Michael Jackson, The King Of Pop, Dead At Age 50

Multiple news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press, are reporting that Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, has died. The singer was 50 years old.

TMZ earlier reported that Michael Jackson was taken to a hospital in Los Angeles. Reports were that he was in cardiac arrest and that CPR was administered in the ambulance.

An official press conference will take place shortly.

Jackson is survived by his three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.

"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the 80's," said legendary musician, Quincy Jones. "I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him," Jones added.

Neil Portnow, the President/CEO of The Recording Academy has released the following statement: "Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson. He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim. A 13-time GRAMMY recipient, Michael's career transcends musical and cultural genres and his contributions will always keep him in our hearts and memories. We are deeply saddened by this tragic news and our hearts go out to his family and to music lovers around the globe who mourn this great loss."

Michael Jackson has faced numerous career obstacles in the recent years. The 'Thriller' singer has dealt with severe financial problems, and recently became embroiled in several lawsuits tied to the cancellation, and eventual rescheduling, of his planned O2 arena concerts in London.

In a phenomenal, unparalleled career, Michael Jackson has to date sold more than 750 million records, had 13 number one singles - more than any other male artist - and is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and later as a solo artist in 2001. His numerous other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records, including one for "Thriller" as the world's best-selling album of all time - 100 million copies and counting.

Jackson notably starred in the 1978 film adaptation of the musical THE WIZ. The singer played the Scarcrow alongside Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. The singer's work is currently represented onstage in London with "Thriller - Live!" a spectacular, high octane show celebrating both his career, and the Jackson 5.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born August 29, 1958, the seventh child of the Jackson family. He made his professional debut at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Hailed as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums have become among the world's best-selling records: "Off the Wall" (1979), "Thriller" (1982), "Bad" (1987), "Dangerous" (1991) and "HIStory"(1995). An early star of MTV and the art of making pop videos, Michael broke down racial barriers, transformed the art of the music video and paved the way for modern pop music. 2008 marked the 25th anniversary of the "Thriller" album with the release of the double-disc album "Thriller 25", containing the original nine tracks from "Thriller", re-mixes and a new song called "For All Time". The album reached number one in eight countries, number two in the US, number three in the UK and was top 10 on over 30 national charts. To celebrate Michael's 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a compilation album, "King of Pop" which featured tracks voted for by his fans.