Michael Jackson dies at age 50, a true tragedy.

6/25/09 - Los Angeles CA Fire Department Paramedics rushed pop icon Michael Jackson to UCLA Medical Center on suspicion of a heart attack earlier today. According to Captain Steve Ruda, paramedics arrived at the home of the singer around 12:26 p.m. today. He was unconscious and not breathing when they arrived.

As I was writing this hub, I received an email from my mom saying it was on the news that Michael Jackson had died. I immediately looked Yahoo and CNN.com and found the devestating news. An unauthorized person close to the situation reported the news to the Associated Press. Later, the singer's brother Randy Jackson confirmed to CNN that he was indeed deceased.

The singer's death brings an end to a bizarre and tragic life. In April of this year it was reported that Jackson was near bankruptcy. In an attempt to clear his debt he entered into a debt consolidation arrangement that would cause him to forfeit a share of his music catalog including at a minimum of 200 Beatles songs. Under the arrangement the singer an option to buy half of his 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, which allowed him to re-finance $300 million of outstanding loans. The singer appartently went into debt during his fight against the child moloestation charges. He was aquitted of all charges in 2005.

The singer is reported to having faced several lawsuits stemming from his financial situation. Prescient Acquisitions Group, Inc., filed a lawsuit against Jackson in July 2008 claiming that he owed them $48 million in fees. Presicent claims to hold the note on the $272.5 million dollar debt that the singer owed Bank of America. Apparantly they gathered investors to help him out of this debt.

Michael Jackson hit his peak in the 1980's with songs like 'Thriller' and 'Billie Jean'. His creative crotch grabbing and moon walking dance style captivated audiences world wide. The 'Thriller' Album remains the biggest selling album of all time. More than 50 million copies have been sold. He stood out among the crowd with his single-sequened studded gloved hand, military jacket, and his high-pitched squeals. There will never be another performer like him. This is a devestating loss to the music industry.

After hitting a career high, it also declined. He became surrounded by years of controversy and court appearences. His skin became lighter and his his nose narrower. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland Ranch. He was often seen wearing a surgical mask to ward off germs and one of his closest companians was a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles.

The singer recently rented a French Chateau Estate that was built in 2002 on Carolwood Drive off of Sunset Boulevard. It is reported that the home rented for $100,000 a month. The massive estate consisted of seven bedrooms, thirteen bathrooms, twelve fireplaces and a movie theater. Jackson rented this home on the cusp of attempting to revive his career in a comeback. In May the singer started rehearsing for a series of 50 sold out shows in London's O2 Arena. Two billionaires were reportedly backing the 'King of Pop' so he could get back on stage. The vision included concert perfromances on a three year world tour, a new album, possible movies, a Gracelanesque type museum, and even possibly a 'Thriller' Casino in Las Vegas. The rebound was hoped to wipe out his massive debt.

Michael Jackson was born August 29th, 1958. His parents are Joe and Katherine Jackson. His father was a steelworker. Michael began singing with his brothers and sisters in a group coined 'The Jackson 5'. The group was organized by their father. At age 10, Michael and the Jackson 5 had been signed to Motown Records. Michael was a natural performer and became the lead of the group. At age 11 he and the group made their first television appearance. The groups first four songs went to No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Charts. In 1972, he released his No. 1 hit 'Ben' as a solo artist. As the Jackson 5's popularity waned, Michael's career continued to flourish. In 1978 Jackson was in the film 'The Whiz'. His album 'Off The Wall' was released in 1979.

People began to copy his look, dressing like the star in his videos. His performance of the hit song 'Billie Jean' on a special Motown Anniversary show boosted his stardum to a new level. When his hair caught on fire during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial, it made worldwide news. The singer was on top of the world before age 25. He had been a star for more than half of his life. There's an old showbiz saying that goes, "When you are on top of the world, there is no where to go but down." He career went into a turbulant decline over the next several years.

The singer married twice. First he married the daughter of the late Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley in 2002. His second wife and mother of two of his three children is Debbie Rowe. His youngest child was born from an unknown surroget mother.  Debbie Rowe and the singer were in a bitter court battle over custody of the two oldest children. The singer was admonished in the press for holding his then nine month old son out of a hotel window while staying in Berlin. He later was reported to having said he would never intentionally endanger the lives of his children and that the incident was a mistake. The singer was reportedly attempting to show off the child to the crowd gathered below the hotel.

Over the many years interest in Jackson has never faded. He is loved by billions of fans worldwide. His comeback shows began sales in March and reportedly seventy-five thousand tickets sold in just four hours. The shows were postponed until 2010 as rumors circulated that Jackson's health had deteriated and that he was suffering from skin cancer. CEO of AEG Live, Randy Phillips reported that the singer was in tip top shape.

Rest in peace, Michael. You will be forever missed.