Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50
Legendary pop star had been preparing for London comeback tour
Michael Jackson had been planning to start a series of comeback concerts in London and had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. Promoters of the shows said in March that he had passed a lengthy physical examination.
BREAKING NEWS
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
Michael Jackson has died at age 50 after being rushed to UCLA Medical Center, NBC News has confirmed.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda told the L.A. Times that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home and CPR was performed.
TMZ.com reported that he may have suffered cardiac arrest.
Jackson had been due to start a series of comeback concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010. The singer, whose hits included “Thriller” and “Billie Jean,” had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months.
The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March.
His lifetime record sales tally is believed to be around 750 million, which, added to the 13 Grammy Awards he received, makes him one of the most successful entertainers of all time.
He lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation.
There were concerns about Jackson’s health in recent years but the promoters of the London shows, AEG Live, said in March that Jackson had passed a 4-1/2 hour physical examination with independent doctors.
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news," said Quincy Jones, a longtime friend of Jackson's and producer of his “Thriller” album. “For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. ... I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
A life in music
Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Ind., the seventh of nine children. Five Jackson boys — Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael — first performed together at a talent show when Michael was 6.
They walked off with first prize and went on to become a best-selling band, The Jackson Five, and then The Jackson 5.
Jackson made his first solo album in 1972, and released “Thriller” in 1982, which became a smash hit that yielded seven top-10 singles. The album sold 21 million copies in the United States and at least 27 million worldwide.
The next year, he unveiled his signature “moonwalk” dance move while performing “Billie Jean” during an NBC special.
In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley’s only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children before splitting in 1999. The couple never lived together.
Jackson has three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, who was known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.
Check back with msnbc.com for updates on this breaking story.
© 2009 msnbc.com
Anniversary of Michael Jackson's death
Moderator: doug
Anniversary of Michael Jackson's death
by doug » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:53 pm
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King of Pop leaves legacy of a boy prince
by doug » Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:04 pm
King of Pop leaves the legacy of a boy prince
Famous since childhood, singer was never comfortable in adult world
COMMENTARY
By Michael Ventre
msnbc.com contributor
Most kings are destined to be remembered as kings, not as the person they had been before ascending to power. Even though Michael Jackson earned recognition as the King of Pop, the legacy he leaves is that of a boy prince.
Michael Jackson was never comfortable in the adult world. Early on he recognized he would be the happiest in the land of Ferris wheels, cotton candy, docile animals and 24/7 playtime, and he clung to that life. He looked at film of the Jackson 5, circa 1968, noticed the front man was a kid, and wondered whatever happened to that boy’s childhood.
Michael Jackson passed away today. It’s always sad when parents outlast their children. It’s even sadder when the inner child and the adult can’t decide who will go first.
In 1966, when Michael Jackson was almost 8, the Jackson 5 was born. Soon after, these talented young men from Gary, Ind., found themselves playing in seedy nightclubs and dodgy strip joints. That isn’t so bad, in most cases. The musical artist who demands only a dignified path to stardom usually spends a lonely life in the garage or basement. Humble beginnings, or even humiliating ones, come with the territory.
But when you’re a kid, and your father is pushing you ever harder to work and achieve and succeed like Joseph Jackson pushed, the road becomes mean and the spirit turns cold. Michael’s boyhood was Dickensian, even though he grew up in a tight African-American family from an unforgiving industrial region of the Midwest that went on to become rich.
The world knew that Michael Jackson — the 8-year-old with the mini-Afro, the 1,000-watt smile and the footwork of a vaudevillian — as being perennially upbeat. But inside, he had to be wishing that he could skip the next gig and hang out with some kids his age. He had to be lamenting the fact that while the family was going places, he wanted to remain behind a little longer in childhood.
As he grew older, he became a greatly admired creative force. The “Off the Wall” album in 1979 sent his star into a new galaxy. “Thriller,” in 1982, became the biggest-selling album of all time. He had movie projects, he bought the Beatles’ catalog, he did “Captain EO” for Disney theme parks, he co-wrote “We Are the World.” He seemed to have his gloved hand in everything.
Fame made him tabloid fodder
But amid all the success, there was the residual dissatisfaction and longing. The more famous he became, the more he seemed to withdraw from the attention, usually in highly peculiar ways. Much of what was written about him was fiction. Yet because he had a chimpanzee, because he owned Neverland Ranch with all its childlike wonder, because he seemed to alter his physical appearance with each public appearance, he was constant fodder for the media, legitimate and otherwise.
He also made headlines with two marriages, first to Lisa Marie Presley and then to Deborah Rowe, with whom he had two children. The scrutiny intensified.
Like any showman, Jackson drew the spotlight to himself. He was quiet, soft-spoken and fragile, but he knew the business as well as anyone. The freak, the eccentric, the “Wacko Jacko,” might all have been unflattering descriptions, but a lot of the buzz was the result of his own orchestration. He knew that when Michael Jackson set one foot onto any stage, the klieg lights would illuminate it. And when he could work it to his advantage, he did just that.
The struggle between the naïve child and the savvy grown man turned Michael Jackson into a riddle of which the press and the public never grew tired.
The interest was never greater than during Jackson’s trial on sexual molestation charges near Santa Barbara, Calif., in 2003. He was eventually acquitted, but it revealed the most inappropriate aspects of Jackson’s desire to be among children. Whether you were a cynic who felt he was a pedophile who escaped justice, or whether you were a supporter who believed he was a misunderstood genius who only wanted to help people, he certainly seemed to invite trouble, whether through naivete or lasciviousness or a strange brew of both.
After that, there were various Michael Jackson reports. He was living in Bahrain. He was living in Nevada. He was preparing a major tour. He was pondering an extended engagement in Vegas. He lost Neverland Ranch. He made a deal to save it.
What usually was missing from any Michael Jackson report in the past 25 years or so was the music. There was a time when soul and rhythm and blues ruled, when Motown was a dominant force in the record business, when acts such as Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Temptations and the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye were as big in their world as the Beatles and Elvis Presley were in theirs.
They didn’t get that way through subterfuge, gimmicks or spin. They crafted radio-friendly songs that were vibrant and passionate and original, and they made an impact on the music business that is still felt today in newer generations of artists.
The Jacksons were right in the middle of all that. They produced hits such as “I’ll Be There,” “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “Never Can Say Goodbye” that burned up the charts and remain pop classics. Then Michael went solo and combined songwriting prowess with performance legerdemain to become one of the most astonishing acts ever. Songs such as “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Rock With You,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Thriller,” to name a few, have endured — and will endure.
Perhaps those songs will make future generations forget about the unusual and the unfortunate involving a modern-day prince with king-sized accomplishments and a child’s imagination.
© 2009 msnbc.com
Famous since childhood, singer was never comfortable in adult world
COMMENTARY
By Michael Ventre
msnbc.com contributor
Most kings are destined to be remembered as kings, not as the person they had been before ascending to power. Even though Michael Jackson earned recognition as the King of Pop, the legacy he leaves is that of a boy prince.
Michael Jackson was never comfortable in the adult world. Early on he recognized he would be the happiest in the land of Ferris wheels, cotton candy, docile animals and 24/7 playtime, and he clung to that life. He looked at film of the Jackson 5, circa 1968, noticed the front man was a kid, and wondered whatever happened to that boy’s childhood.
Michael Jackson passed away today. It’s always sad when parents outlast their children. It’s even sadder when the inner child and the adult can’t decide who will go first.
In 1966, when Michael Jackson was almost 8, the Jackson 5 was born. Soon after, these talented young men from Gary, Ind., found themselves playing in seedy nightclubs and dodgy strip joints. That isn’t so bad, in most cases. The musical artist who demands only a dignified path to stardom usually spends a lonely life in the garage or basement. Humble beginnings, or even humiliating ones, come with the territory.
But when you’re a kid, and your father is pushing you ever harder to work and achieve and succeed like Joseph Jackson pushed, the road becomes mean and the spirit turns cold. Michael’s boyhood was Dickensian, even though he grew up in a tight African-American family from an unforgiving industrial region of the Midwest that went on to become rich.
The world knew that Michael Jackson — the 8-year-old with the mini-Afro, the 1,000-watt smile and the footwork of a vaudevillian — as being perennially upbeat. But inside, he had to be wishing that he could skip the next gig and hang out with some kids his age. He had to be lamenting the fact that while the family was going places, he wanted to remain behind a little longer in childhood.
As he grew older, he became a greatly admired creative force. The “Off the Wall” album in 1979 sent his star into a new galaxy. “Thriller,” in 1982, became the biggest-selling album of all time. He had movie projects, he bought the Beatles’ catalog, he did “Captain EO” for Disney theme parks, he co-wrote “We Are the World.” He seemed to have his gloved hand in everything.
Fame made him tabloid fodder
But amid all the success, there was the residual dissatisfaction and longing. The more famous he became, the more he seemed to withdraw from the attention, usually in highly peculiar ways. Much of what was written about him was fiction. Yet because he had a chimpanzee, because he owned Neverland Ranch with all its childlike wonder, because he seemed to alter his physical appearance with each public appearance, he was constant fodder for the media, legitimate and otherwise.
He also made headlines with two marriages, first to Lisa Marie Presley and then to Deborah Rowe, with whom he had two children. The scrutiny intensified.
Like any showman, Jackson drew the spotlight to himself. He was quiet, soft-spoken and fragile, but he knew the business as well as anyone. The freak, the eccentric, the “Wacko Jacko,” might all have been unflattering descriptions, but a lot of the buzz was the result of his own orchestration. He knew that when Michael Jackson set one foot onto any stage, the klieg lights would illuminate it. And when he could work it to his advantage, he did just that.
The struggle between the naïve child and the savvy grown man turned Michael Jackson into a riddle of which the press and the public never grew tired.
The interest was never greater than during Jackson’s trial on sexual molestation charges near Santa Barbara, Calif., in 2003. He was eventually acquitted, but it revealed the most inappropriate aspects of Jackson’s desire to be among children. Whether you were a cynic who felt he was a pedophile who escaped justice, or whether you were a supporter who believed he was a misunderstood genius who only wanted to help people, he certainly seemed to invite trouble, whether through naivete or lasciviousness or a strange brew of both.
After that, there were various Michael Jackson reports. He was living in Bahrain. He was living in Nevada. He was preparing a major tour. He was pondering an extended engagement in Vegas. He lost Neverland Ranch. He made a deal to save it.
What usually was missing from any Michael Jackson report in the past 25 years or so was the music. There was a time when soul and rhythm and blues ruled, when Motown was a dominant force in the record business, when acts such as Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Temptations and the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye were as big in their world as the Beatles and Elvis Presley were in theirs.
They didn’t get that way through subterfuge, gimmicks or spin. They crafted radio-friendly songs that were vibrant and passionate and original, and they made an impact on the music business that is still felt today in newer generations of artists.
The Jacksons were right in the middle of all that. They produced hits such as “I’ll Be There,” “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “Never Can Say Goodbye” that burned up the charts and remain pop classics. Then Michael went solo and combined songwriting prowess with performance legerdemain to become one of the most astonishing acts ever. Songs such as “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Rock With You,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Thriller,” to name a few, have endured — and will endure.
Perhaps those songs will make future generations forget about the unusual and the unfortunate involving a modern-day prince with king-sized accomplishments and a child’s imagination.
© 2009 msnbc.com
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
- doug
- Posts: 24813
- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:06 pm
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Jackson?s body taken to mortuary
by doug » Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:44 am
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
Jackson’s body taken to mortuary
Pop legend’s remains moved to unidentified mortuary from coroner’s office
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
LOS ANGELES - The final act of Michael Jackson's life has come into clearer focus, a picture of a fallen superstar working out with TV's "Incredible Hulk" and under the care of his own private cardiologist as he tried to get his 50-year-old body in shape for a grueling bid to reclaim his glory.
While the exact circumstances of his death remained unclear, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said there were no signs of foul play or trauma.
Ed Winter of the coroner's office told reporters Friday night that Jackson's body had been transported to a mortuary at around 9:15 p.m. PDT.
Jackson's remains had been "moved to an undisclosed location per a family privacy request. There is also a security hold and so I can't discuss the location," Winter said.
The autopsy was completed in a matter of hours, but an official cause of death could take up to six weeks while medical examiners await toxicology tests. No funeral plans have been made public.
Jackson's brother Jermaine has said the pop singer apparently went into cardiac arrest on Thursday, leading to his death.
Craig Harvey, a spokesman for the coroner, said earlier that further tests would be needed to determine the cause of death. He said Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medication but gave few other details.
Police said they had towed the doctor's BMW from Jackson's home because it may include medication or other evidence.
Authorities said they spoke with Jackson's private doctor briefly Thursday and Friday and expected to meet with him again soon. Police stressed that the doctor, identified by the Los Angeles Times as cardiologist Conrad Murray, was not a criminal suspect.
"We do not consider him to be uncooperative at this time," said police Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said. "We think that he will assist us in coming to the truth of the facts in this case."
As grief for the King of Pop poured out from the icons of music to heartbroken fans, and the world came to grips with losing one of the most luminous celebrities of all time, an autopsy showed no sign of trauma or foul play to Jackson, who died Thursday at UCLA Medical Center after paramedics not could not revive him.
Desperate 911 call
Meanwhile, an emergency dispatch call released by fire officials shed light on the desperate effort at the mansion to save Jackson's life before paramedics arrived Thursday afternoon. Jackson died later at UCLA Medical Center.
In the recording, an unidentified caller pleads with authorities to send help, offering no clues about why Jackson was stricken. He tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.
"He's pumping his chest," the caller says, "but he's not responding to anything."
Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."
The president of the company promoting Jackson's shows said Murray was Jackson's personal physician for three years. Jackson insisted Murray accompany him to London, said Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live.
Phillips quoted Jackson as saying: "Look, this whole business revolves around me. I'm a machine, and we have to keep the machine well-oiled." Phillips said Jackson submitted to at least five hours of physicals that insurers had insisted on.
Jackson had remained out of the public spotlight during intense rehearsals for the London concerts, but those with access said he was upbeat and seemingly energized by his planned comeback. Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammys, said he watched Jackson dance energetically as recently as Wednesday.
"There was this one moment, he was moving across the stage and he was doing these trademark Michael moves, and I know I got this big grin on my face, and I started thinking to myself, 'You know, it's been years since I've seen that,'" he said.
Lou Ferrigno, the star of "The Incredible Hulk," said he had been working out with Jackson for the past several months.
Precarious health
Still, Jackson's health had been known to be precarious in recent years, and one family friend said Friday that he had warned the entertainer's family about his use of painkillers.
"I said one day we're going to have this experience. And when Anna Nicole Smith passed away, I said we cannot have this kind of thing with Michael Jackson," Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and family friend, told NBC's TODAY. "The result was I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don't know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are."
Oxman claimed Jackson had prescription drugs at his disposal to help with pain suffered when he broke his leg after he fell off a stage and for broken vertebrae in his back.
The worldwide wave of mourning for Jackson continued unabated for the man who revolutionized pop music and moonwalked his way into entertainment legend.
"My heart, my mind are broken," said Elizabeth Taylor, who was one of Jackson's closest friends and married one of her husbands at a lavish wedding at the pop star's Neverland Ranch in 1991. She said she had heard the news as she was preparing to travel to London for Jackson's comeback show, and added, "I can't imagine life without him."
Tributes
Hundreds made a pilgrimage to the Jackson family's compound in Los Angeles, leaving flowers and messages of love. They did the same at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and at the home in Los Angeles' Holmby Hills where Jackson was stricken. Some camped out overnight.
In New York, people stopped at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where Jackson had performed as a child with his brothers in one of rock's first bubblegum supergroups, the Jackson 5.
Diana Ross, the former lead singer of the Supremes who introduced the Jackson 5 at their debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1969, said she could not stop crying. "I am unable to imagine this," she said. "My heart is hurting."
His two ex-wives both said they were devastated. One of them, Lisa Marie Presley, posted a long, emotional statement on her MySpace page in which she said her ex-husband had confided to her 14 years ago that he feared dying young and under tragic circumstances, just as her father, Elvis Presley, had.
"I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that," Presley said.
Presley's father, the King of Rock 'n' Roll to Jackson's King of Pop, died in 1977 at age 42 of a drug-related death.
The White House also weighed in for the first time, with a spokesman saying President Barack Obama saw Jackson as a spectacular performer and music icon whose life nonetheless had sad and tragic aspects. The House of Representatives observed a moment of silence.
At rehearsals for Sunday's Black Entertainment Awards show, stars like Beyonce, Wyclef Jean and Ne-Yo were frantically revamping their performances in an effort to turn the evening into a Michael Jackson tribute.
Taking a toll
When he was on trial on child molestation charges in 2005, Jackson appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems that he attributed to stress. His trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits, and Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.
After his acquittal, Jackson's prosecutor argued against returning some items that had been seized from Neverland, the Santa Barbara County estate Jackson had converted into a children's playland. Among the items were syringes, the powerful painkiller Demerol and other prescription drugs.
Demerol carries a long list of warnings to users. The government warns that mixing it with certain other drugs can lead to reactions including slowed or stopped breathing, shock and cardiac arrest.
NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2009 MSNBC.com
Jackson’s body taken to mortuary
Pop legend’s remains moved to unidentified mortuary from coroner’s office
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
LOS ANGELES - The final act of Michael Jackson's life has come into clearer focus, a picture of a fallen superstar working out with TV's "Incredible Hulk" and under the care of his own private cardiologist as he tried to get his 50-year-old body in shape for a grueling bid to reclaim his glory.
While the exact circumstances of his death remained unclear, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said there were no signs of foul play or trauma.
Ed Winter of the coroner's office told reporters Friday night that Jackson's body had been transported to a mortuary at around 9:15 p.m. PDT.
Jackson's remains had been "moved to an undisclosed location per a family privacy request. There is also a security hold and so I can't discuss the location," Winter said.
The autopsy was completed in a matter of hours, but an official cause of death could take up to six weeks while medical examiners await toxicology tests. No funeral plans have been made public.
Jackson's brother Jermaine has said the pop singer apparently went into cardiac arrest on Thursday, leading to his death.
Craig Harvey, a spokesman for the coroner, said earlier that further tests would be needed to determine the cause of death. He said Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medication but gave few other details.
Police said they had towed the doctor's BMW from Jackson's home because it may include medication or other evidence.
Authorities said they spoke with Jackson's private doctor briefly Thursday and Friday and expected to meet with him again soon. Police stressed that the doctor, identified by the Los Angeles Times as cardiologist Conrad Murray, was not a criminal suspect.
"We do not consider him to be uncooperative at this time," said police Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said. "We think that he will assist us in coming to the truth of the facts in this case."
As grief for the King of Pop poured out from the icons of music to heartbroken fans, and the world came to grips with losing one of the most luminous celebrities of all time, an autopsy showed no sign of trauma or foul play to Jackson, who died Thursday at UCLA Medical Center after paramedics not could not revive him.
Desperate 911 call
Meanwhile, an emergency dispatch call released by fire officials shed light on the desperate effort at the mansion to save Jackson's life before paramedics arrived Thursday afternoon. Jackson died later at UCLA Medical Center.
In the recording, an unidentified caller pleads with authorities to send help, offering no clues about why Jackson was stricken. He tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.
"He's pumping his chest," the caller says, "but he's not responding to anything."
Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."
The president of the company promoting Jackson's shows said Murray was Jackson's personal physician for three years. Jackson insisted Murray accompany him to London, said Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live.
Phillips quoted Jackson as saying: "Look, this whole business revolves around me. I'm a machine, and we have to keep the machine well-oiled." Phillips said Jackson submitted to at least five hours of physicals that insurers had insisted on.
Jackson had remained out of the public spotlight during intense rehearsals for the London concerts, but those with access said he was upbeat and seemingly energized by his planned comeback. Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammys, said he watched Jackson dance energetically as recently as Wednesday.
"There was this one moment, he was moving across the stage and he was doing these trademark Michael moves, and I know I got this big grin on my face, and I started thinking to myself, 'You know, it's been years since I've seen that,'" he said.
Lou Ferrigno, the star of "The Incredible Hulk," said he had been working out with Jackson for the past several months.
Precarious health
Still, Jackson's health had been known to be precarious in recent years, and one family friend said Friday that he had warned the entertainer's family about his use of painkillers.
"I said one day we're going to have this experience. And when Anna Nicole Smith passed away, I said we cannot have this kind of thing with Michael Jackson," Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and family friend, told NBC's TODAY. "The result was I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don't know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are."
Oxman claimed Jackson had prescription drugs at his disposal to help with pain suffered when he broke his leg after he fell off a stage and for broken vertebrae in his back.
The worldwide wave of mourning for Jackson continued unabated for the man who revolutionized pop music and moonwalked his way into entertainment legend.
"My heart, my mind are broken," said Elizabeth Taylor, who was one of Jackson's closest friends and married one of her husbands at a lavish wedding at the pop star's Neverland Ranch in 1991. She said she had heard the news as she was preparing to travel to London for Jackson's comeback show, and added, "I can't imagine life without him."
Tributes
Hundreds made a pilgrimage to the Jackson family's compound in Los Angeles, leaving flowers and messages of love. They did the same at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and at the home in Los Angeles' Holmby Hills where Jackson was stricken. Some camped out overnight.
In New York, people stopped at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where Jackson had performed as a child with his brothers in one of rock's first bubblegum supergroups, the Jackson 5.
Diana Ross, the former lead singer of the Supremes who introduced the Jackson 5 at their debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1969, said she could not stop crying. "I am unable to imagine this," she said. "My heart is hurting."
His two ex-wives both said they were devastated. One of them, Lisa Marie Presley, posted a long, emotional statement on her MySpace page in which she said her ex-husband had confided to her 14 years ago that he feared dying young and under tragic circumstances, just as her father, Elvis Presley, had.
"I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that," Presley said.
Presley's father, the King of Rock 'n' Roll to Jackson's King of Pop, died in 1977 at age 42 of a drug-related death.
The White House also weighed in for the first time, with a spokesman saying President Barack Obama saw Jackson as a spectacular performer and music icon whose life nonetheless had sad and tragic aspects. The House of Representatives observed a moment of silence.
At rehearsals for Sunday's Black Entertainment Awards show, stars like Beyonce, Wyclef Jean and Ne-Yo were frantically revamping their performances in an effort to turn the evening into a Michael Jackson tribute.
Taking a toll
When he was on trial on child molestation charges in 2005, Jackson appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems that he attributed to stress. His trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits, and Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.
After his acquittal, Jackson's prosecutor argued against returning some items that had been seized from Neverland, the Santa Barbara County estate Jackson had converted into a children's playland. Among the items were syringes, the powerful painkiller Demerol and other prescription drugs.
Demerol carries a long list of warnings to users. The government warns that mixing it with certain other drugs can lead to reactions including slowed or stopped breathing, shock and cardiac arrest.
NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2009 MSNBC.com
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by doug » Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:00 am
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
Jackson was energetic, upbeat in final days
‘He was working hard, setting the example,’ says sound stage manager
Michael Jackson is shown in Los Angeles during rehearsals for his concerts that were scheduled to take place in London.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The “King of Pop” seemed driven and upbeat in the weeks, even hours, before his death as he rehearsed rigorously for a series of 50 concerts in London that were to begin a late-career comeback.
Friends and colleagues said Friday that Jackson appeared in recent months to be rejuvenated by the prospect of performing again.
After years of seclusion following a child sex scandal, the pop icon was heavily involved in all aspects of the concert rehearsals. He had hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day, they said.
“He was working hard, setting the example, overseeing the choreography, kicking butt and taking names,” said Johnny Caswell, president of Centerstaging, a Burbank sound stage where Jackson rehearsed until late May. “He was ready to blow everybody out of the water. This was going to be the biggest extravaganza, entertainment spectacle ever.”
Jackson was involved in all areas of planning, including watching auditions and choosing the backup dancers who would appear with him, said Maryss Courchinoux, a 29-year-old dancer from Paris who sought a place on stage with Jackson.
Courchinoux said she had been selected as a backup dancer for the London concerts and had been fitted for a costume. She had been invited to Thursday’s rehearsal in Los Angeles to meet Jackson and watch the practice to help prepare for her role, she said.
On the same day, Jackson was pronounced dead after collapsing at his home in Holmby Hills, a swanky neighborhood near Bel Air.
‘I feel blessed we got to dance in his presence’
Courchinoux recounted how Jackson was in the audience as she auditioned in April, when she performed a set routine and then was asked to do freestyle dances — a hip-hop style called “pop-ins.”
From the stage, she could make out Jackson’s profile and his glasses where he sat in the empty auditorium. Friends later told her that Jackson jumped up and applauded after her group performed.
“I knew it was him, and I knew I was in his presence,” she said. “In a way, I feel blessed that we got to dance in his presence, and I was looking forward to meeting him yesterday,” she said, choking back tears.
“It was my dream since I was six years old. I guess there was a different plan.”
Rehearsals for the tour began in late March, Caswell said.
Jackson and his choreographers, band and dancers took over about four of the 11 studios at Centerstaging. Jackson would wander in and out of the studios, keeping tabs on the work and would often sit on a large black leather couch and listen to the band practice.
He frequently offered band members suggestions and took an interest in the mixing levels for the concert’s soundtrack, according to those who worked with him at the sound stage. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they had signed confidentiality agreements.
Caswell and other workers at the studio said Jackson would arrive in an SUV, with another vehicle following, about four or five times a week. One of the SUVs ferried Jackson, but the second was to fake out the paparazzi and European fans who flocked outside the studio’s doors. Jackson, an infamous recluse, would occasionally crack a window and allow fans to pass CDs in for him to autograph.
“There would be tons of fans — European fans — they weren’t sharing the information with anyone else that he was coming here with anyone else. They didn’t want to spoil the exclusivity,” Caswell said.
Max Miller, a dispatch manager at the studios, said he saw the singer work on a transition routine between two songs.
Miller’s team aimed a spotlight at the stage area as Jackson, wearing a black suit, practiced the moves with no music and just a metronome clicking.
“He was totally dancing like top-notch. He seemed totally good,” Miller said. “He seemed totally cool and really focused.”
Friends amazed by his vitality
As focused as energized as he was in Burbank, Jackson seemed even more excited about his comeback as the concert date approached.
He recently moved his rehearsals to The Forum, the Los Angeles Lakers’ former arena in Inglewood, and ultimately to the Staples Center, where he was rehearsing daily, sometimes for hours.
Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of Grammy Awards, said he met Jackson there on Wednesday for a business meeting and spoke to him for about 20 minutes before Jackson invited him to watch him rehearse.
Ehrlich, who has known Jackson for years, said he was amazed by the singer’s vitality and focus as he practiced moves with backup dancers and a handful of choreographers.
The choreographers walked him through moves and gave him stage directions. They also introduced him to some new props and appeared to be working with Jackson to incorporate them into the show.
“Michael was digesting it all. He was learning, but even with that, there were times during the songs where his singing was full out,” Ehrlich said. “I would watch him move across the floor like the Michael of old. I was convinced (the comeback) was going to be the Michael of old.”
Ehrlich said he left after watching Jackson work through five or six numbers, but got chills from watching him — a memory that seems especially precious now. The star showed no signs that he would die less than 24 hours later, he said.
“There was this one moment, he was moving across the stage and he was doing these trademark Michael moves, and I know I got this big grin on my face, and I started thinking to myself, ‘You know, it’s been years since I’ve seen that,”’ he said.
“There was that Michael that was just like no one else and no one else could touch,” he said. “The shame is that new generation won’t see that — but we all came close to being able to see it again.”
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jackson was energetic, upbeat in final days
‘He was working hard, setting the example,’ says sound stage manager
Michael Jackson is shown in Los Angeles during rehearsals for his concerts that were scheduled to take place in London.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The “King of Pop” seemed driven and upbeat in the weeks, even hours, before his death as he rehearsed rigorously for a series of 50 concerts in London that were to begin a late-career comeback.
Friends and colleagues said Friday that Jackson appeared in recent months to be rejuvenated by the prospect of performing again.
After years of seclusion following a child sex scandal, the pop icon was heavily involved in all aspects of the concert rehearsals. He had hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day, they said.
“He was working hard, setting the example, overseeing the choreography, kicking butt and taking names,” said Johnny Caswell, president of Centerstaging, a Burbank sound stage where Jackson rehearsed until late May. “He was ready to blow everybody out of the water. This was going to be the biggest extravaganza, entertainment spectacle ever.”
Jackson was involved in all areas of planning, including watching auditions and choosing the backup dancers who would appear with him, said Maryss Courchinoux, a 29-year-old dancer from Paris who sought a place on stage with Jackson.
Courchinoux said she had been selected as a backup dancer for the London concerts and had been fitted for a costume. She had been invited to Thursday’s rehearsal in Los Angeles to meet Jackson and watch the practice to help prepare for her role, she said.
On the same day, Jackson was pronounced dead after collapsing at his home in Holmby Hills, a swanky neighborhood near Bel Air.
‘I feel blessed we got to dance in his presence’
Courchinoux recounted how Jackson was in the audience as she auditioned in April, when she performed a set routine and then was asked to do freestyle dances — a hip-hop style called “pop-ins.”
From the stage, she could make out Jackson’s profile and his glasses where he sat in the empty auditorium. Friends later told her that Jackson jumped up and applauded after her group performed.
“I knew it was him, and I knew I was in his presence,” she said. “In a way, I feel blessed that we got to dance in his presence, and I was looking forward to meeting him yesterday,” she said, choking back tears.
“It was my dream since I was six years old. I guess there was a different plan.”
Rehearsals for the tour began in late March, Caswell said.
Jackson and his choreographers, band and dancers took over about four of the 11 studios at Centerstaging. Jackson would wander in and out of the studios, keeping tabs on the work and would often sit on a large black leather couch and listen to the band practice.
He frequently offered band members suggestions and took an interest in the mixing levels for the concert’s soundtrack, according to those who worked with him at the sound stage. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they had signed confidentiality agreements.
Caswell and other workers at the studio said Jackson would arrive in an SUV, with another vehicle following, about four or five times a week. One of the SUVs ferried Jackson, but the second was to fake out the paparazzi and European fans who flocked outside the studio’s doors. Jackson, an infamous recluse, would occasionally crack a window and allow fans to pass CDs in for him to autograph.
“There would be tons of fans — European fans — they weren’t sharing the information with anyone else that he was coming here with anyone else. They didn’t want to spoil the exclusivity,” Caswell said.
Max Miller, a dispatch manager at the studios, said he saw the singer work on a transition routine between two songs.
Miller’s team aimed a spotlight at the stage area as Jackson, wearing a black suit, practiced the moves with no music and just a metronome clicking.
“He was totally dancing like top-notch. He seemed totally good,” Miller said. “He seemed totally cool and really focused.”
Friends amazed by his vitality
As focused as energized as he was in Burbank, Jackson seemed even more excited about his comeback as the concert date approached.
He recently moved his rehearsals to The Forum, the Los Angeles Lakers’ former arena in Inglewood, and ultimately to the Staples Center, where he was rehearsing daily, sometimes for hours.
Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of Grammy Awards, said he met Jackson there on Wednesday for a business meeting and spoke to him for about 20 minutes before Jackson invited him to watch him rehearse.
Ehrlich, who has known Jackson for years, said he was amazed by the singer’s vitality and focus as he practiced moves with backup dancers and a handful of choreographers.
The choreographers walked him through moves and gave him stage directions. They also introduced him to some new props and appeared to be working with Jackson to incorporate them into the show.
“Michael was digesting it all. He was learning, but even with that, there were times during the songs where his singing was full out,” Ehrlich said. “I would watch him move across the floor like the Michael of old. I was convinced (the comeback) was going to be the Michael of old.”
Ehrlich said he left after watching Jackson work through five or six numbers, but got chills from watching him — a memory that seems especially precious now. The star showed no signs that he would die less than 24 hours later, he said.
“There was this one moment, he was moving across the stage and he was doing these trademark Michael moves, and I know I got this big grin on my face, and I started thinking to myself, ‘You know, it’s been years since I’ve seen that,”’ he said.
“There was that Michael that was just like no one else and no one else could touch,” he said. “The shame is that new generation won’t see that — but we all came close to being able to see it again.”
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
- doug
- Posts: 24813
- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:06 pm
- Location: chapel hill, n.c.
Doc tells cops about Jackson?s final moments
by doug » Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:20 am
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
Doc tells cops about Jackson’s final moments
Cardiologist who was with star when he died is not a suspect, police say
msnbc.com news services
LOS ANGELES - The cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson during the pop star's final moments sat down with investigators for the first time to explain his actions — and left three hours later as a witness, not a suspect.
Dr. Conrad Murray "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," Murray's spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said in a statement Saturday. "Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy."
Murray, a physician with a tangled financial and personal history who was hired to accompany Jackson on his planned summer concert tour, reportedly performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The pop star was declared dead later at UCLA Medical Center.
Police confirmed that they interviewed Murray, adding that he was cooperative and "provided information which will aid the investigation."
The interview took place on a busy day when one of Jackson's lawyers was chosen to represent the family's legal interests and celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a star-studded public celebration of the King of Pop's life.
L. Londell McMillan, who represented Jackson last year in a breach of contact lawsuit and has advised high-profile clients such as Prince, was picked to help the family by Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.
'Abnormal'
The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson's family wanted a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.
"It's abnormal," Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."
The second autopsy was completed Saturday at the family's request, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Saturday evening, quoting unnamed sources.
People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.
Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.
There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said Saturday he had spoken with Jackson's brothers Jackie and Jermaine and plans to meet with the family Sunday at their request. The family is considering a series of simultaneous global celebrations and other ideas as they decide how to commemorate the life of the King of Pop, he says.
Sharpton says the family is frustrated that so much of the media attention has focused on Michael Jackson's problems. They want to make sure he's remembered for his spectacular contributions to music and culture.
Questions around children
It remains unclear who Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details — likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will — have not been released.
An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family "be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."
Sisters Janet and La Toya arrived Saturday at the mansion Jackson had been renting and left without addressing reporters. Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.
The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.
"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."
"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.
