Practice News Story: Obituary

A King Has Died.

The king of pop and perhaps the greatest musical artist of the pop era has died at 4:00 p.m. on Valentine’s Day 2007. While undergoing breast augmentation at the UCLA Medical Center, Michael Joseph Jackson died at age 49. The cause of death is suspected to be compilations with the anesthesia but is still under investigation.

At age 5 he began his music career that would later earn him the title “King of Pop” and make him the most well known musician of all time. Jackson was born to Katherine and Joe Jackson in Gary, Indiana as the seventh of nine children. His upbringing was split between his mothers strong religious beliefs in the Jehovah’s Witness church and his father strict and sometimes abusive discipline. Their other children Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon along with Michael made up the group Jackson 5 in 1964. The group quickly climbed the charts and the ladder of fame when their first four singles, "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There" all made U.S. number one hits. The siblings moved to California in 1968 to further their careers and eventually made more than 6 albums.

Michael Jackson made his film debut starring in the musical ‘The Wiz’ playing the scarecrow opposite Diana Ross. He later put out his first solo album titled “Off The Wall”. This debut record broke a records by winning for number one singles in the U.S. and was the first of many albums that Michael Jackson put out creating a world-wide fan base. “Thriller”, released in 1982, was not only a huge success for Jackson, but also the largest selling album of all time. Since that time Michael Jackson has become a name synonymous with brilliant music and a dancing revolution that influenced other male artists like Usher. His achievements have been many and his awards just as numerous including a Presidential Humanitarian Award from President Reagan in 1984, he was titled “Artist of the Decade in 1989, and was voted the 35th Greatest Artist of all time in Rock 'n' Roll by Rolling Stone. He was admitted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame twice for his work as a solo artist as well as a member of the Jackson 5. Jackson’s recognitions also extended to Japan and the U.K. where he was also honored for his musical influence internationally.
As Michael Jackson’s career increased, so did the number of scandals and rumors regarding his personal life. Despite his accusations of child molestation and child endangerment, Jackson claimed to be a wonderful father to his children Paris Michael Katherine Jackson Prince Michael Jackson Jr., and Prince Michael Jackson II. Regardless of his past indiscretions and rumors of such, the billions of fans who will remember him, as the “King of Pop” will long adore Michael Jackson.
He is survived by his immediate family members, his mother Katherine, father Joe, brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy, and sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya Jackson. Also surviving him are his three children and two ex-wives Debbie Rowe and Lisa Marie Presley.