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Michael Jackson Dies at 50
Los Angeles police have confirmed to KTLA that Pop star Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50.
Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center by ambulance this afternoon after suffering from cardiac arrest, fire officials confirm. Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda said paramedics responded to a 911 call at Jackson's home around 12:26 p.m.
The 50-year old was not breathing when they arrived. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda says.
Jackson is renting a home in the Holmby Hills in the 100 block of Carolwood Drive off Sunset Boulevard. It is only a few minutes from the UCLA Medical Center.
Jackson's mother, Katherine, arrived at UCLA around 2:30 p.m. Jackson's father, Joe, who is in Las Vegas, told reporters earlier that son was "not doing well."
His sister Latoya reportedly ran from the hospital emergency room in tears after seeing her brother.
The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center has been roped off Thursday with police tape. News trucks surrounded the hospital, helicopters flew overhead, and traffic was being redirected.
No word on the location of Jackson's 3 children, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.
Michael Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become some of the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).
In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"-credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool-helped bring the relatively new channel to fame.
Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s.
With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk.
His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.
Jackson has donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities.
Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearance and behavior, generated significant controversy, damaging his public image.
Source: Fox2now.com