Organizers of the annual BET awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — scrambled to revamp Sunday's show to honor Jackson and his legacy.
Previously announced acts, such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, hoped to change their planned performances to honor Jackson, said producer Stephen Hill. Other artists who hadn't planned to attend the ceremony, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights to Los Angeles to participate.
A person close to the family told The Associated Press they feel upset and angry about a lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days. The person requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation.
Jackson never communicated to his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, the person said, adding that they were told by the singer’s phalanx of advisers that he likely had a will, but it may be many years old. The family is distrustful of what they are being told — but they are determined to find out more, the person said.
“There are decisions going down without the family being in the loop; it’s becoming an issue,” the person said.
Randy Phillips, AEG Live president and chief executive, said earlier Friday that it was Jackson who insisted that Murray, a financially troubled cardiologist who was with the entertainer when he collapsed Thursday, be put on the tour payroll.
Jackson had been rehearsing for 50 London concerts aimed at restoring his crown as the King of Pop. He died Thursday at age 50 after what his family said appeared to be cardiac arrest.
Desperate 911 call
A 911 call from Jackson's rented home reported that his personal doctor was trying to revive him without success.
An emergency dispatch call released by fire officials shed light on the desperate effort at the mansion to save Jackson's life before paramedics arrived Thursday afternoon.
In the recording, an unidentified caller pleads with authorities to send help, offering no clues about why Jackson was stricken. He tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.
"He's pumping his chest," the caller says, "but he's not responding to anything."
Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."
NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
© 2009 MSNBC.com
Doc tells cops about Jackson’s final moments
Cardiologist who was with star when he died is not a suspect, police say
msnbc.com news services
LOS ANGELES - The cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson during the pop star's final moments sat down with investigators for the first time to explain his actions — and left three hours later as a witness, not a suspect.
Dr. Conrad Murray "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," Murray's spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said in a statement Saturday. "Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy."
Murray, a physician with a tangled financial and personal history who was hired to accompany Jackson on his planned summer concert tour, reportedly performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The pop star was declared dead later at UCLA Medical Center.
Police confirmed that they interviewed Murray, adding that he was cooperative and "provided information which will aid the investigation."
The interview took place on a busy day when one of Jackson's lawyers was chosen to represent the family's legal interests and celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a star-studded public celebration of the King of Pop's life.
L. Londell McMillan, who represented Jackson last year in a breach of contact lawsuit and has advised high-profile clients such as Prince, was picked to help the family by Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.
'Abnormal'
The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson's family wanted a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.
"It's abnormal," Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."
The second autopsy was completed Saturday at the family's request, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Saturday evening, quoting unnamed sources.
People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.
Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.
There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said Saturday he had spoken with Jackson's brothers Jackie and Jermaine and plans to meet with the family Sunday at their request. The family is considering a series of simultaneous global celebrations and other ideas as they decide how to commemorate the life of the King of Pop, he says.
Sharpton says the family is frustrated that so much of the media attention has focused on Michael Jackson's problems. They want to make sure he's remembered for his spectacular contributions to music and culture.
Questions around children
It remains unclear who Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details — likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will — have not been released.
An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family "be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."
Sisters Janet and La Toya arrived Saturday at the mansion Jackson had been renting and left without addressing reporters. Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.
The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.
"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."
"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.
Organizers of the annual BET awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — scrambled to revamp Sunday's show to honor Jackson and his legacy.
Previously announced acts, such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, hoped to change their planned performances to honor Jackson, said producer Stephen Hill. Other artists who hadn't planned to attend the ceremony, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights to Los Angeles to participate.
A person close to the family told The Associated Press they feel upset and angry about a lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days. The person requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation.
Jackson never communicated to his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, the person said, adding that they were told by the singer’s phalanx of advisers that he likely had a will, but it may be many years old. The family is distrustful of what they are being told — but they are determined to find out more, the person said.
“There are decisions going down without the family being in the loop; it’s becoming an issue,” the person said.
Randy Phillips, AEG Live president and chief executive, said earlier Friday that it was Jackson who insisted that Murray, a financially troubled cardiologist who was with the entertainer when he collapsed Thursday, be put on the tour payroll.
Jackson had been rehearsing for 50 London concerts aimed at restoring his crown as the King of Pop. He died Thursday at age 50 after what his family said appeared to be cardiac arrest.
Desperate 911 call
A 911 call from Jackson's rented home reported that his personal doctor was trying to revive him without success.
An emergency dispatch call released by fire officials shed light on the desperate effort at the mansion to save Jackson's life before paramedics arrived Thursday afternoon.
In the recording, an unidentified caller pleads with authorities to send help, offering no clues about why Jackson was stricken. He tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.
"He's pumping his chest," the caller says, "but he's not responding to anything."
Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."
NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
© 2009 MSNBC.com
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
- doug
- Posts: 24813
- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:06 pm
- Location: chapel hill, n.c.
Pain ran through Jackson's career
by doug » Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:24 am
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
Pain ran through Jackson's career
Accidents, plastic surgery, intense performances contributed to his agony
Michael Jackson, wearing pajama pants, is helped as he walks to the courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., after arriving late on March 10, 2005. Jackson said his attire and tardiness was the result of a morning stay at a local hospital for back pain.
The Associated Press
It was the last day of shooting for a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1984, and the only hiccup had been an argument between Michael Jackson and an ad executive over whether the young superstar would take off his sunglasses.
"Then," as the executive later wrote, "we set his hair on fire."
Jackson was descending a staircase in an extravagant, pyrotechnic opening sequence, dancing to "Billie Jean," when a spark landed on his head. Jackson cried out. People nearby leapt on him to put out the fire, but Jackson was hospitalized for days with a burned scalp.
Thus began a thread of pain that ran through a remarkable career — and made painkillers all too accessible.
Because of accidents, frequent plastic surgery and the sheer intensity of his dancing, physical agony was the unshakable problem with being Michael Jackson.
Medical examiners in Los Angeles are perhaps weeks away from determining an official cause of death, but officials did say Friday that tests showed Jackson was taking prescription medication.
At the end of his life, a personal cardiologist was living with Jackson while he rehearsed rigorously for a historic comeback. Among the first steps police took was to tow the doctor's BMW, saying it might contain medication or other evidence.
Concerns of painkiller abuse
Since his death, people close to Jackson have said they were worried about his dependence on the drugs. In 1993, while he was defending himself against child molestation charges, Jackson himself called it an addiction.
On Saturday, spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra said he had been concerned since 2005 that Jackson was abusing painkillers and spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use as recently as six months ago.
"In a way, this was coming, and in a way, it's frustrating that we couldn't do anything about it," he told The Associated Press. "The problem has been going on for a long time, but we didn't know what to do. There were attempts at intervention, and it didn't succeed."
Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, personally asked him for painkillers in 2005, when the singer was staying with him after he was acquitted on sex-abuse charges. Chopra said he refused.
He also said the nanny of Jackson's children repeatedly contacted him with concerns about Jackson's drug use over the next four years, and said Jackson would avoid his calls whenever the subject came up.
Series of plastic surgeries
Well before Jackson had a doctor living under his own roof, there were ample reasons to turn to pharmaceuticals to relieve pain.
In the early 1990s, Jackson's dermatologist revealed the singer had a skin disorder known as vitiligo, which leads to white patches on the skin. And over the years, Jackson underwent numerous plastic surgeries, the most prominent being the narrowing of his nose. Few people know exactly how many there were in all.
Jackson was a passionate performer and an exceptional dancer, renowned for his choreographical perfection. Ailments were, or at least began as, a byproduct of his dedication.
In 1990, he was hospitalized with chest pains. In 1993, he canceled a performance due to dehydration and later cut his tour short because of his painkiller addiction. In 1995, he collapsed on stage at the Beacon Theater in New York and was hospitalized.
Preparing for 50 shows
Then there was London. Mounting a comeback aimed at least in part on erasing the taint of years of scandal, Jackson was to perform a staggering 50 shows at the O2 arena, the first of them in mid-July.
It was a schedule daunting enough that Jackson was training in recent months with Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV's "Incredible Hulk." And while a 50-show run would be challenging even for an athlete in his prime, Jackson was 50 years old. As he aged, his appearance had become famously, almost spectrally, drawn.
Those involved in the production said Jackson was heavily involved in all aspects of the concert rehearsals. He had hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day.
"He was working hard, setting the example, overseeing the choreography, kicking butt and taking names," said Johnny Caswell, president of CenterStaging Musical Productions Inc., a Burbank, Calif., sound stage where Jackson rehearsed until late May. "He was ready to blow everybody out of the water."
Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, the producers of the London show, said Jackson was dancing "as well or better than the 20-year-old dancers we surrounded him with. ... He was riveting."
Maryss Courchinoux, a 29-year-old from Paris who said she had been selected as a backup dancer for the show, described the tour rehearsals as more arduous than the performances themselves.
"A heart is a muscle," she said. "If you don't build it up little by little, you will have problems and start cramping up. I don't know what his lifestyle was before he started rehearsing."
Physical demands of performing
Jackson's family said he died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at UCLA Medical Center. A person familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person had not been authorized to speak publicly, said it was an apparent heart attack.
Others familiar with a life in dancing and performing spoke similarly of its physical demand — in particular, the need for consistent practice. It is not, they said, a line of work in which a performer can figuratively jump from zero to 60 mph or more.
"You can never stop," said Jodi Moccia, a dance teacher and a choreographer who works with the cast of "Mamma Mia!" to prevent injuries. "Once you stop, those muscles don't come back like they usually do."
Four years ago, it was almost unthinkable that Jackson might attempt such an undertaking.
During his 2005 molestation trial, he appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems that he attributed to stress. The trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits. Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.
After the acquittal, prosecutors argued against returning some items that had been seized from Neverland, the estate Jackson converted into a storybook playland. Among the items were the powerful painkiller Demerol and other prescription drugs.
That a performer with such a history of pain and a struggle with painkillers was attempting such an ambitious and grueling comeback was, some said, a collision course. Michael Levine, a publicist for Jackson in the early 1990s, called the stresses on Jackson "a toxic mix that nobody can withstand."
Others close to Jackson described a feeling of sad inevitability to his death.
Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and family friend, told NBC's "Today" show: "The result was I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don't know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Pain ran through Jackson's career
Accidents, plastic surgery, intense performances contributed to his agony
Michael Jackson, wearing pajama pants, is helped as he walks to the courthouse in Santa Maria, Calif., after arriving late on March 10, 2005. Jackson said his attire and tardiness was the result of a morning stay at a local hospital for back pain.
The Associated Press
It was the last day of shooting for a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1984, and the only hiccup had been an argument between Michael Jackson and an ad executive over whether the young superstar would take off his sunglasses.
"Then," as the executive later wrote, "we set his hair on fire."
Jackson was descending a staircase in an extravagant, pyrotechnic opening sequence, dancing to "Billie Jean," when a spark landed on his head. Jackson cried out. People nearby leapt on him to put out the fire, but Jackson was hospitalized for days with a burned scalp.
Thus began a thread of pain that ran through a remarkable career — and made painkillers all too accessible.
Because of accidents, frequent plastic surgery and the sheer intensity of his dancing, physical agony was the unshakable problem with being Michael Jackson.
Medical examiners in Los Angeles are perhaps weeks away from determining an official cause of death, but officials did say Friday that tests showed Jackson was taking prescription medication.
At the end of his life, a personal cardiologist was living with Jackson while he rehearsed rigorously for a historic comeback. Among the first steps police took was to tow the doctor's BMW, saying it might contain medication or other evidence.
Concerns of painkiller abuse
Since his death, people close to Jackson have said they were worried about his dependence on the drugs. In 1993, while he was defending himself against child molestation charges, Jackson himself called it an addiction.
On Saturday, spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra said he had been concerned since 2005 that Jackson was abusing painkillers and spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use as recently as six months ago.
"In a way, this was coming, and in a way, it's frustrating that we couldn't do anything about it," he told The Associated Press. "The problem has been going on for a long time, but we didn't know what to do. There were attempts at intervention, and it didn't succeed."
Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, personally asked him for painkillers in 2005, when the singer was staying with him after he was acquitted on sex-abuse charges. Chopra said he refused.
He also said the nanny of Jackson's children repeatedly contacted him with concerns about Jackson's drug use over the next four years, and said Jackson would avoid his calls whenever the subject came up.
Series of plastic surgeries
Well before Jackson had a doctor living under his own roof, there were ample reasons to turn to pharmaceuticals to relieve pain.
In the early 1990s, Jackson's dermatologist revealed the singer had a skin disorder known as vitiligo, which leads to white patches on the skin. And over the years, Jackson underwent numerous plastic surgeries, the most prominent being the narrowing of his nose. Few people know exactly how many there were in all.
Jackson was a passionate performer and an exceptional dancer, renowned for his choreographical perfection. Ailments were, or at least began as, a byproduct of his dedication.
In 1990, he was hospitalized with chest pains. In 1993, he canceled a performance due to dehydration and later cut his tour short because of his painkiller addiction. In 1995, he collapsed on stage at the Beacon Theater in New York and was hospitalized.
Preparing for 50 shows
Then there was London. Mounting a comeback aimed at least in part on erasing the taint of years of scandal, Jackson was to perform a staggering 50 shows at the O2 arena, the first of them in mid-July.
It was a schedule daunting enough that Jackson was training in recent months with Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV's "Incredible Hulk." And while a 50-show run would be challenging even for an athlete in his prime, Jackson was 50 years old. As he aged, his appearance had become famously, almost spectrally, drawn.
Those involved in the production said Jackson was heavily involved in all aspects of the concert rehearsals. He had hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day.
"He was working hard, setting the example, overseeing the choreography, kicking butt and taking names," said Johnny Caswell, president of CenterStaging Musical Productions Inc., a Burbank, Calif., sound stage where Jackson rehearsed until late May. "He was ready to blow everybody out of the water."
Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, the producers of the London show, said Jackson was dancing "as well or better than the 20-year-old dancers we surrounded him with. ... He was riveting."
Maryss Courchinoux, a 29-year-old from Paris who said she had been selected as a backup dancer for the show, described the tour rehearsals as more arduous than the performances themselves.
"A heart is a muscle," she said. "If you don't build it up little by little, you will have problems and start cramping up. I don't know what his lifestyle was before he started rehearsing."
Physical demands of performing
Jackson's family said he died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at UCLA Medical Center. A person familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person had not been authorized to speak publicly, said it was an apparent heart attack.
Others familiar with a life in dancing and performing spoke similarly of its physical demand — in particular, the need for consistent practice. It is not, they said, a line of work in which a performer can figuratively jump from zero to 60 mph or more.
"You can never stop," said Jodi Moccia, a dance teacher and a choreographer who works with the cast of "Mamma Mia!" to prevent injuries. "Once you stop, those muscles don't come back like they usually do."
Four years ago, it was almost unthinkable that Jackson might attempt such an undertaking.
During his 2005 molestation trial, he appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems that he attributed to stress. The trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits. Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.
After the acquittal, prosecutors argued against returning some items that had been seized from Neverland, the estate Jackson converted into a storybook playland. Among the items were the powerful painkiller Demerol and other prescription drugs.
That a performer with such a history of pain and a struggle with painkillers was attempting such an ambitious and grueling comeback was, some said, a collision course. Michael Levine, a publicist for Jackson in the early 1990s, called the stresses on Jackson "a toxic mix that nobody can withstand."
Others close to Jackson described a feeling of sad inevitability to his death.
Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and family friend, told NBC's "Today" show: "The result was I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don't know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Death of Michael Jackson
by doug » Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:30 am
Death of Michael Jackson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Conrad Murray)
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after collapsing at his home in Los Angeles, California. The collapse reportedly came one hour after Jackson received an injection of pethidine (Demerol), a painkiller he had allegedly been addicted to for 20 years.[1] His death triggered an outpouring of grief around the world, creating surges of Internet traffic and causing his album sales to soar.[2]
Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010, which he had implied during a press conference would be the final concerts of his career.[3]
Contents
1 Collapse
1.1 Health
2 Investigation
2.1 Personal physician
2.2 AEG Live
2.3 Personal advisers
3 Family
4 Reaction
4.1 Media coverage
4.2 Effect on Internet
4.3 Grief
4.4 Record sales
4.5 Clip cut from Brüno
5 Probate
6 Notes
Collapse
Jackson was taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.Jackson collapsed at his rented home at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles during the late morning or early afternoon of June 25 PDT. His personal physician, cardiologist Conrad Murray, was present and tried to resuscitate him.[4] Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics received a 911 call at 12:21 pm (19:21 UTC), and arrived three minutes and seventeen seconds later, at which point Jackson was reportedly not breathing.[5] The recording of the emergency call was released by the LAFD on June 27.[6]
Paramedics are reported to have wanted to pronounce him dead at the scene, but Murray insisted he be taken to a hospital.[7] CPR was performed on the way to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where they arrived at 1:14 pm (20:14 UTC), and continued for an hour.[4] He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm (21:26 UTC).[8]
Health
Further information: Michael Jackson's health and appearance
Sources close to Jackson told reporters that his health had been poor. J. Randy Taraborrelli, who knew him for forty years, told The New York Times that he had become "very frail, totally, totally underweight," and that his family had been worried about him. Taraborrelli said Jackson had suffered from an addiction to painkillers off and on for decades, resolving it, then losing control of it again.[9]
Grace Rwaramba, a former nanny who looked after Jackson's children, told interviewer Daphne Barak that Jackson's health was seriously compromised. She said he was a drug addict, that she had had to pump his stomach more than once, and that he had stopped looking after himself, becoming dirty and unkempt.[10] Other associates of Jackson told journalist Ian Halperin that he may have been suffering from anorexia or bulimia, as well as a lung disease known as Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, for which he was receiving injections of Alpha 1-antitrypsin. The condition meant that on some days he was unable to sing or even speak. In addition to injections of the painkiller Demerol, he is also said to have used another painkiller, Oxycodone (OxyContin),[11] as well as Xanax, an anxiolytic, and Zoloft, an anti-depressant.[1]
His staff said he was worried about the London concerts. "He wasn't eating, he wasn't sleeping and, when he did sleep, he had nightmares that he was going to be murdered," one of them told Halperin. "He was deeply worried that he was going to disappoint his fans. He even said something that made me briefly think he was suicidal. He said he thought he’d die before doing the London concerts. He said he was worried that he was going to end up like Elvis. He was always comparing himself to Elvis, but there was something in his tone that made me think that he wanted to die, he was tired of life. He gave up. His voice and dance moves weren't there any more. I think maybe he wanted to die rather than embarrass himself on stage."[11]
Investigation
Wikinews has related news:
Jackson family seeking second autopsy
Jackson's body was moved to the LA Coroner's offices in Boyle Heights, where on Friday, June 26, a three-hour autopsy was performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner. The body was then released to his family, who then ordered a second autopsy.[12] Craig Harvey, chief investigator for the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, told reporters there was no evidence of trauma or foul play, but that it would take four to six weeks for toxicology tests to be completed.[9]
Personal physician
On June 26, police towed away a car used by cardiologist Conrad Murray, Jackson's doctor, stating that it might contain medication or other evidence. The car was reportedly registered in Murray's sister's name. Jackson had insisted that his concert promoter AEG Live hire Murray, who had been living with Jackson for two weeks, and was present when he collapsed and stopped breathing. Murray did not sign the death certificate, as would reportedly be standard practice.[13][14]
According to AEG Live, Murray had been summoned to Los Angeles by Jackson to help him prepare for his London concert schedule. Randy Phillips, AEG Live's chief executive, said the company was about to advance money to Murray and the doctor was going to travel with Jackson to Britain. Los Angeles police said the doctor spoke to officers immediately after Jackson's death, and they expect to interview him again this weekend. They do not suspect foul play.[13] Murray is a 1989 graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He filed for bankruptcy in Riverside, California in 1992,[15] and is reported to have had judgments filed against him or his company totalling over $435,000. He got to know Jackson last year after treating him for a cold in Las Vegas.[14]
Reverend Jesse Jackson said the family, who had not met Murray,[14] had raised a number of questions: "When did the doctor come? What did he do? Did he inject him? If so, with what? Was he on the scene twice? Did he use the Demerol? It's a very powerful drug. Was he injected once? Was he injected twice?" Jackson also said the family was concerned about Murray's role. "They have good reason to be," Jackson said, "he left the scene."[13]
AEG Live
Further information: Anschutz Entertainment Group and This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)
Jackson's family has raised questions about the role of AEG Live, the concert promoter, in the last few weeks of his life. They would like to see an investigation into the role of the personal advisers and representatives they believe the promoter put in place for Jackson.[13] The company had a three-and-a-half year plan to work with him, including a possible world tour, the release of new music, and a 3D film based on Jackson's video, Thriller.[16]
Personal advisers
Dr. Tohme Tohme, a Lebanese businessman reportedly affiliated with the Nation of Islam, has also acted as a personal adviser to Jackson. Ian Halperin writes that Tohme has said at various times that he was the ambassador of Senegal, a Saudi Arabian billionaire, and an orthopaedic surgeon, though he has no medical degree. He was named in a March 2009 affidavit in Los Angeles Superior Court, where he was alleged to have contacted an auctioneer of Jackson's memorabilia, invoked "Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam's" interest in Michael's life, and said that if the auctioneer did not do as Tohme requested, "lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed."[11][14]
Family
Further information: Jackson family
Jackson with his children, donning hats and masks, in June 2006Jackson is survived by his three children: a son and daughter from his marriage to Debbie Rowe — Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1997) and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson (born 1998) — and a son, Prince Michael Jackson II, (known as "Blanket"), who was born in 2002 to an unidentified surrogate mother. He is also survived by his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy; his sisters Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet; and his parents, Joseph and Katherine. The family issued the following statement:
In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.
We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you – who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever.[17]
There is increasing speculation about the future of his children. American lawyers have said Rowe stands a good chance of winning custody of the two older children. Her lawyer, Iris Finsilver, has said her client will seek to look after them.[13]
Grace Rwaramba, Jackson's former nanny, who was in London at the time of his death, said that she had talked with Jackson family members over the phone as she was boarding a plane to come home, who said, "'Grace, you remember Michael used to hide cash at the house? I'm here. Where can it be?'. Rwaramba responded with, "I told them to look in the garbage bags and under the carpets. But can you believe that? They just lost Michael a few hours ago and already one of them is calling me to know where the money is!" [18]
Reaction
Media coverage
As media crews set-up on June 25 outside UCLA Medical Center, crowds gather behind police lines.News of Jackson's death was broken by Los Angeles-based celebrity news website TMZ.com. Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm, and 18 minutes later at 2:44 pm, TMZ confirmed: "Michael Jackson passed away today at the age of 50."[5] The news was then confirmed by the Los Angeles Times.[19]
MTV and BET began airing Jackson's music videos, and ran two news specials, until 8 p.m. EDT the following day.[20] Other Jackson specials aired on multiple television stations, with ABC's 20/20 and Dateline NBC dedicating their June 25 shows to Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, who died on the same day.[20][21] The music video for "Do the Bartman", a The Simpsons song co-written by Jackson, will be broadcast by Fox on June 28, 2009, ahead of an episode rerun of The Simpsons, and will feature a title card paying tribute to Jackson.[22]
Effect on Internet
The news of Jackson's death spread quickly online, causing websites to crash and slow down from user overload. Both TMZ and the Los Angeles Times website suffered outages.[19] Google believed the millions of people searching "Michael Jackson" meant it was under attack from hackers, and blocked such queries. Twitter reported a crash, as did Wikipedia at 3:15 PDT.[23] AOL Instant Messenger, an instant messaging service operated by AOL, collapsed for 40 minutes. AOL called it a "seminal moment in Internet history," adding, "We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."[9] Although individual websites and servers were affected, the Internet as a whole remained largely unaffected.[24]
Grief
Michael Jackson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star covered with flowers on June 27, 2009
Jackson's death triggered an outpouring of grief. Fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center, his Holmby Hills home, the Apollo Theater in New York, and at Hitsville U.S.A., the old Motown headquarters in Detroit where Jackson's career began, now the Motown Museum. Streets around the hospital were blocked off, and across America people left offices and factories to watch the breaking news on television.[25] A small crowd, including the city's mayor, gathered outside his childhood home in Gary, where the flag on city hall was flown at half staff in his honor.[26] Fans also mistakenly gathered around the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of another Michael Jackson, a radio commentator, stating that "they didn't care" when told by reporters.[27]
United States President Barack Obama sent condolences to the Jackson family through the White House Press Secretary saying that, "obviously Michael Jackson was a spectacular performer and a music icon".[28] In the United States House of Representatives, Representatives Diane Watson of California and Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois asked members to observe a moment of silence.[29]
Madonna and Diana Ross released statements saying they couldn't stop crying.[30] Jackson's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said the singer had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father.[31] Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, "can't imagine life without him."[32] Liza Minnelli told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now."[33]
Paul McCartney, who hadn't talked to Jackson in years after Jackson bought The Beatles catalog from under McCartney in 1985 (and later licensed the song "Revolution" for a television commercial for Nike), called Jackson a "massively talented boy man with a gentle soul."[34] There is recent speculation that Jackson has left the Beatles catalog to McCartney in his will.[35]
The Reverend Al Sharpton gave a press conference in Harlem near the Apollo Theater: "I have known Michael since we were both teens, worked with him, marched for him, hosted him at our House of Justice headquarters in New York, and we joined together to eulogize our mutual idol, James Brown... Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, and way before Barack Obama ... no controversy will erase the historic impact."[36]
Record sales
Wikinews has related news:
News of Michael Jackson's death overloads Internet sites and sparks hoaxes
Fans mourn death and celebrate life of Michael Jackson around the world
Death of Michael Jackson causes last minute changes to films and dramas
Sales of Jackson songs and memorabilia rise after his death
Jackson's record sales increased dramatically in the hours and days following his death. The demand placed enormous pressure on CD manufacturing plants.[37] Sales of his music topped the two leading online music sellers, iTunes and Amazon.com, taking over most of the top twenty spots. His album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, soon to be replaced by his Essential compilation, while another nineteen albums made it into the top 40. A total of 13 countries have pushed one of his albums to the number one spot on their iTunes chart.[38] In the UK, where he would have performed in less than three weeks, his albums occupied 14 of the top 20 places on the Amazon.co.uk sales chart, with Off the Wall topping the chart. His compilation Number Ones is expected to top the next issue of the UK Singles Chart, as well as the songs "Man in the Mirror", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" are expected to reappear in the Top 75 Singles Chart.[39]
Bill Carr, Amazon's vice president for music and video, said the website was sold out of all Jackson's CDs, and those of the Jackson 5, within minutes of the news breaking.[40][41] Stores in the United Arab Emirates were devoid of Jackson's albums by the early hours of the morning following his death.[42]
Clip cut from Brüno
Universal Pictures cut a segment involving La Toya Jackson from the imminent release of the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy, Brüno, out of respect for the singer and his family.[43] By happenstance, preparation for the premiere of this film had caused Jackson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to be temporarily covered, leading fans to gather by mistake at a star commemorating the radio commentator of the same name.[44]
Probate
Further information: Sony/ATV Music Publishing#Value
If Jackson drew up a will, probate could take years.[45] The value of Sony/ATV Music Publishing is estimated by Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, to be US$1.5 billion.[46] Other analysts estimate that it is at least US$1 billion.[citation needed] Shinman's estimate makes Jackson's share of Sony/ATV worth USD$750 million, from which Jackson would have had an annual income of USD$80 million. Sony Corporation has not commented on whether it intends to buy Jackson's share of Sony/ATV from the Jackson estate. Jackson's creditors could force a distressed sale, which would act in Sony's favor since it would lower the sale price, but only if the trust set up by Jackson for his stake in Sony/ATV is revocable. A distressed sale would lower the value of Jackson's estate, and thus might not raise enough to cover the debts owed by the estate.[46]
Notes
^ a b James, Susan Donaldson. Friend Says Michael Jackson Battled Demerol Addiction, ABC News, June 26, 2009.
^ Sales of Michael Jackson's Music Skyrocket,KTLA News, June 26, 2009.
^ Kreps, Daniel. Michael Jackson’s “This Is It!” Tour Balloons to 50-Show Run Stretching Into 2010, Rolling Stone, March 12, 2009.
^ a b Harvey, Michael. Fans mourn artist for whom it didn’t matter if you were black or white, The Times, June 26, 2009.
^ a b Rayner, Gordon and Singh, Anita. Michael Jackson: the final days and how TMZ.com scooped the world, The Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
^ The Jackson 911 call, News.com.au, June 27, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson 911 tape: 'He's not breathing', News.com.au, June 27, 2009.
^ Tourtellotte, Bob. King of Pop Michael Jackson is dead: official, Reuters, June 25, 2009.
^ a b c Steinhauer, Jennifer. Medication a Focus of Jackson Inquiry, The New York Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Barak, Daphne. What nanny who worked for Michael Jackson saw, The Sunday Times, June 28, 2009.
^ a b c Halperin, Ian. 'I'm better off dead. I'm done': How Michael Jackson predicted his death six months ago, The Daily Mail, June 28, 2009.
^ Jackson: 2nd autopsy 'underway', Sydney Morning Herald, June 28, 2009.
^ a b c d e Harris, Paul. Michael Jackson's family 'ask for second autopsy', The Observer, June 28, 2009.
^ a b c d Thompson, Paul and Harrison, David. Michael Jackson: second post mortem examination taking place, The Daily Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
^ Burbank, Jeff; Dillon, Nancy and Schapiro, Rich (2009-06-27). "Doctor condition: Michael Jackson's doc always at side by pop star's request". nydailynews.com. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/27/2009-06-27_the_doctor_of_michael_jackson_was_always_in.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-28.
^ Youngs, Ian. Jackson eyes $400m comeback plan, BBC News, March 6, 2009.
^ Jackson Family Issues Personal Statement to Fans, People, June 27, 2009
^ http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/381738/Michael-Jackson-family-hunted-for-cash-hours-after-death-says-nanny-Grace-Rwaramba.html
^ a b Rawlinson, Linnie and Hunt, Nick Hunt. Jackson Dies, almost takes Internet With Him, CNN, June 27, 2009.
^ a b Stelter, Brian. MTV's Jackson Marathon The New York Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Toff, Benjamin. Thursday Ratings: Large Audiences for CBS’s Jackson Special, Fawcett Program on ABC The New York Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Snierson, Dan (June 27, 2009). "Michael Jackson: 'The Simpsons' to re-air 'Do the Bartman' video in tribute on Sunday". Entertainment Weekly. http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-the-simpsons-to-air-do-the-bartman-video-in-tribute.html. Retrieved on June 28, 2009.
^ Shiels, Maggie. Web slows after Jackson's death, BBC News, June 26, 2009.
^ Cellan-Jones, Rory. Jackson: Did the internet buckle?, BBC, June 26, 2009.
^ Coleman, Mark. Michael Jackson is dead: fans mourn outside hospital, The Daily Telegraph, June 26, 2009.
^ Keagle, Lauri Harvey. Fans paying respects to King of Pop at boyhood home, The Times of Northwest Indiana, June 26, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson's death: Fans gather at wrong Hollywood star, The Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Vena, Jocelyn. President Obama Sends Condolences To Michael Jackson's Family, Fans, MTV.com, June 26, 2009.
^ Gavin, Patrick. Congress pauses for Michael Jackson, The Politico, June 26, 2009.
^ Madonna 'can’t stop crying' over Michael Jackson's death, NME, June 26, 2009.
^ Marie Presley: 'Michael knew he would die like Elvis', NME, June 26, 2009.
^ Elizabeth Taylor: "I Loved Michael With All My Soul", US Magazine, June 26, 2009.
^ Gumbel, Andrew. Police focus on doctor who was with Michael Jackson as he died, The Guardian, June 27, 2009.
^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090626/en_music_eo/131350
^ http://www.spinner.com/2009/01/06/jackson-leaving-beatles-songs-to-mccartney-in-will/
^ Roberts, Michael et al. Tears, disbelief in city as news of Michael Jackson's death spreads, New York Daily News, June 25, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson Pressing CD Makers, TMZ, June 27, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson set to be number one in charts following his death, The Daily Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
^ [1]
^ Metz, Rachel. Jackson music, videos quickly sell out after death, seattlepi.com, June 28, 2009.
^ Wood, Daniel B. Outpouring over Michael Jackson unlike anything since Princess Di, Christian Science Monitor, June 27, 2009.
^ Doctor queried again in Jackson death, 2nd autopsy held, Gulf News, June 28, 2009.
^ Bruno La Toya scene deleted, Teletext, June 27, 2009.
^ Behrens, Zach. Crowds Gather Around Michael Jackson's Star After Bruno Premiere, Hollywood LAist, June 26, 2009.
^ David Brown and Leo Lewis (2009-06-27). "Michael Jackson: finances will take years to unwind". Times Online. http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6583010.ece.
^ a b Zack O'Malley Greenburg (2009-06-26). "Michael Jackson's Estate Sale". Forbes. http://forbes.com/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-beatles-business-media-estate.html.
