, became a lodestone of immense suffering, helping energize his misfortune and ultimate demise.
Jackson's Challenges
The 3/11-2 Challenge
As Michael Jackson was destined to be a global icon and music revolutionary, he was equally doomed to suffer a challenging family and love life, health and self-images issues, as well as an unrelenting attack on his continuing but alleged pedophilia tendencies and actions. These conditions are clearly flagged in his four life Challenges-all of which house a double set of 3/11-2 and 6/5 energy. For all four Challenges to house two identical sets of numbers is extremely rare.
The number 3 rules health/disease, self image, vanity, children, communication, words, art, pleasure, beauty and sexuality [with the 5 and 6]. When located in a Challenge position, this negatively aspected 3 creates internal issues involving these topics. For Michael Jackson, this 3 Challenge plagued his entire life because of its complete occupation in his four Challenge timelines. Furthermore, when combined with the 8 energy of social interaction and connection, it manifested in the realm of the 2 which rules close personal relationship, others and female [yin] energy. The 3/2 Challenge references children [3] in relationship [2], a direct inference involving potentially untoward behaviors, i.e., his alleged pedophilia tendencies, which caused him great stress and turmoil, as is all too commonly known.
This 3/2 combination also helps explain why Jackson's looks [3] became feminine [2] as he aged, as well as being bizarre and freakish [negative 3]. It is also this 3/2 pattern that gave Jackson a childlike manner [when he chose to use it] and crafted his personal cross to bear regarding not having a normal childhood, which he often lamented but was quoted as saying he wouldn't exchange for the fame and power he possessed as a music icon. Furthermore, this 3 Challenged energy played a major role in his poor self-esteem and self loathing. Jackson was obviously consumed with his appearance and challenged by it throughout his life. As his numbers indicate, this was a lifelong issue he couldn't avoid.
The 6/5 Challenge
Coupled with his 3/2 Challenge was a 6/5 IR set (Influence/Reality). The 6 governs personal love, music, family, nurturing, support, beauty, sexuality, harmony, community. When in a Challenge position, it can reference its opposite side of abuse, jealousy, envy, hatred, bitterness. Mixing with his 8 Expression, the 6 played itself out in an environment of the energy of the 5 [8 + 6 = 14 > 1 + 4 = 5] of change, loss, detachment, movement, diversity, freedom. It is this 6/5 IR set that was the basis for Jackson's familial issues, especially with his father, Joseph Walter Jackson [born 26 July 1929], whose Soul and Material Soul [his desires, needs, wants and motivations] were both 6s. Michael's 6/5 IR set indicates that he would detach [5] from his father's most ardent desires [6]. Having a 6 Challenge in a 6 Lifepath heralds problems with his life's journey in the realm of the heart and home.
The flip side of this 6/5 component is that Jackson had a very loving and loyal [6] fan base comprised of a diversity [5] of individuals. Loyalty is one aspect of the 6, and in many ways Jackson's fan loyalty was as much a curse as it was a blessing. Fans demand attention, and oftentimes their obsession with the one they loved and admired placed enormous pressure and stress on Jackson to behave in ways deleterious to his health and well-being. "The show must go on," right? Yet, from a health standpoint sometimes it's better that the show not go on. How much is a life worth? The cost of adulation? In the final analysis, whose life is lost and at what price?
Drugs and the number 6
One of the potential attributes of the number 6 concerns its dark side of drug use and addition. This is attributed not only to its powerful and potentially addictive 33 master root but also to its transition root of 15, which appears in Jackson's Lifepath and 2nd Challenge along with the 3/2. The explanation of the 15 is that the 1 of action embraces the 5 of the senses, freedom and experience, combining to create the 6 [1 + 5 = 6] of love, sexuality and sensuality while being challenged by the 4 [5 - 1 = 4] of discipline, self-control and materialism. Having a 15-6 in a chart does not automatically mandate drug usage, but it does infer the potential. Interestingly, the numerical configuration of the word "Drugs" is a 6. Many of Jackson's inner circle mentioned in interviews after his death that he did have a problem with prescription drugs. In fact, Deepak Chopra stated in one such interview that in his observation Jackson was addicted to prescription drugs and he urged him to terminate his indulgence in them. Chopra also stated that prescription drugs are responsible for more drug addiction than street drugs. This is a sobering, painful and dangerous reality, not just because drug usage destroys bodies and minds and contributes to the degradation of society, but because it references a need for drugs in the first place, a testimony to the absence of a spiritual nucleus in the lives of those consumed by them.
Fame, Power, Egomania and the 1/99-9 Master Energy
Michael Jackson's first Pinnacle was a 1/99-9. Its timeline was from his birth through age thirty. No two numbers acting in concert have more potential for creating individual power and fame than the 1 and 9. Together they represent the star [the one (1) who is the center of attention] and the crown [the one who rules and holds magnetic power among the masses (9)].
It's impossible to get any more iconic and famous than the1/99-9 combination. The 1/9 (simple version of the 1/99-9) cipher lives in the public eye. The 1 represents the self, the ego, the originator, doer, activator, leader and star. The 99 represents the masses, public acclaim, popularity and recognition. The symbol for the 9 is the crown. More than any combination, it is this 1/99-9 combination that rocketed Michael Jackson to global stardom in his early life.
As positive as this 1/99-9 combination was for Jackson, it was also immensely instrumental in his destruction. This combination represents the ego and its power, and if that ego and power are not controlled and placed in the proper perspective, together they inflate a person's sense of self and worth to levels of extreme egomania, self-absorption and narcissistic self-proclamation, placing him or her on a pedestal in a tower of enormous height, an edifice insuring a fall of gigantic proportions. This type of human expression is sadly common in the world of celebrity and flies in the face of all that is spiritually appropriate and divine, which is why Saints and Perfect Masters always teach that humility is the best insurance against the pejorative potentials of personal power running amuck.
It is no secret that Jackson's ego was highly inflated and beyond mitigation, this in stark contrast to his seemingly soft and tender nature. It was Jackson himself, not the public, who coined himself the "King of Pop" and demanded, not asked according to one reporter, that the media do the same. It was Jackson who, saturated with a Messiah Complex as reported by Chris Ayers in a Times Online article, commissioned a giant replica of The Last Supper by famed artist Leonardo da Vinci to hang above his bed. In the portrait, Jackson had Christ's face replaced with his own and Christ's disciples replaced with famous people such as Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Thomas Edison, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Charlie Chaplin and others. What normal, humble, spiritually focused, balanced and whole individual would ever think of doing such a thing, let alone doing it? It staggers the imagination to understand the dimensions of such an ego. Is this humility? Unfortunately, like other personages throughout time, Jackson succumbed to the illusion of his own importance and it destroyed him, as it will anyone who believes he or she is bigger than God.
Summary
Michael Jackson's life was, as all of our lives are, a manifestation of destiny, as revealed in the numbers of his birth name and birth date. He could not, as we cannot, escape his destiny. Jackson was a musical genius, extraordinary performer and global icon. The number patterns 1/99-9, 33-6, 66-3, 3/11-2 and 6/5 played a major role in his life's fame, fortune, success and turmoil. During his life, Michael Joseph Jackson adorned the crown of a superstar, but as his life unfolded it became obvious that the weight of such a crown created an equal sense of unease following him into his grave.

