Shock and Grief Over Jackson’s Death: 
Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the '80s, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time. Probably no celebrity has been as revered and reviled over the past 40 years as Jackson, 50, who died Thursday in Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press. The troubled, reclusive star was rushed to UCLA Medical Center by paramedics responding to a call from his home at about 12:30 p.m. Around the country and the world Friday, legions of grief-stricken fans of the King of Pop mourned the sudden death of Michael Jackson with spontaneous flower-laden memorials and emotional tributes, as the autopsy to determine the cause of his mysterious death was underwayin Los Angeles. From Sydney to Hong Kong, China to Los Angeles, fans spoke of their shock and sadness. They gathered outside left flowers and a teddy bear outside his childhood home in Gary, Ind. Immediately after Jackson's death was confirmed, a confection of impromptu tributes burst around the country and the world. Fans gathered near the UCLA Medical Center to remember the good times. The cause of Jackson's death was not immediately announced, nor were circumstances surrounding it. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics got to his Los Angeles home. 
His career was certainly a thriller, but his life was a story of epic proportions as well, from childhood fame to superstardom to financial troubles, accusations of child molestation and increasing isolation. The child prodigy Jackson began singing at age 5 with his four older brothers, winning local talent contests in their hometown of Gary, Ind. Eventually, the brothers formed the Jackson 5 and began playing professional gigs in venues across the Midwest. The defendant In recent years, Jackson spent far more time in court than on stage. In addition to assorted civil lawsuits over concerts and other business arrangements that fell apart, Jackson was most notoriously entangled in the legal system over accusations of sexual misconduct with children. In 1993 he was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy and settled the civil suit filed by the child's family for a reported $22 million. The boy in question refused to cooperate with investigators, who then never filed charges because of lack of evidence. Jackson was accused again in 2003 by a 13-year-old companion who was filmed in interviews for the documentary Living With Michael Jackson, holding hands and talking about sleeping in the same room. The friendship ended when child-welfare investigators looked into the relationship, and the boy and his family accused the singer of sexually mistreating him. The trial (pictured) became a media circus, though a jury ultimately acquitted him in 2005. The humanitarian Jackson had a huge soft spot for charitable causes. He gave millions of his own money and helped raise millions more to support advocacy groups ranging from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to the American Cancer Society. His efforts prompted a listing in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records for most charities supported by a pop star. He donated $1.5 million to a burn center, the proceeds from a settlement he received from PepsiCo after sustaining second-degree burns to his scalp while filming a 1984 TV commercial for the soft-drink giant. Later that year, he donated an additional $5 million to charity from his share of the Jackson 5's Victory Tour. Also that year, he was honored by President Reagan for his contributions to combat drug and alcohol abuse. Jackson also co-wrote with Lionel RichieWe Are the World, the star-laden 1985 single that sold 20 million copies, raising millions for famine relief. He reprised the song (pictured) at London's World Music Awards in 2006. Yet for all he gave away and the estimated $1 billion he grossed over his career, Jackson faced a series of cash crunches in recent years. In 2005, he owed an estimated $300 million to creditors and, a year later, closed the main house of his Neverland Ranch to cut costs. The superstar Jackson launched a solo career in 1972, not long after the Jackson 5's I Want You Back scaled the charts, though his first release was the modest-selling Got to Be There. He generated more sizzle with 1979's Off the Wall. But it was 1982's Thriller that provided Jackson his breakthrough. Thriller dominated music sales for the next two years, becoming the world's best-selling album of all time. Jackson could never duplicate Thriller's success, but his 1987 release, Bad, generated several hits. Through his career, the King of Pop won 13 Grammys and had 13 No. 1 hits. All told, Jackson sold 750 million albums.
 Escrito por by Andréa Parrode às 14:14
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