[hide]v • d • eMichael Jackson
Main articles Death · Health and appearance · Living with Michael Jackson · Neverland · 1993 accusations of child sexual abuse · People v. Jackson
Studio albums Got to Be There · Ben · Music & Me · Forever, Michael · Off the Wall · Thriller · Bad · Dangerous · HIStory · Invincible
Compilations The Best of Michael Jackson · Anthology · Number Ones · The Ultimate Collection · The Essential Michael Jackson · Visionary: The Video Singles · King of Pop
Other releases One Day in Your Life · E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial · Farewell My Summer Love · Looking Back to Yesterday · Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix · Thriller 25
Concert tours Bad World Tour · Dangerous World Tour · HIStory World Tour · This Is It
Videography The Wiz · Thriller · Captain EO · Moonwalker · "Stark Raving Dad" · Ghosts · Miss Cast Away
Video releases Dangerous - The Short Films · Video Greatest Hits - HIStory · HIStory on Film, Volume II · Number Ones · The One · Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour
Assets Northern Songs · Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Influence on society Moonwalk · Heal the World Foundation · Thrill the World · Thriller (viral video)
Related articles Jackson family · The Jackson 5/The Jacksons · Singles discography · Awards · Records and achievements · Moon Walk (autobiography)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Michael_Jackson#Personal_physician"
Categories: 2009 deaths | 2009 in the United States | Cardiovascular disease deaths in California | Deaths from myocardial infarction | Deaths by person | Michael Jackson
This page was last modified on 28 June 2009 at 15:17.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Conrad Murray)
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after collapsing at his home in Los Angeles, California. The collapse reportedly came one hour after Jackson received an injection of pethidine (Demerol), a painkiller he had allegedly been addicted to for 20 years.[1] His death triggered an outpouring of grief around the world, creating surges of Internet traffic and causing his album sales to soar.[2]
Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010, which he had implied during a press conference would be the final concerts of his career.[3]
Contents
1 Collapse
1.1 Health
2 Investigation
2.1 Personal physician
2.2 AEG Live
2.3 Personal advisers
3 Family
4 Reaction
4.1 Media coverage
4.2 Effect on Internet
4.3 Grief
4.4 Record sales
4.5 Clip cut from Brüno
5 Probate
6 Notes
Collapse
Jackson was taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.Jackson collapsed at his rented home at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles during the late morning or early afternoon of June 25 PDT. His personal physician, cardiologist Conrad Murray, was present and tried to resuscitate him.[4] Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics received a 911 call at 12:21 pm (19:21 UTC), and arrived three minutes and seventeen seconds later, at which point Jackson was reportedly not breathing.[5] The recording of the emergency call was released by the LAFD on June 27.[6]
Paramedics are reported to have wanted to pronounce him dead at the scene, but Murray insisted he be taken to a hospital.[7] CPR was performed on the way to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where they arrived at 1:14 pm (20:14 UTC), and continued for an hour.[4] He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm (21:26 UTC).[8]
Health
Further information: Michael Jackson's health and appearance
Sources close to Jackson told reporters that his health had been poor. J. Randy Taraborrelli, who knew him for forty years, told The New York Times that he had become "very frail, totally, totally underweight," and that his family had been worried about him. Taraborrelli said Jackson had suffered from an addiction to painkillers off and on for decades, resolving it, then losing control of it again.[9]
Grace Rwaramba, a former nanny who looked after Jackson's children, told interviewer Daphne Barak that Jackson's health was seriously compromised. She said he was a drug addict, that she had had to pump his stomach more than once, and that he had stopped looking after himself, becoming dirty and unkempt.[10] Other associates of Jackson told journalist Ian Halperin that he may have been suffering from anorexia or bulimia, as well as a lung disease known as Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, for which he was receiving injections of Alpha 1-antitrypsin. The condition meant that on some days he was unable to sing or even speak. In addition to injections of the painkiller Demerol, he is also said to have used another painkiller, Oxycodone (OxyContin),[11] as well as Xanax, an anxiolytic, and Zoloft, an anti-depressant.[1]
His staff said he was worried about the London concerts. "He wasn't eating, he wasn't sleeping and, when he did sleep, he had nightmares that he was going to be murdered," one of them told Halperin. "He was deeply worried that he was going to disappoint his fans. He even said something that made me briefly think he was suicidal. He said he thought he’d die before doing the London concerts. He said he was worried that he was going to end up like Elvis. He was always comparing himself to Elvis, but there was something in his tone that made me think that he wanted to die, he was tired of life. He gave up. His voice and dance moves weren't there any more. I think maybe he wanted to die rather than embarrass himself on stage."[11]
Investigation
Wikinews has related news:
Jackson family seeking second autopsy
Jackson's body was moved to the LA Coroner's offices in Boyle Heights, where on Friday, June 26, a three-hour autopsy was performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner. The body was then released to his family, who then ordered a second autopsy.[12] Craig Harvey, chief investigator for the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, told reporters there was no evidence of trauma or foul play, but that it would take four to six weeks for toxicology tests to be completed.[9]
Personal physician
On June 26, police towed away a car used by cardiologist Conrad Murray, Jackson's doctor, stating that it might contain medication or other evidence. The car was reportedly registered in Murray's sister's name. Jackson had insisted that his concert promoter AEG Live hire Murray, who had been living with Jackson for two weeks, and was present when he collapsed and stopped breathing. Murray did not sign the death certificate, as would reportedly be standard practice.[13][14]
According to AEG Live, Murray had been summoned to Los Angeles by Jackson to help him prepare for his London concert schedule. Randy Phillips, AEG Live's chief executive, said the company was about to advance money to Murray and the doctor was going to travel with Jackson to Britain. Los Angeles police said the doctor spoke to officers immediately after Jackson's death, and they expect to interview him again this weekend. They do not suspect foul play.[13] Murray is a 1989 graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He filed for bankruptcy in Riverside, California in 1992,[15] and is reported to have had judgments filed against him or his company totalling over $435,000. He got to know Jackson last year after treating him for a cold in Las Vegas.[14]
Reverend Jesse Jackson said the family, who had not met Murray,[14] had raised a number of questions: "When did the doctor come? What did he do? Did he inject him? If so, with what? Was he on the scene twice? Did he use the Demerol? It's a very powerful drug. Was he injected once? Was he injected twice?" Jackson also said the family was concerned about Murray's role. "They have good reason to be," Jackson said, "he left the scene."[13]
AEG Live
Further information: Anschutz Entertainment Group and This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)
Jackson's family has raised questions about the role of AEG Live, the concert promoter, in the last few weeks of his life. They would like to see an investigation into the role of the personal advisers and representatives they believe the promoter put in place for Jackson.[13] The company had a three-and-a-half year plan to work with him, including a possible world tour, the release of new music, and a 3D film based on Jackson's video, Thriller.[16]
Personal advisers
Dr. Tohme Tohme, a Lebanese businessman reportedly affiliated with the Nation of Islam, has also acted as a personal adviser to Jackson. Ian Halperin writes that Tohme has said at various times that he was the ambassador of Senegal, a Saudi Arabian billionaire, and an orthopaedic surgeon, though he has no medical degree. He was named in a March 2009 affidavit in Los Angeles Superior Court, where he was alleged to have contacted an auctioneer of Jackson's memorabilia, invoked "Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam's" interest in Michael's life, and said that if the auctioneer did not do as Tohme requested, "lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed."[11][14]
Family
Further information: Jackson family
Jackson with his children, donning hats and masks, in June 2006Jackson is survived by his three children: a son and daughter from his marriage to Debbie Rowe — Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1997) and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson (born 1998) — and a son, Prince Michael Jackson II, (known as "Blanket"), who was born in 2002 to an unidentified surrogate mother. He is also survived by his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy; his sisters Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet; and his parents, Joseph and Katherine. The family issued the following statement:
In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.
We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you – who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever.[17]
There is increasing speculation about the future of his children. American lawyers have said Rowe stands a good chance of winning custody of the two older children. Her lawyer, Iris Finsilver, has said her client will seek to look after them.[13]
Grace Rwaramba, Jackson's former nanny, who was in London at the time of his death, said that she had talked with Jackson family members over the phone as she was boarding a plane to come home, who said, "'Grace, you remember Michael used to hide cash at the house? I'm here. Where can it be?'. Rwaramba responded with, "I told them to look in the garbage bags and under the carpets. But can you believe that? They just lost Michael a few hours ago and already one of them is calling me to know where the money is!" [18]
Reaction
Media coverage
As media crews set-up on June 25 outside UCLA Medical Center, crowds gather behind police lines.News of Jackson's death was broken by Los Angeles-based celebrity news website TMZ.com. Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm, and 18 minutes later at 2:44 pm, TMZ confirmed: "Michael Jackson passed away today at the age of 50."[5] The news was then confirmed by the Los Angeles Times.[19]
MTV and BET began airing Jackson's music videos, and ran two news specials, until 8 p.m. EDT the following day.[20] Other Jackson specials aired on multiple television stations, with ABC's 20/20 and Dateline NBC dedicating their June 25 shows to Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, who died on the same day.[20][21] The music video for "Do the Bartman", a The Simpsons song co-written by Jackson, will be broadcast by Fox on June 28, 2009, ahead of an episode rerun of The Simpsons, and will feature a title card paying tribute to Jackson.[22]
Effect on Internet
The news of Jackson's death spread quickly online, causing websites to crash and slow down from user overload. Both TMZ and the Los Angeles Times website suffered outages.[19] Google believed the millions of people searching "Michael Jackson" meant it was under attack from hackers, and blocked such queries. Twitter reported a crash, as did Wikipedia at 3:15 PDT.[23] AOL Instant Messenger, an instant messaging service operated by AOL, collapsed for 40 minutes. AOL called it a "seminal moment in Internet history," adding, "We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."[9] Although individual websites and servers were affected, the Internet as a whole remained largely unaffected.[24]
Grief
Michael Jackson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star covered with flowers on June 27, 2009
Jackson's death triggered an outpouring of grief. Fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center, his Holmby Hills home, the Apollo Theater in New York, and at Hitsville U.S.A., the old Motown headquarters in Detroit where Jackson's career began, now the Motown Museum. Streets around the hospital were blocked off, and across America people left offices and factories to watch the breaking news on television.[25] A small crowd, including the city's mayor, gathered outside his childhood home in Gary, where the flag on city hall was flown at half staff in his honor.[26] Fans also mistakenly gathered around the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of another Michael Jackson, a radio commentator, stating that "they didn't care" when told by reporters.[27]
United States President Barack Obama sent condolences to the Jackson family through the White House Press Secretary saying that, "obviously Michael Jackson was a spectacular performer and a music icon".[28] In the United States House of Representatives, Representatives Diane Watson of California and Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois asked members to observe a moment of silence.[29]
Madonna and Diana Ross released statements saying they couldn't stop crying.[30] Jackson's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said the singer had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father.[31] Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, "can't imagine life without him."[32] Liza Minnelli told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now."[33]
Paul McCartney, who hadn't talked to Jackson in years after Jackson bought The Beatles catalog from under McCartney in 1985 (and later licensed the song "Revolution" for a television commercial for Nike), called Jackson a "massively talented boy man with a gentle soul."[34] There is recent speculation that Jackson has left the Beatles catalog to McCartney in his will.[35]
The Reverend Al Sharpton gave a press conference in Harlem near the Apollo Theater: "I have known Michael since we were both teens, worked with him, marched for him, hosted him at our House of Justice headquarters in New York, and we joined together to eulogize our mutual idol, James Brown... Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, and way before Barack Obama ... no controversy will erase the historic impact."[36]
Record sales
Wikinews has related news:
News of Michael Jackson's death overloads Internet sites and sparks hoaxes
Fans mourn death and celebrate life of Michael Jackson around the world
Death of Michael Jackson causes last minute changes to films and dramas
Sales of Jackson songs and memorabilia rise after his death
Jackson's record sales increased dramatically in the hours and days following his death. The demand placed enormous pressure on CD manufacturing plants.[37] Sales of his music topped the two leading online music sellers, iTunes and Amazon.com, taking over most of the top twenty spots. His album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, soon to be replaced by his Essential compilation, while another nineteen albums made it into the top 40. A total of 13 countries have pushed one of his albums to the number one spot on their iTunes chart.[38] In the UK, where he would have performed in less than three weeks, his albums occupied 14 of the top 20 places on the Amazon.co.uk sales chart, with Off the Wall topping the chart. His compilation Number Ones is expected to top the next issue of the UK Singles Chart, as well as the songs "Man in the Mirror", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" are expected to reappear in the Top 75 Singles Chart.[39]
Bill Carr, Amazon's vice president for music and video, said the website was sold out of all Jackson's CDs, and those of the Jackson 5, within minutes of the news breaking.[40][41] Stores in the United Arab Emirates were devoid of Jackson's albums by the early hours of the morning following his death.[42]
Clip cut from Brüno
Universal Pictures cut a segment involving La Toya Jackson from the imminent release of the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy, Brüno, out of respect for the singer and his family.[43] By happenstance, preparation for the premiere of this film had caused Jackson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to be temporarily covered, leading fans to gather by mistake at a star commemorating the radio commentator of the same name.[44]
Probate
Further information: Sony/ATV Music Publishing#Value
If Jackson drew up a will, probate could take years.[45] The value of Sony/ATV Music Publishing is estimated by Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, to be US$1.5 billion.[46] Other analysts estimate that it is at least US$1 billion.[citation needed] Shinman's estimate makes Jackson's share of Sony/ATV worth USD$750 million, from which Jackson would have had an annual income of USD$80 million. Sony Corporation has not commented on whether it intends to buy Jackson's share of Sony/ATV from the Jackson estate. Jackson's creditors could force a distressed sale, which would act in Sony's favor since it would lower the sale price, but only if the trust set up by Jackson for his stake in Sony/ATV is revocable. A distressed sale would lower the value of Jackson's estate, and thus might not raise enough to cover the debts owed by the estate.[46]
Notes
^ a b James, Susan Donaldson. Friend Says Michael Jackson Battled Demerol Addiction, ABC News, June 26, 2009.
^ Sales of Michael Jackson's Music Skyrocket,KTLA News, June 26, 2009.
^ Kreps, Daniel. Michael Jackson’s “This Is It!” Tour Balloons to 50-Show Run Stretching Into 2010, Rolling Stone, March 12, 2009.
^ a b Harvey, Michael. Fans mourn artist for whom it didn’t matter if you were black or white, The Times, June 26, 2009.
^ a b Rayner, Gordon and Singh, Anita. Michael Jackson: the final days and how TMZ.com scooped the world, The Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
^ The Jackson 911 call, News.com.au, June 27, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson 911 tape: 'He's not breathing', News.com.au, June 27, 2009.
^ Tourtellotte, Bob. King of Pop Michael Jackson is dead: official, Reuters, June 25, 2009.
^ a b c Steinhauer, Jennifer. Medication a Focus of Jackson Inquiry, The New York Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Barak, Daphne. What nanny who worked for Michael Jackson saw, The Sunday Times, June 28, 2009.
^ a b c Halperin, Ian. 'I'm better off dead. I'm done': How Michael Jackson predicted his death six months ago, The Daily Mail, June 28, 2009.
^ Jackson: 2nd autopsy 'underway', Sydney Morning Herald, June 28, 2009.
^ a b c d e Harris, Paul. Michael Jackson's family 'ask for second autopsy', The Observer, June 28, 2009.
^ a b c d Thompson, Paul and Harrison, David. Michael Jackson: second post mortem examination taking place, The Daily Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
^ Burbank, Jeff; Dillon, Nancy and Schapiro, Rich (2009-06-27). "Doctor condition: Michael Jackson's doc always at side by pop star's request". nydailynews.com. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/27/2009-06-27_the_doctor_of_michael_jackson_was_always_in.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-28.
^ Youngs, Ian. Jackson eyes $400m comeback plan, BBC News, March 6, 2009.
^ Jackson Family Issues Personal Statement to Fans, People, June 27, 2009
^ http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/381738/Michael-Jackson-family-hunted-for-cash-hours-after-death-says-nanny-Grace-Rwaramba.html
^ a b Rawlinson, Linnie and Hunt, Nick Hunt. Jackson Dies, almost takes Internet With Him, CNN, June 27, 2009.
^ a b Stelter, Brian. MTV's Jackson Marathon The New York Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Toff, Benjamin. Thursday Ratings: Large Audiences for CBS’s Jackson Special, Fawcett Program on ABC The New York Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Snierson, Dan (June 27, 2009). "Michael Jackson: 'The Simpsons' to re-air 'Do the Bartman' video in tribute on Sunday". Entertainment Weekly. http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-the-simpsons-to-air-do-the-bartman-video-in-tribute.html. Retrieved on June 28, 2009.
^ Shiels, Maggie. Web slows after Jackson's death, BBC News, June 26, 2009.
^ Cellan-Jones, Rory. Jackson: Did the internet buckle?, BBC, June 26, 2009.
^ Coleman, Mark. Michael Jackson is dead: fans mourn outside hospital, The Daily Telegraph, June 26, 2009.
^ Keagle, Lauri Harvey. Fans paying respects to King of Pop at boyhood home, The Times of Northwest Indiana, June 26, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson's death: Fans gather at wrong Hollywood star, The Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2009.
^ Vena, Jocelyn. President Obama Sends Condolences To Michael Jackson's Family, Fans, MTV.com, June 26, 2009.
^ Gavin, Patrick. Congress pauses for Michael Jackson, The Politico, June 26, 2009.
^ Madonna 'can’t stop crying' over Michael Jackson's death, NME, June 26, 2009.
^ Marie Presley: 'Michael knew he would die like Elvis', NME, June 26, 2009.
^ Elizabeth Taylor: "I Loved Michael With All My Soul", US Magazine, June 26, 2009.
^ Gumbel, Andrew. Police focus on doctor who was with Michael Jackson as he died, The Guardian, June 27, 2009.
^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090626/en_music_eo/131350
^ http://www.spinner.com/2009/01/06/jackson-leaving-beatles-songs-to-mccartney-in-will/
^ Roberts, Michael et al. Tears, disbelief in city as news of Michael Jackson's death spreads, New York Daily News, June 25, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson Pressing CD Makers, TMZ, June 27, 2009.