Richard Andrew King is a numerologist, author and speaker currently living in Southern California. For more information and numerical insights in the life of Michael Jackson, as well as the secret numbers forming the lives of famous individuals such as John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Muhammad Ali, Oprah Winfrey and others, read Destinies of the Rich & Famous - The Secret Numbers of Extraordinary Lives available at  or with King's other books at Amazon.com, Shelfari.com, Goodreads.com, LibraryThing.com. Mr. King's personal website with contact information, CDs, DVDs and free articles is . Follow on Twitter: @1richking. YouTube channel: arichking99. Facebook: Kings Numerology and Richard Andrew King Fan Page.

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Michael Jackson: 100 facts about the king of pop

Michael Jackson was one of the world's most high profile celebrities and yet he endeavoured to live his private life in near secrecy. Here are 100 facts about King of Pop.

U.S. Pop singer Michael Jackson dances during his performance in Munich's Olympic stadium, 1999 Photo: REUTERS

1. Michael Jackson's favourite animated character was Pinocchio

2. When he was a child his favourite books included Rip Van Winkle and The Old Man and the Sea

3. Michael Jackson was very ticklish

4. Saint Vincent, an island in the Caribbean, once issued Michael Jackson stamps

5. The singer once owned a boa constrictor called “Muscles”

6. As a youngster he used to put spiders in sister La Toyah’s bed
7. He played a scarecrow in The Wiz, a movie version of the Wizard of Oz
8. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (one for himself and one as part of the Jackson Five)
9. Quincy Jones nicknamed him “smelly” – a slang term similar to “funky”
10. Jackson described his own voice on early Jackson 5 records as “like Minnie Mouse”
11. He was a big fan of The Three Stooges
12. He is an Exeter City fan
13. He had two llamas called Louis and Lola
14. Thriller spent 37 weeks at number one in the US Billboard chart.
15. In 1984 he won eight Grammy’s – the joint highest amount ever won by one person in a single year
16. He gave his first public performance at the age of 5 singing Climb Every Mountain
17. He had eight brothers and sisters
18. His marriage to Lisa-Marie Presley lasted only 19 months
19. Jackson paid $47 million for the publishing rights to the Beatles back catalogue in 1985 and sold a share of to Sony in 1995 for $95 million
20. His middle name was Joseph
21. He was born on Aug 29, 1958
22. At the Brit Awards in 1996 Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker took exception to his bombastic performance of Earth Song and ran on to the stage
23. Jackson was very fond of Mexican food
24. In 1993 Jackson’s dermatologist said he had a rare skin disease called vitiligo, which causes sufferers to lose pigmentation in their skin
25. Thriller is the world’s best-selling record of all time with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide
26. Two of his other albums – Bad and Dangerous – are also among the world’s best-selling records
27. He popularised dance moves including the robot and the moonwalk
28. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice
29. He won 13 Grammy Awards
30. Billie Jean was the first video by a black artist to air on MTV.
31. Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State Anthem, South Carolina on My Mind.
32. He has waxworks in five Madame Tussauds museums across the world. Only Elvis Presley and Madonna have more.
33. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide
34. His favourite superhero is Morph from X-Men
35. He had a pet ram called Mr Tibbs
36. His total lifetime earnings from music are estimated at $500 million
37. Jackson regularly wore a black armband to remind people of children suffering around the world.
38. The moonwalk was picked up from street dancers
39. Little Richard wanted to be played by Jackson in a biopic
40. Jackson had a pet python called Crusher
41. In 1984 a French fan committed suicide because he couldn’t have surgery to look like Jackson
42. The video for Scream was the most expensive ever at £3.8 million.
43. A library once accused the singer of owing $1 million in overdue book fines
44. Jackson was a vegetarian
45. He won an MTV award for Best Movie Song in 1994. It was for Will You Be There from the movie Free Willy
46. HIStory was the biggest selling double album ever released in the United States
47. Jackson was given a royal title in the Ivory Coast in 1992