^ Michael Jackson set to be number one in charts following his death, The Daily Telegraph, June 27, 2009.
^ [1]
^ Metz, Rachel. Jackson music, videos quickly sell out after death, seattlepi.com, June 28, 2009.
^ Wood, Daniel B. Outpouring over Michael Jackson unlike anything since Princess Di, Christian Science Monitor, June 27, 2009.
^ Doctor queried again in Jackson death, 2nd autopsy held, Gulf News, June 28, 2009.
^ Bruno La Toya scene deleted, Teletext, June 27, 2009.
^ Behrens, Zach. Crowds Gather Around Michael Jackson's Star After Bruno Premiere, Hollywood LAist, June 26, 2009.
^ David Brown and Leo Lewis (2009-06-27). "Michael Jackson: finances will take years to unwind". Times Online. http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6583010.ece.
^ a b Zack O'Malley Greenburg (2009-06-26). "Michael Jackson's Estate Sale". Forbes. http://forbes.com/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-beatles-business-media-estate.html.
[hide]v • d • eMichael Jackson
Main articles Death · Health and appearance · Living with Michael Jackson · Neverland · 1993 accusations of child sexual abuse · People v. Jackson
Studio albums Got to Be There · Ben · Music & Me · Forever, Michael · Off the Wall · Thriller · Bad · Dangerous · HIStory · Invincible
Compilations The Best of Michael Jackson · Anthology · Number Ones · The Ultimate Collection · The Essential Michael Jackson · Visionary: The Video Singles · King of Pop
Other releases One Day in Your Life · E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial · Farewell My Summer Love · Looking Back to Yesterday · Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix · Thriller 25
Concert tours Bad World Tour · Dangerous World Tour · HIStory World Tour · This Is It
Videography The Wiz · Thriller · Captain EO · Moonwalker · "Stark Raving Dad" · Ghosts · Miss Cast Away
Video releases Dangerous - The Short Films · Video Greatest Hits - HIStory · HIStory on Film, Volume II · Number Ones · The One · Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour
Assets Northern Songs · Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Influence on society Moonwalk · Heal the World Foundation · Thrill the World · Thriller (viral video)
Related articles Jackson family · The Jackson 5/The Jacksons · Singles discography · Awards · Records and achievements · Moon Walk (autobiography)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Michael_Jackson#Personal_physician"
Categories: 2009 deaths | 2009 in the United States | Cardiovascular disease deaths in California | Deaths from myocardial infarction | Deaths by person | Michael Jackson
This page was last modified on 28 June 2009 at 15:17.
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- doug
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Attorney: Doctor found Jackson with pulse
by doug » Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:56 am
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
Attorney: Doctor found Jackson with pulse
Says Dr. Conrad Murray didn't prescribe or give singer Demerol, Oxycontin
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson still had a faint pulse and his body was warm when his doctor found him in bed and not breathing, a lawyer for the doctor told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Lawyer Edward Chernoff also said Dr. Conrad Murray never prescribed or gave Jackson the drugs Demerol or OxyContin. He denied reports suggesting Murray gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.
Chernoff told the AP that Murray was at the pop icon’s rented mansion on Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.
“He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn’t breathing,” the lawyer said. “Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse.”
Jackson’s family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday.
People close to Michael Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication.
Chernoff said any drugs the doctor gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from the 50-year-old.
“Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson,” Chernoff said. “Not ever. Not that day. ... Not Oxycontin (either) for that matter.”
Chernoff told NBC's "Dateline" that he could not reveal specific medications Jackson was taking, but added that if toxicology tests revealed the presence of Demerol or Oxycontin, "it will be a surprise to us."
(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC.)
When asked by "Dateline" about the state of Jackson's health, Chernoff said, "he was a frail man, he didn't like to drink or eat. He wasn't exactly healthy to begin with."
Says CPR was correctly performed
Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing CPR, according to a recording of the 911 call. Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.
Chernoff responded to allegations that Murray performed CPR incorrectly by performing it while Jackson lay in bed, rather than immediately moving him to a hard surface. Chernoff told "Dateline" that Murray adjusted his treatment by putting one hand behind Jackson's back and performing compressions with the other hand.
"Keep in mind, Michael Jackson is a very frail individual and the doctor knew this," Chernoff told "Dateline." "And he was compressing hard enough that the doctor knew he was pumping the blood throughout the system." Chernoff said Murray did eventually move Jackson to the floor where he continued CPR.
Chernoff also debunked rumors that Jackson's children saw their father collapse and thought he was faking. "No, that (rumor) came out of nowhere," he told "Dateline." "The kids did not see that."
Murray was interviewed by investigators for three hours Saturday. His spokeswoman called Murray “a witness to this tragedy,” not a suspect in the death, and police described the doctor as cooperative.
Chernoff also said the promoter of Jackson’s 50-show London concerts, AEG Live, owes the cardiologist $300,000.
“His contract with the promoters states he would receive an amount of money each month to be his (Jackson’s) personal physician and they have failed to honor that contract,” Chernoff said. “They are two months behind.”
Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, acknowledged the contract called for Murray to be paid $150,000 a month, but said the contract required Jackson’s signature.
“Michael never signed the contract,” Phillips said.
He also said the doctor’s claim for payment may be against Jackson’s estate, not AEG which was merely advancing the money to Jackson.
On Saturday, Murray, who was with Jackson during his final moments, sat down with investigators for three hours. His spokeswoman said he is not a suspect in the death.
Murray “helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies,” spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said. She said the doctor remains “a witness to this tragedy.”
Police confirmed they had interviewed Murray and said he was cooperative.
Lawyer selected
Meanwhile, Jackson’s mother selected a lawyer who represented Jackson last year in a breach-of-contract suit and has advised other high-profile clients to help the family, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.
The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson’s family wanted a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.
“It’s abnormal,” Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. “We don’t know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed.”
A private pathologist hired by the Jackson family completed the second autopsy Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the case.
A second autopsy can allow the family to get some information about a death almost immediately, including signs of heart, brain or lung disease or fresh needle punctures, said Dr. Michael Baden, a medical examiner not involved in the Jackson case.
“Usually if it looks normal with the naked eye, it looks normal under the microscope,” said Baden, who recently performed a second autopsy on actor David Carradine.
Los Angeles County coroner’s officials completed their autopsy on Jackson on Friday and said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. But because of additional tests, an official cause of death could take weeks to determine.
People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.
No word on funeral plans, guardians
There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson’s relatives have gathered at the family’s Encino compound, caring there for Jackson’s three children.
It remains unclear whom Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details, likely contained in the 50-year-old singer’s will, have not been released.
An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family “be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace.”
A White House adviser said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that President Barack Obama had written to the Jackson family to express his condolences.
Al Sharpton, who arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, said he was heading to the Jackson compound and would talk with the family about how to memorialize the late pop star. Sharpton said they want to hold memorials in key cities around the globe and also planned a memorial service Tuesday at the Apollo Theater in New York.
On Saturday, three of Jackson’s brothers — Jackie, Jermaine and Tito — visited Jackson’s Neverland Ranch where they walked the manicured grounds and reminisced about his life. It is not clear what will become of the ranch, which has been under renovations.
Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based firm where investor Thomas Barrack is chairman and CEO, said it was premature to discuss the future of Neverland. Barrack previously set up the joint venture with Michael Jackson after the singer nearly lost the ranch to foreclosure.
Barrack feels close to family members and wants to hear their thoughts on how best to honor Jackson’s memory, Blicksilver said. The investor joined Jackie, Jermaine and Tito Jackson for lunch Saturday at the sprawling Santa Barbara County property.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Attorney: Doctor found Jackson with pulse
Says Dr. Conrad Murray didn't prescribe or give singer Demerol, Oxycontin
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson still had a faint pulse and his body was warm when his doctor found him in bed and not breathing, a lawyer for the doctor told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Lawyer Edward Chernoff also said Dr. Conrad Murray never prescribed or gave Jackson the drugs Demerol or OxyContin. He denied reports suggesting Murray gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.
Chernoff told the AP that Murray was at the pop icon’s rented mansion on Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.
“He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn’t breathing,” the lawyer said. “Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse.”
Jackson’s family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday.
People close to Michael Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication.
Chernoff said any drugs the doctor gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from the 50-year-old.
“Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson,” Chernoff said. “Not ever. Not that day. ... Not Oxycontin (either) for that matter.”
Chernoff told NBC's "Dateline" that he could not reveal specific medications Jackson was taking, but added that if toxicology tests revealed the presence of Demerol or Oxycontin, "it will be a surprise to us."
(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC.)
When asked by "Dateline" about the state of Jackson's health, Chernoff said, "he was a frail man, he didn't like to drink or eat. He wasn't exactly healthy to begin with."
Says CPR was correctly performed
Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing CPR, according to a recording of the 911 call. Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.
Chernoff responded to allegations that Murray performed CPR incorrectly by performing it while Jackson lay in bed, rather than immediately moving him to a hard surface. Chernoff told "Dateline" that Murray adjusted his treatment by putting one hand behind Jackson's back and performing compressions with the other hand.
"Keep in mind, Michael Jackson is a very frail individual and the doctor knew this," Chernoff told "Dateline." "And he was compressing hard enough that the doctor knew he was pumping the blood throughout the system." Chernoff said Murray did eventually move Jackson to the floor where he continued CPR.
Chernoff also debunked rumors that Jackson's children saw their father collapse and thought he was faking. "No, that (rumor) came out of nowhere," he told "Dateline." "The kids did not see that."
Murray was interviewed by investigators for three hours Saturday. His spokeswoman called Murray “a witness to this tragedy,” not a suspect in the death, and police described the doctor as cooperative.
Chernoff also said the promoter of Jackson’s 50-show London concerts, AEG Live, owes the cardiologist $300,000.
“His contract with the promoters states he would receive an amount of money each month to be his (Jackson’s) personal physician and they have failed to honor that contract,” Chernoff said. “They are two months behind.”
Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, acknowledged the contract called for Murray to be paid $150,000 a month, but said the contract required Jackson’s signature.
“Michael never signed the contract,” Phillips said.
He also said the doctor’s claim for payment may be against Jackson’s estate, not AEG which was merely advancing the money to Jackson.
On Saturday, Murray, who was with Jackson during his final moments, sat down with investigators for three hours. His spokeswoman said he is not a suspect in the death.
Murray “helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies,” spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said. She said the doctor remains “a witness to this tragedy.”
Police confirmed they had interviewed Murray and said he was cooperative.
Lawyer selected
Meanwhile, Jackson’s mother selected a lawyer who represented Jackson last year in a breach-of-contract suit and has advised other high-profile clients to help the family, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.
The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson’s family wanted a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.
“It’s abnormal,” Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. “We don’t know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed.”
A private pathologist hired by the Jackson family completed the second autopsy Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the case.
A second autopsy can allow the family to get some information about a death almost immediately, including signs of heart, brain or lung disease or fresh needle punctures, said Dr. Michael Baden, a medical examiner not involved in the Jackson case.
“Usually if it looks normal with the naked eye, it looks normal under the microscope,” said Baden, who recently performed a second autopsy on actor David Carradine.
Los Angeles County coroner’s officials completed their autopsy on Jackson on Friday and said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. But because of additional tests, an official cause of death could take weeks to determine.
People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.
No word on funeral plans, guardians
There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson’s relatives have gathered at the family’s Encino compound, caring there for Jackson’s three children.
It remains unclear whom Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details, likely contained in the 50-year-old singer’s will, have not been released.
An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family “be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace.”
A White House adviser said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that President Barack Obama had written to the Jackson family to express his condolences.
Al Sharpton, who arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, said he was heading to the Jackson compound and would talk with the family about how to memorialize the late pop star. Sharpton said they want to hold memorials in key cities around the globe and also planned a memorial service Tuesday at the Apollo Theater in New York.
On Saturday, three of Jackson’s brothers — Jackie, Jermaine and Tito — visited Jackson’s Neverland Ranch where they walked the manicured grounds and reminisced about his life. It is not clear what will become of the ranch, which has been under renovations.
Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based firm where investor Thomas Barrack is chairman and CEO, said it was premature to discuss the future of Neverland. Barrack previously set up the joint venture with Michael Jackson after the singer nearly lost the ranch to foreclosure.
Barrack feels close to family members and wants to hear their thoughts on how best to honor Jackson’s memory, Blicksilver said. The investor joined Jackie, Jermaine and Tito Jackson for lunch Saturday at the sprawling Santa Barbara County property.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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- doug
- Posts: 24813
- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:06 pm
- Location: chapel hill, n.c.
by doug » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:04 am
Michael Jackson, 1958-2009
BET Awards honor Michael Jackson’s legacy
Sister Janet Jackson appeared at end of show to thank fans
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: Host Jamie Foxx pays tribute to singer Michael Jackson to open the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES - The BET Awards became the official Michael Jackson TV celebration on Sunday, with joyous tributes to the King of Pop from a New Edition medley of Jackson 5 songs to host Jamie Foxx’s tender monologue delivered in that classic red leather zipper jacket and white glove.
“No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man,” said Foxx, who kicked off the show with a re-enactment of the choreography from Jackson’s iconic “Beat It” video in front of the star-studded crowd, on its feet from the start of the show.
As the show ended, Jackson's sister, Janet, took the stage to speak on behalf of her grieving family and thank fans for their love and support.
It was Janet Jackson’s first public appearance since her brother died last Thursday. With a deep sadness on her face, she strolled to the microphone and began to speak.
She said: “My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful, so they elected me to be here.”
She noted that the King of Pop was an icon to all in attendance, but that to the Jacksons, “he was family.”
After her brief comments, Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx took the stage and sang a poignant “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5.
Joe Jackson, the singer’s father, was also on hand. “I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself,” he said on the red carpet. “Sadly, he’s not here, so I’m here to celebrate for him.”
Already an affair of major star wattage, the night’s show at the Shrine Auditorium was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Jackson's death, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests, adding an extra half-hour to the telecast and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who wanted to take part.
Backstage, Ciara recounted talking on the phone with her idol and her regrets that she never got to meet him. As she talked, she started to cry. “He meant so much to me,” she said through tears.
A unique place
While Jackson’s incredible influence stretched across genres, races, and cultures, he had a very unique place in the world of black entertainment. His influence is arguably most visible in urban music, seen in stars like Usher who mimic his dance moves, to Ne-Yo, whose music is marked by its Jackson-isms. But that influence went beyond music: Jackson was black America’s biggest star, who broke racial barriers that allowed for so many other superstars to follow.
“Michael Jackson was so important to our world, to our country, to this network,” said BET Chairwoman Debra L. Lee. “Michael was truly a musical deity.”
Producers of the annual awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — revamped the show to meet the moment. While Beyonce and T.I. were the leading award nominees with five apiece, giving out trophies was an afterthought: Honoring Jackson became the show’s main focus.
While some performed their own hits, most made sure to incorporate some of the man who influenced them in their performances. A chant of “Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson” was heard while Keri Hilson performed, and Foxx’s “Blame It” incorporated some of the Jacksons’ dance hit “Blame It On the Boogie.”
Reflections of the star
Throughout the night, Foxx also regularly turned up in some of Jackson’s signature looks, like the wide-collar black leather outfit from “Billie Jean.”
New Edition, the 1980s teen sensations who were considered that generation’s Jackson 5 with their own version of bubble-gum soul, ran through several of the Jackson 5’s greatest hits, from “I Want You Back” to “ABC,” mirroring their idols right down to the group’s original choreography. Ne-Yo sang one of Jackson’s most sensual songs, “Lady in my Life.”
“He’s the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage; I love you and I miss you,” he said later.
Ciara sang Jackson’s humanitarian anthem, “Heal the World,” dressed in a jacket that had Jackson’s signature military epaulets.
And winners acknowledged Jackson when they received their awards.
“This is for you, Michael Jackson,” said Beyonce, as she held her trophy for best female R&B artist skyward. “I have to thank Michael for being my future and my hero.”
“We all know none of us in this in this room wouldn’t be here for Michael Jackson,” said Lil Wayne, as he picked up his award for best male hip-hop star.
“My heart and prayers go out to the whole Jackson family,” said basketball star LeBron James, who won best male athlete.
Not every moment had the stamp of Jackson. Foxx resurrected his “In Living Color” character Wanda and paired it with another cross-dressing classic character, Martin Lawrence’s Sheneneh, for a hilarious parody of an “upcoming movie”: “Skank Robbers.”
Beyonce gave a simultaneously sexy and angelic performance of “Ave Maria”; Ne-Yo brought out some of the hitmaking male R&B acts of the 1980s and 1980s, from Bell Biv Devoe to Guy.
But even without a direct Jackson reference, there was usually a Jackson connection, as all of those artists counted Jackson as an inspiration. And Eddie Levert of the classic R&B group the O’Jays talked about how much he’d miss Jackson even as his group was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
Jackson connections were inescapable: Even the building where the ceremony took place, the Shrine auditorium, was where Jackson’s hair and scalp were burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in 1984. It was also the location for several of his Grammy and American Music Award performances.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
BET Awards honor Michael Jackson’s legacy
Sister Janet Jackson appeared at end of show to thank fans
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 28: Host Jamie Foxx pays tribute to singer Michael Jackson to open the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES - The BET Awards became the official Michael Jackson TV celebration on Sunday, with joyous tributes to the King of Pop from a New Edition medley of Jackson 5 songs to host Jamie Foxx’s tender monologue delivered in that classic red leather zipper jacket and white glove.
“No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man,” said Foxx, who kicked off the show with a re-enactment of the choreography from Jackson’s iconic “Beat It” video in front of the star-studded crowd, on its feet from the start of the show.
As the show ended, Jackson's sister, Janet, took the stage to speak on behalf of her grieving family and thank fans for their love and support.
It was Janet Jackson’s first public appearance since her brother died last Thursday. With a deep sadness on her face, she strolled to the microphone and began to speak.
She said: “My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful, so they elected me to be here.”
She noted that the King of Pop was an icon to all in attendance, but that to the Jacksons, “he was family.”
After her brief comments, Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx took the stage and sang a poignant “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5.
Joe Jackson, the singer’s father, was also on hand. “I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself,” he said on the red carpet. “Sadly, he’s not here, so I’m here to celebrate for him.”
Already an affair of major star wattage, the night’s show at the Shrine Auditorium was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Jackson's death, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests, adding an extra half-hour to the telecast and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who wanted to take part.
Backstage, Ciara recounted talking on the phone with her idol and her regrets that she never got to meet him. As she talked, she started to cry. “He meant so much to me,” she said through tears.
A unique place
While Jackson’s incredible influence stretched across genres, races, and cultures, he had a very unique place in the world of black entertainment. His influence is arguably most visible in urban music, seen in stars like Usher who mimic his dance moves, to Ne-Yo, whose music is marked by its Jackson-isms. But that influence went beyond music: Jackson was black America’s biggest star, who broke racial barriers that allowed for so many other superstars to follow.
“Michael Jackson was so important to our world, to our country, to this network,” said BET Chairwoman Debra L. Lee. “Michael was truly a musical deity.”
Producers of the annual awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — revamped the show to meet the moment. While Beyonce and T.I. were the leading award nominees with five apiece, giving out trophies was an afterthought: Honoring Jackson became the show’s main focus.
While some performed their own hits, most made sure to incorporate some of the man who influenced them in their performances. A chant of “Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson” was heard while Keri Hilson performed, and Foxx’s “Blame It” incorporated some of the Jacksons’ dance hit “Blame It On the Boogie.”
Reflections of the star
Throughout the night, Foxx also regularly turned up in some of Jackson’s signature looks, like the wide-collar black leather outfit from “Billie Jean.”
New Edition, the 1980s teen sensations who were considered that generation’s Jackson 5 with their own version of bubble-gum soul, ran through several of the Jackson 5’s greatest hits, from “I Want You Back” to “ABC,” mirroring their idols right down to the group’s original choreography. Ne-Yo sang one of Jackson’s most sensual songs, “Lady in my Life.”
“He’s the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage; I love you and I miss you,” he said later.
Ciara sang Jackson’s humanitarian anthem, “Heal the World,” dressed in a jacket that had Jackson’s signature military epaulets.
And winners acknowledged Jackson when they received their awards.
“This is for you, Michael Jackson,” said Beyonce, as she held her trophy for best female R&B artist skyward. “I have to thank Michael for being my future and my hero.”
“We all know none of us in this in this room wouldn’t be here for Michael Jackson,” said Lil Wayne, as he picked up his award for best male hip-hop star.
“My heart and prayers go out to the whole Jackson family,” said basketball star LeBron James, who won best male athlete.
Not every moment had the stamp of Jackson. Foxx resurrected his “In Living Color” character Wanda and paired it with another cross-dressing classic character, Martin Lawrence’s Sheneneh, for a hilarious parody of an “upcoming movie”: “Skank Robbers.”
Beyonce gave a simultaneously sexy and angelic performance of “Ave Maria”; Ne-Yo brought out some of the hitmaking male R&B acts of the 1980s and 1980s, from Bell Biv Devoe to Guy.
But even without a direct Jackson reference, there was usually a Jackson connection, as all of those artists counted Jackson as an inspiration. And Eddie Levert of the classic R&B group the O’Jays talked about how much he’d miss Jackson even as his group was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
Jackson connections were inescapable: Even the building where the ceremony took place, the Shrine auditorium, was where Jackson’s hair and scalp were burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in 1984. It was also the location for several of his Grammy and American Music Award performances.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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by doug » Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:40 am
Jackson’s mom files for custody of his 3 kids
Katherine Jackson also petitions for kids’ estate; hearing set for Aug. 3
Michael Jackson’s three children have been staying with the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, at the family compound in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson’s mother is caring for the singer’s three children and asked the court Monday to declare her their guardian.
The guardianship papers were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. A hearing has been set for Aug 3.
Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
The filings show that Katherine Jackson, 79, is also petitioning to take over the children’s estate. Its value is listed as “unknown” in the filing.
The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons’ family compound in the San Fernando Valley, northwest of Los Angeles.
“Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother,” the filing states in an explanation of why Katherine Jackson should be appointed guardian. “They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.”
The filings provide no other declarations by Katherine Jackson, nor do they state whether Michael Jackson left a will.
The filings note that Deborah Rowe is the mother of the Jackson’s two eldest children, but list her whereabouts as “unknown.” An e-mail message sent to Rowe’s attorney seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned Monday morning.
For Michael Jackson’s third child, nicknamed as Blanket, the filing states “None” for the mother.
Londell McMillan, the Jacksons’ attorney, said the family hasn’t heard from Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, about custody. Experts say she has the strongest legal claim to Prince Michael and Paris.
“I don’t think there will be anybody who thinks that there is someone better” than Katherine Jackson to have custody, McMillan said Monday on NBC’s TODAY show. “She is a very loving host of other grandchildren.”
Whoever wins custody of Jackson’s children won’t automatically gain control of their inheritance, said Stacy Phillips, a Los Angeles divorce attorney who has represented numerous high-profile clients.
“For many people, the person or persons who are taking care of their kids are not necessarily taking care of their money,” Phillips said. “There’s a benefit to that — a sort of a check-and-balance.”
Rowe, or whoever is designated the children’s guardian, will receive payments based on Jackson’s estate, Phillips said.
More clarity about the fate of Jackson’s children will likely come once court proceedings start.
Phillips said the looming custody fight could be unlike any other.
“In all the cases I’ve read all over the country,” she said, “I’ve never seen a fact pattern like this.”
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Katherine Jackson also petitions for kids’ estate; hearing set for Aug. 3
Michael Jackson’s three children have been staying with the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, at the family compound in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson’s mother is caring for the singer’s three children and asked the court Monday to declare her their guardian.
The guardianship papers were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. A hearing has been set for Aug 3.
Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
The filings show that Katherine Jackson, 79, is also petitioning to take over the children’s estate. Its value is listed as “unknown” in the filing.
The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons’ family compound in the San Fernando Valley, northwest of Los Angeles.
“Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother,” the filing states in an explanation of why Katherine Jackson should be appointed guardian. “They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.”
The filings provide no other declarations by Katherine Jackson, nor do they state whether Michael Jackson left a will.
The filings note that Deborah Rowe is the mother of the Jackson’s two eldest children, but list her whereabouts as “unknown.” An e-mail message sent to Rowe’s attorney seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned Monday morning.
For Michael Jackson’s third child, nicknamed as Blanket, the filing states “None” for the mother.
Londell McMillan, the Jacksons’ attorney, said the family hasn’t heard from Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, about custody. Experts say she has the strongest legal claim to Prince Michael and Paris.
“I don’t think there will be anybody who thinks that there is someone better” than Katherine Jackson to have custody, McMillan said Monday on NBC’s TODAY show. “She is a very loving host of other grandchildren.”
Whoever wins custody of Jackson’s children won’t automatically gain control of their inheritance, said Stacy Phillips, a Los Angeles divorce attorney who has represented numerous high-profile clients.
“For many people, the person or persons who are taking care of their kids are not necessarily taking care of their money,” Phillips said. “There’s a benefit to that — a sort of a check-and-balance.”
Rowe, or whoever is designated the children’s guardian, will receive payments based on Jackson’s estate, Phillips said.
More clarity about the fate of Jackson’s children will likely come once court proceedings start.
Phillips said the looming custody fight could be unlike any other.
“In all the cases I’ve read all over the country,” she said, “I’ve never seen a fact pattern like this.”
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
- doug
- Posts: 24813
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by doug » Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:38 pm
Jackson’s mom gets temporary custody of kids
Katherine Jackson also petitions for children’s estate; hearing set for Aug. 3
Michael Jackson’s three children have been staying with the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, at the family compound in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson’s mother, having won temporary guardianship of her late son’s three children, is now attempting to take control of the “King of Pop’s” estate, according to a person close to the court proceedings.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children on Monday. He also scheduled a hearing for Aug. 3 on Jackson’s petition to become permanent guardian of her son’s children.
The petition also seeks to name Jackson as administrator of the children’s estates, but the judge did not grant that request.
Katherine Jackson filed another court action Monday, seeking to take control of her son’s estate, according to a person close to the proceedings who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity. She is taking that action with the intent of protecting Jackson’s legacy, the person said.
Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
In the request to take over the children’s estate, Jackson, 79, lists its value as “unknown.”
The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons’ family compound in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
“Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother,” the filing states in an explanation of why Katherine Jackson should be appointed guardian. “They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.”
The filings provide no other declarations by Katherine Jackson, nor do they state whether Michael Jackson left a will.
The filings note that Deborah Rowe is the mother of Jackson’s two eldest children, but list her whereabouts as “unknown.” An e-mail message sent to Rowe’s attorney seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned Monday morning.
For Michael Jackson’s third child, nicknamed as Blanket, the filing states “None” for the mother.
Londell McMillan, the Jacksons’ attorney, said the family hasn’t heard from Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, about custody. Experts say she has the strongest legal claim to Prince Michael and Paris.
“I don’t think there will be anybody who thinks that there is someone better” than Katherine Jackson to have custody, McMillan said Monday on NBC’s TODAY show. “She is a very loving host of other grandchildren.”
Whoever wins custody of Jackson’s children won’t automatically gain control of their inheritance, said Stacy Phillips, a Los Angeles divorce attorney who has represented numerous high-profile clients.
“For many people, the person or persons who are taking care of their kids are not necessarily taking care of their money,” Phillips said. “There’s a benefit to that — a sort of a check-and-balance.”
Rowe, or whoever is designated the children’s guardian, will receive payments based on Jackson’s estate, Phillips said.
More clarity about the fate of Jackson’s children will likely come once court proceedings start.
Phillips said the looming custody fight could be unlike any other.
“In all the cases I’ve read all over the country,” she said, “I’ve never seen a fact pattern like this.”
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Katherine Jackson also petitions for children’s estate; hearing set for Aug. 3
Michael Jackson’s three children have been staying with the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, at the family compound in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson’s mother, having won temporary guardianship of her late son’s three children, is now attempting to take control of the “King of Pop’s” estate, according to a person close to the court proceedings.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children on Monday. He also scheduled a hearing for Aug. 3 on Jackson’s petition to become permanent guardian of her son’s children.
The petition also seeks to name Jackson as administrator of the children’s estates, but the judge did not grant that request.
Katherine Jackson filed another court action Monday, seeking to take control of her son’s estate, according to a person close to the proceedings who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity. She is taking that action with the intent of protecting Jackson’s legacy, the person said.
Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.
In the request to take over the children’s estate, Jackson, 79, lists its value as “unknown.”
The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons’ family compound in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
“Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother,” the filing states in an explanation of why Katherine Jackson should be appointed guardian. “They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care.”
The filings provide no other declarations by Katherine Jackson, nor do they state whether Michael Jackson left a will.
The filings note that Deborah Rowe is the mother of Jackson’s two eldest children, but list her whereabouts as “unknown.” An e-mail message sent to Rowe’s attorney seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned Monday morning.
For Michael Jackson’s third child, nicknamed as Blanket, the filing states “None” for the mother.
Londell McMillan, the Jacksons’ attorney, said the family hasn’t heard from Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, about custody. Experts say she has the strongest legal claim to Prince Michael and Paris.
“I don’t think there will be anybody who thinks that there is someone better” than Katherine Jackson to have custody, McMillan said Monday on NBC’s TODAY show. “She is a very loving host of other grandchildren.”
Whoever wins custody of Jackson’s children won’t automatically gain control of their inheritance, said Stacy Phillips, a Los Angeles divorce attorney who has represented numerous high-profile clients.
“For many people, the person or persons who are taking care of their kids are not necessarily taking care of their money,” Phillips said. “There’s a benefit to that — a sort of a check-and-balance.”
Rowe, or whoever is designated the children’s guardian, will receive payments based on Jackson’s estate, Phillips said.
More clarity about the fate of Jackson’s children will likely come once court proceedings start.
Phillips said the looming custody fight could be unlike any other.
“In all the cases I’ve read all over the country,” she said, “I’ve never seen a fact pattern like this.”
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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- doug
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Attorney: Delay in calling 911 for Jackson
by doug » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:40 am
Attorney: Delay in calling 911 for Jackson
Doctor didn’t know home’s address, bedroom didn’t have a telephone
It took up to a half-hour for paramedics to be called to Michael Jackson's home after the singer was found stricken in the bedroom of his rented mansion, an attorney said Monday.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - It took up to a half-hour for paramedics to be called to Michael Jackson's home after the singer was found stricken in the bedroom of his rented mansion, an attorney for the firm representing the pop icon's doctor said Monday.
Matt Alford, a partner in the Houston law firm representing Dr. Conrad Murray, said the physician was unfamiliar with his surroundings and that delayed the call.
"He didn't know where he was, didn't know the physical address," Alford said in an interview with The Associated Press. "There was no land line, no phone in Jackson's room that would have allowed him to call. It was all happening so fast."
Alford said he doesn't know how long Murray performed CPR on the singer before rushing downstairs to find someone to call 911.
The first person Murray encountered was the chef, who then got one of Jackson's security guards. The security guard went with Murray to Jackson's room.
Once there, Murray told the security guard to call 911 while he continued CPR, Alford said. Murray "is still performing CPR while the security guard is speaking with emergency services on the phone," Alford said.
Fire department officials have said it took three minutes for paramedics to arrive at Jackson's home once they received the call for help. They spent 42 minutes working with Murray on Jackson before transporting the 50-year-old pop icon to UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Alford said it took an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before the first call to rescue crews was made.
"There's no way anybody in any situation like that can get an exact time on it," Alford said.
Defending the doctor
The revelation about the delay in calling for emergency workers came as Murray's attorneys tried to explain and defend the cardiologist's actions.
In a series of interviews with national news outlets Monday, attorney Edward Chernoff explained the doctor's response to finding Jackson on Thursday in his bed, not breathing but with a faint pulse.
Chernoff, who represented Murray during a three-hour interview with Los Angeles police detectives on Saturday, told CNN the doctor performed CPR for several minutes before leaving the stricken singer's side. He dismissed those who questioned why Murray didn't follow suggested procedures and move Jackson from the bed to a harder surface too perform CPR.
"His first goal was to resuscitate Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "He knows how to perform CPR and he performed it properly."
The doctor rode with Jackson in the ambulance and assisted emergency room doctors in trying to revive the pop star, Chernoff said. After he was pronounced dead, Murray spoke with Jackson's siblings LaToya and Jermaine, and spoke briefly with Jackson's mother, he told CNN.
Jackson's children asked to see their father after he died and, after a consultation with a psychiatrist, they were allowed to see him, Chernoff said.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Doctor didn’t know home’s address, bedroom didn’t have a telephone
It took up to a half-hour for paramedics to be called to Michael Jackson's home after the singer was found stricken in the bedroom of his rented mansion, an attorney said Monday.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - It took up to a half-hour for paramedics to be called to Michael Jackson's home after the singer was found stricken in the bedroom of his rented mansion, an attorney for the firm representing the pop icon's doctor said Monday.
Matt Alford, a partner in the Houston law firm representing Dr. Conrad Murray, said the physician was unfamiliar with his surroundings and that delayed the call.
"He didn't know where he was, didn't know the physical address," Alford said in an interview with The Associated Press. "There was no land line, no phone in Jackson's room that would have allowed him to call. It was all happening so fast."
Alford said he doesn't know how long Murray performed CPR on the singer before rushing downstairs to find someone to call 911.
The first person Murray encountered was the chef, who then got one of Jackson's security guards. The security guard went with Murray to Jackson's room.
Once there, Murray told the security guard to call 911 while he continued CPR, Alford said. Murray "is still performing CPR while the security guard is speaking with emergency services on the phone," Alford said.
Fire department officials have said it took three minutes for paramedics to arrive at Jackson's home once they received the call for help. They spent 42 minutes working with Murray on Jackson before transporting the 50-year-old pop icon to UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Alford said it took an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before the first call to rescue crews was made.
"There's no way anybody in any situation like that can get an exact time on it," Alford said.
Defending the doctor
The revelation about the delay in calling for emergency workers came as Murray's attorneys tried to explain and defend the cardiologist's actions.