48. Before concerts he would drink Ricola candy dissolved in hot water
49. His birthplace Gary, Indiana, is planning a museum in his honour
50. The singer patented a shoe device that allowed dancers to lean forward at gravity defying angles
51. He was a best man at Liza Minnelli’s wedding to David Gest
52. The largest television audience in US history watched him perform at half time during the 1993 Super Bowl
53. Martin Scorcese once directed a Jackson video
54. A survey in 1997 declared him the Most Famous Person in the World
55. He paid $1.5 million in 1999 to buy for the 1939 Oscar for best film won by Gone With The Wind
56. Jackson once described Elizabeth Taylor as “a warm cuddly blanket that I love to snuggle up to”
57. He recorded a voice-over on The Simpsons
58. Macauley Culkin is godfather to two of Jackson’s children
59. Jackson co-wrote We Are The World with Lionel Richie
60. He is godfather to Nicole Richie
61. He is also godfather to Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb’s son Michael
62. Jackson shares a birthday with Sir Richard Attenborough and actress Rebecca DeMornay
63. At the time of his death Jackson was rehearsing for his greatest comeback, with 50 shows scheduled in London
64. He was four years old when he began singing with his brothers Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie and Tito in the Jackson 5
65. The Jackson 5’s number one hits included “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There”
66. In 2002 Jackson caused controversy when he playfully dangled his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin in front of fans
67. MC Hammer once challenged Jackson to a dance off
68. In a TV documentary he acknowledged sharing his bed with children but described the practice as sweet, and not sexual
69. During production of a 1984 Pepsi advertisement Jackson sustained burns when an explosion set his hair on fire
70. Jackson’s 13 number one hits on the US Billboard charts put him behind only Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Mariah Carey
71. Jackson’s father Joseph worked in a steel mill
72. Joseph Jackson and his brother Luther were in an R&B band called The Falcons
73. Michael was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness by his mother
74. In a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey the singer spoke of a traumatic childhood including suffering from loneliness
75. Jackson showed his singing talent at the age of five when he performed at a Christmas recital
76. The family band was originally called the Jackson Brothers
77. Michael was promoted to joint lead vocals at the age of eight and the band became the Jackson 5
78. They toured extensively in the US Midwest from 1966 to 1968
79. He initially used his eccentricities to promote his music but strongly disliked the “Wacko Jacko” nickname
80. Wild stories about him included that he slept in an oxygen chamber and that he bought the bones of The Elephant Man.
81. During the world tour for Bad he performed to 4.4 million people
82. His first autobiography, Moon Walk, took four years to complete
83. The book reached the top of The New York Times best sellers’ list
84. Jackson admitted to having had two nose jobs
85. He suggested weight loss and a strict vegetarian diet had contributed to the change in his appearance
86. He paid $17 million in 1988 for the land in California that became the Neverland Ranch
87. The 2,700-acre property had a theme park, a menagerie, and a movie theatre.
88. Its grounds were protected by a security staff of 40
89. Neverland was valued at $100 million in 2003
90. The profits from his single “Man in the Mirror” went to charity
91. In 1991 he signed a contract with Sony worth $65 million
92. In 1992 he founded the Heal the World Foundation which brought underprivileged children to Neverland and made donations worldwide
93. When he visited the African country of Gabon 100,000 people turned out to see him
94. Jackson’s most famous pet was Bubbles the chimpanzee
95. Bubbles was adopted at the age of three from a cancer research clinic in Texas.
96. Bubbles sat in on recording sessions for the Bad album and accompanied Jackson to Tokyo
97. The artist Jeff Koons made a series of sculptures of Jackson and Bubbles
98. Jackson fathered two children with Deborah Jeanne Rowe – Michael Joseph Jackson Junior (also known as “Prince”) and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson
99. The couple divorced in 1999 and Rowe gave full custody rights to Jackson
100. Vitiligo, the skin disease from which he suffered, affects 1 to 2 per cent to 2 per cent of the population