In a series of interviews with national news outlets Monday, attorney Edward Chernoff explained the doctor's response to finding Jackson on Thursday in his bed, not breathing but with a faint pulse.
Chernoff, who represented Murray during a three-hour interview with Los Angeles police detectives on Saturday, told CNN the doctor performed CPR for several minutes before leaving the stricken singer's side. He dismissed those who questioned why Murray didn't follow suggested procedures and move Jackson from the bed to a harder surface too perform CPR.
"His first goal was to resuscitate Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "He knows how to perform CPR and he performed it properly."
The doctor rode with Jackson in the ambulance and assisted emergency room doctors in trying to revive the pop star, Chernoff said. After he was pronounced dead, Murray spoke with Jackson's siblings LaToya and Jermaine, and spoke briefly with Jackson's mother, he told CNN.
Jackson's children asked to see their father after he died and, after a consultation with a psychiatrist, they were allowed to see him, Chernoff said.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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by doug » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:48 am
Jackson left catalog of new music for kids
Michael Jackson walks with kids Prince Michael and Paris through a studio parking lot in Los Angeles. The singer reportedly left a catalog of unreleased music to his three children.
By Ree Hines
msnbc.com contributor
Despite the high-dollar debts Michael Jackson accrued during his final years, the music legend made an effort to ensure his children’s financial future. A secret song library, reportedly stocked with up to 200 unreleased tracks, could mean a lasting legacy for Jackson’s brood.
According to the Daily Express, the “King of Pop” bequeathed the massive music catalog to Michael Joseph Jr. (aka Prince Michael), 12, Paris Michael Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II (aka Blanket), 7, just weeks before his death.
“He has as many as 200 unpublished songs that he planned to leave his children when he died,” a source explained. “They can’t be touched by the creditors, but they could be worth as much as ($100 million) that will ensure his kids a comfortable existence no matter what happens.”
A report in the Times Online, which puts the unreleased song count closer to 100, revealed biographer Ian Halperin discovered Jackson’s plan while researching his forthcoming book, “Unmasked: The Michael Jackson Story.”
“He wants to leave them for his kids, a very personal legacy to them,” Halperin wrote before the singer’s death.
(from msnbc.com)
Michael Jackson walks with kids Prince Michael and Paris through a studio parking lot in Los Angeles. The singer reportedly left a catalog of unreleased music to his three children.
By Ree Hines
msnbc.com contributor
Despite the high-dollar debts Michael Jackson accrued during his final years, the music legend made an effort to ensure his children’s financial future. A secret song library, reportedly stocked with up to 200 unreleased tracks, could mean a lasting legacy for Jackson’s brood.
According to the Daily Express, the “King of Pop” bequeathed the massive music catalog to Michael Joseph Jr. (aka Prince Michael), 12, Paris Michael Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II (aka Blanket), 7, just weeks before his death.
“He has as many as 200 unpublished songs that he planned to leave his children when he died,” a source explained. “They can’t be touched by the creditors, but they could be worth as much as ($100 million) that will ensure his kids a comfortable existence no matter what happens.”
A report in the Times Online, which puts the unreleased song count closer to 100, revealed biographer Ian Halperin discovered Jackson’s plan while researching his forthcoming book, “Unmasked: The Michael Jackson Story.”
“He wants to leave them for his kids, a very personal legacy to them,” Halperin wrote before the singer’s death.
(from msnbc.com)
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
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by doug » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:37 am
Jackson’s parents file to administer his estate
Mother granted temporary custody of kids; existence of will still in doubt
Michael Jackson’s three children have been staying with the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, at the family compound in California's San Fernando Valley.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The Jackson family is determined to move on in order to protect Michael Jackson’s legacy and make sure his three children are well, family friend Al Sharpton said Tuesday.
“They’ve had challenges before,” Sharpton said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “They always rallied.”
Jackson’s parents wasted little time demanding authority over their son’s financially strained empire and guardianship of their fatherless grandchildren. The big question is who, if anyone, will contest them?
Early Monday — just four days after the death of the King of Pop — lawyers for Katherine and Joe Jackson won temporary custody of Michael Jackson’s three children and moved to become administrators of his estate.
Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12. He also gave her control over some of her son’s personal property that is now in the hands of an unnamed third party. But the judge did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children’s and Jackson’s estates.
The swiftness of the legal motions underscore the fact that Jackson’s death leaves a vacuum if he died without a valid will. If no will is filed, the number of potential claimants that could emerge seeking custody of the children or a piece of his empire are many.
Jackson’s parents claimed in documents filed in Superior Court on Monday that there is no will. A person with knowledge of Jackson’s business matters, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that there is a will. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the will splits Jackson’s estate between his three children, his mother and some charities.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Jackson’s last will, drafted in 2002, divides the estate between his three children, his mother and some charities. The newspaper said Jackson’s father, Joseph, isn’t believed to have been included in the will. Jackson wrote in his 1988 book, “Moonwalk,” that his father was incredibly strict with his children and would beat them if they missed a step or note during rehearsals.
“No one that I know of has ever seen the will,” Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman said on CBS’ “The Early Show” on Tuesday. “We simply don’t know.”
About the same time a judge granted Katherine Jackson authority over at least some of her son’s estate Friday, pickup trucks and a large dump truck towing a flatbed were seen entering the 2,500-acre Neverland Ranch, a major piece of the singer’s debt-strapped financial empire. It was not clear who had requested the fleet or for what purpose.
Clearly one of his most valuable assets is his recording catalog, which his father could potentially rerelease through his new record company if the family gains control of his assets. There could also be recordings in Jackson’s estate that he had never released.
There’s also a financial bonanza to be had in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog of which Jackson owned 50 percent. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers, and is estimated to be worth as much as $2 billion.
When Jackson died Thursday, he also left behind a 12-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter by his ex-wife Deborah Rowe, as well as a 7-year-old son born to a surrogate mother.
The Jackson family said the children — Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (known as Prince Michael), Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael II — are living at the Jackson family compound in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
“They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care,” the family said in court documents.
Family patriarch Joe Jackson, 79, said at a news conference that the children were enjoying playing with other kids — something they do not normally do.
The documents state that although Rowe is the mother of the two older children, her whereabouts are unknown. The document simply listed “none” for the mother of the youngest child, Prince Michael II.
The Jacksons say they have not heard from Rowe since their son’s death. Rowe’s attorney, Marta Almli, did not respond to an e-mail message seeking comment Monday. She previously said, “Ms. Rowe’s only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael’s family has suffered.”
Sharpton said on ABC that the Jackson family’s status as a longtime show-biz family gives them valuable experience in dealing with the children.
“You must remember, they’re going to have to grow up as Michael Jackson’s children,” he said. “They need someone that understands that culture, that scrutiny, that unusual life they’re going to have to live.”
The legal steps were taken even as investigators continued their probe into the singer’s death. Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner’s office returned to the mansion he was renting at the time of his death and left with two large plastic bags of evidence.
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said the bags contained medication. He declined to elaborate.
Lawyers for Jackson’s cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson when he collapsed, said the physician never prescribed the powerful drugs Demerol or Oxycontin for Jackson and did all he could to revive the singer.
Attorney Matt Alford said it took as long as 30 minutes for paramedics to be called after Murray found Jackson with a faint pulse and performed CPR.
The delay was partly because Jackson’s room in the rented mansion didn’t have a telephone and Murray didn’t know Jackson’s street address to give to emergency crews, Alford said.
Eventually, Murray found a chef in the house and had him summon a security guard, who called for help while the doctor continued to perform CPR.
Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV’s “Incredible Hulk” who was helping Jackson train for a planned concert tour, said that Jackson didn’t look like he was in pain the last time they met; he was helping Jackson train for his tour.
“He might have been a little thin because he was under a lot of stress because of the tour,” Ferrigno said on “Good Morning America.” But he said he believed Jackson would have made it through his concert tour. He said Jackson was a vegetarian who ate only one meal a day.
Jackson’s father told reporters at the family compound that his son’s funeral was still in the planning stages but added that his son would not be buried at Neverland.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Mother granted temporary custody of kids; existence of will still in doubt
Michael Jackson’s three children have been staying with the pop star’s mother, Katherine Jackson, at the family compound in California's San Fernando Valley.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - The Jackson family is determined to move on in order to protect Michael Jackson’s legacy and make sure his three children are well, family friend Al Sharpton said Tuesday.
“They’ve had challenges before,” Sharpton said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “They always rallied.”
Jackson’s parents wasted little time demanding authority over their son’s financially strained empire and guardianship of their fatherless grandchildren. The big question is who, if anyone, will contest them?
Early Monday — just four days after the death of the King of Pop — lawyers for Katherine and Joe Jackson won temporary custody of Michael Jackson’s three children and moved to become administrators of his estate.
Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12. He also gave her control over some of her son’s personal property that is now in the hands of an unnamed third party. But the judge did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children’s and Jackson’s estates.
The swiftness of the legal motions underscore the fact that Jackson’s death leaves a vacuum if he died without a valid will. If no will is filed, the number of potential claimants that could emerge seeking custody of the children or a piece of his empire are many.
Jackson’s parents claimed in documents filed in Superior Court on Monday that there is no will. A person with knowledge of Jackson’s business matters, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the material, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that there is a will. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the will splits Jackson’s estate between his three children, his mother and some charities.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Jackson’s last will, drafted in 2002, divides the estate between his three children, his mother and some charities. The newspaper said Jackson’s father, Joseph, isn’t believed to have been included in the will. Jackson wrote in his 1988 book, “Moonwalk,” that his father was incredibly strict with his children and would beat them if they missed a step or note during rehearsals.
“No one that I know of has ever seen the will,” Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman said on CBS’ “The Early Show” on Tuesday. “We simply don’t know.”
About the same time a judge granted Katherine Jackson authority over at least some of her son’s estate Friday, pickup trucks and a large dump truck towing a flatbed were seen entering the 2,500-acre Neverland Ranch, a major piece of the singer’s debt-strapped financial empire. It was not clear who had requested the fleet or for what purpose.
Clearly one of his most valuable assets is his recording catalog, which his father could potentially rerelease through his new record company if the family gains control of his assets. There could also be recordings in Jackson’s estate that he had never released.
There’s also a financial bonanza to be had in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog of which Jackson owned 50 percent. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers, and is estimated to be worth as much as $2 billion.
When Jackson died Thursday, he also left behind a 12-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter by his ex-wife Deborah Rowe, as well as a 7-year-old son born to a surrogate mother.
The Jackson family said the children — Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (known as Prince Michael), Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael II — are living at the Jackson family compound in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
“They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care,” the family said in court documents.
Family patriarch Joe Jackson, 79, said at a news conference that the children were enjoying playing with other kids — something they do not normally do.
The documents state that although Rowe is the mother of the two older children, her whereabouts are unknown. The document simply listed “none” for the mother of the youngest child, Prince Michael II.
The Jacksons say they have not heard from Rowe since their son’s death. Rowe’s attorney, Marta Almli, did not respond to an e-mail message seeking comment Monday. She previously said, “Ms. Rowe’s only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael’s family has suffered.”
Sharpton said on ABC that the Jackson family’s status as a longtime show-biz family gives them valuable experience in dealing with the children.
“You must remember, they’re going to have to grow up as Michael Jackson’s children,” he said. “They need someone that understands that culture, that scrutiny, that unusual life they’re going to have to live.”
The legal steps were taken even as investigators continued their probe into the singer’s death. Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner’s office returned to the mansion he was renting at the time of his death and left with two large plastic bags of evidence.
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said the bags contained medication. He declined to elaborate.
Lawyers for Jackson’s cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson when he collapsed, said the physician never prescribed the powerful drugs Demerol or Oxycontin for Jackson and did all he could to revive the singer.
Attorney Matt Alford said it took as long as 30 minutes for paramedics to be called after Murray found Jackson with a faint pulse and performed CPR.
The delay was partly because Jackson’s room in the rented mansion didn’t have a telephone and Murray didn’t know Jackson’s street address to give to emergency crews, Alford said.
Eventually, Murray found a chef in the house and had him summon a security guard, who called for help while the doctor continued to perform CPR.
Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV’s “Incredible Hulk” who was helping Jackson train for a planned concert tour, said that Jackson didn’t look like he was in pain the last time they met; he was helping Jackson train for his tour.
“He might have been a little thin because he was under a lot of stress because of the tour,” Ferrigno said on “Good Morning America.” But he said he believed Jackson would have made it through his concert tour. He said Jackson was a vegetarian who ate only one meal a day.
Jackson’s father told reporters at the family compound that his son’s funeral was still in the planning stages but added that his son would not be buried at Neverland.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
- doug
- Posts: 24813
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by doug » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:55 am
Scoop: Joe Jackson can still upset family
Plus: Does a yet-unfound will leave Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney?
Michael Jackson's father appeared to plug his record label while speaking about his late son, further upsetting family relations.
By Courtney Hazlett
The Scoop
msnbc.com
The strained relationship between Michael Jackson and his father, Joseph, has been well-documented for years. "Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno, who trained Michael for his “This Is It” tour, even said in an interview that “domineering fathers” was something he shared with the “King of Pop.”
But the latest benchmark in the complicated father-son relationship came after Michael’s death, at the June 28 BET Awards when Jackson's father appeared to use the platform to publicize his new record label.
That statement has become a turning point in dialogue among the family members, and in public perception of Jackson’s legacy.
“If Joe hadn’t said what he did about the new label, it’s likely there would have been less attention on him at the press conference the next day where he ended up bringing up the label again,” said a source close to the family. “It shined a spotlight on Joe’s power to upset the family balance.”
That family balance also appeared to be upset when Rev. Al Sharpton appeared alongside Joseph at the same June 29 press conference.
Asked why he was there, Sharpton said his presence has nothing to do with any Jackson family conflict, and that he isn't taking sides with any one family member.
“I was asked by the family to help,” Sharpton said in a phone interview. “I never said I was one of Michael's confidantes. I think his image is being mistreated. I want to protect his legacy.”
The perception of Jackson’s image will withstand another test when the will is filed in probate court (expected to happen Wednesday, according to a very informed source).
At press time, it was expected that the will would not be sealed. Expect it to reveal a split of Jackson’s assets between his mother Katherine, his children, and a charity.
According to a source with close knowledge of the will, the split will be 40 percent to Katherine, 40 percent to be divided among his children, and 20 percent will go to one charity.
Did another will give Beatles songs back to McCartney?
The will that’s currently in possession of the family is a document that dates back to 2002; but two sources who communicated with the singer as recently as April of this year contend at least one more recent will might be in existence.
“Michael talked about changing the will in December (2008) after he split with his nanny, and he talked about changing it (the will) again in March when he felt like he should give his share of the Beatles catalog back to Paul McCartney,” said one source. “He said that would be the right thing to do. I have no reason to believe he didn’t move forward with that plan.”
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter: @ courtneyatmsnbc.
© 2009 msnbc.com
Plus: Does a yet-unfound will leave Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney?
Michael Jackson's father appeared to plug his record label while speaking about his late son, further upsetting family relations.
By Courtney Hazlett
The Scoop
msnbc.com
The strained relationship between Michael Jackson and his father, Joseph, has been well-documented for years. "Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno, who trained Michael for his “This Is It” tour, even said in an interview that “domineering fathers” was something he shared with the “King of Pop.”
But the latest benchmark in the complicated father-son relationship came after Michael’s death, at the June 28 BET Awards when Jackson's father appeared to use the platform to publicize his new record label.
That statement has become a turning point in dialogue among the family members, and in public perception of Jackson’s legacy.
“If Joe hadn’t said what he did about the new label, it’s likely there would have been less attention on him at the press conference the next day where he ended up bringing up the label again,” said a source close to the family. “It shined a spotlight on Joe’s power to upset the family balance.”
That family balance also appeared to be upset when Rev. Al Sharpton appeared alongside Joseph at the same June 29 press conference.
Asked why he was there, Sharpton said his presence has nothing to do with any Jackson family conflict, and that he isn't taking sides with any one family member.
“I was asked by the family to help,” Sharpton said in a phone interview. “I never said I was one of Michael's confidantes. I think his image is being mistreated. I want to protect his legacy.”
The perception of Jackson’s image will withstand another test when the will is filed in probate court (expected to happen Wednesday, according to a very informed source).
At press time, it was expected that the will would not be sealed. Expect it to reveal a split of Jackson’s assets between his mother Katherine, his children, and a charity.
According to a source with close knowledge of the will, the split will be 40 percent to Katherine, 40 percent to be divided among his children, and 20 percent will go to one charity.
Did another will give Beatles songs back to McCartney?
The will that’s currently in possession of the family is a document that dates back to 2002; but two sources who communicated with the singer as recently as April of this year contend at least one more recent will might be in existence.
“Michael talked about changing the will in December (2008) after he split with his nanny, and he talked about changing it (the will) again in March when he felt like he should give his share of the Beatles catalog back to Paul McCartney,” said one source. “He said that would be the right thing to do. I have no reason to believe he didn’t move forward with that plan.”
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter: @ courtneyatmsnbc.
© 2009 msnbc.com
providing immigration services worldwide for 25 years
- doug
- Posts: 24813
- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2002 10:06 pm
- Location: chapel hill, n.c.
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