December 27, 2016, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Fisher died on December 27 at 8:55 a.m. (PST) in Los Angeles at 60 years of age. Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, confirmed her mother’s death in a statement to the press.
~Wikipedia~
~~GRAPHIC SOURCE~~
Andy Marlette, Cartoonist
He lives and works in Pensacola, FL
Born and raised by underpaid public school teachers in Sanford, Fla., Andy Marlette graduated from the University of Florida and became staff editorial cartoonist at the Pensacola News Journal in 2007.
Andy’s editorial cartoons have become both hated and adored by daily readers. His work has been awarded by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors for best editorial cartoons on state issues.
Singer-songwriter Michael Jackson’s award-winning career as the King of Pop transformed the face of pop music and popular culture. He released the best-selling album in history, Thriller, in 1982.
He died unexpectedly on June 25, 2009 … 5 years ago.
~~Synopsis~~
Dubbed the “King of Pop,” singer-songwriter Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958. As a child, he performed as the lead singer of the Jackson family’s popular Motown group, the Jackson 5. Jackson went on to become one of the most internationally famous award-winning solo pop sensations to date. Jackson’s 2009 death stirred controversy and was ultimately ruled a homicide. Dr. Conrad Murray, who had been caring for the pop star at the time of his death, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on November 7, 2011, later receiving a four-year prison sentence.
~~Early Life~~
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, to an African-American working-class family. His father, Joseph Jackson, had been a guitarist but had put aside his musical aspirations to provide for his family as a crane operator. Believing his sons had talent, he molded them into a musical group in the early 1960s.
At first, the Jackson Family performers consisted of Michael’s older brothers, Tito, Jermaine and Jackie. Michael joined his siblings when he was 5 years old, and emerged as the group’s lead vocalist. He showed remarkable range and depth for such a young performer, impressing audiences with his ability to convey complex emotions. Older brother Marlon also became a member of the group, which evolved into the Jackson 5.
Behind the scenes, Joseph Jackson pushed his sons to succeed. He was also reportedly known to become violent with them. Michael and his brothers spent endless hours rehearsing and polishing up their act. At first, the Jackson 5 played local gigs and built a strong following. They recorded one single on their own, “Big Boy” with the b-side “You’ve Changed,” but it failed to generate much interest.
The Jackson 5 moved on to working an opening act for such R&B artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, James Brown, and Sam and Dave. Many of these performers were signed to the legendary Motown record label, and it has been reported that Gladys Knight may have been the one to tell Motown founder Berry Gordy about the Jackson 5. Impressed by the group, Gordy signed them to his label in 1968.
Relocating to Los Angeles, Michael and his brothers started work on their music and dancing with their father as their manager. They lived with Gordy and also with Supremes singer Diana Ross when they first arrived there. In August 1969, the Jackson 5 was introduced to the music industry at a special event, and later served as the opening act for the Supremes. Their first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, hit the charts in December of that year. It’s first single, “I Want You Back,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1970. More chart-topping singles quickly followed, such as “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.”
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication after suffering cardiac arrest at his home on North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he had found Jackson in his room, not breathing and with a barely detectable pulse, and that he administered CPR on Jackson’s bed to no avail.
After a call was placed to 9-1-1 at 12:21 P.M., Jackson was treated by paramedics at the scene and was later pronounced dead at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. On the eve of Jackson’s 51st birthday, the Los Angeles County Coroner concluded that his death was a homicide. Shortly before his death, Jackson had reportedly been administered propofol and three anti-anxiety benzodiazepines, lorazepam, and midazolam, in his home. His personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 and had served a two-year prison sentence.
Jackson’s death triggered an outpouring of grief around the world, creating unprecedented surges of Internet traffic and causing sales of his music and that of the Jackson 5 to increase dramatically. Jackson had also intended to perform a series of fifty comeback/farewell concerts entitled This Is It to over one million people at London‘s O2 Arena between July 13, 2009, and March 6, 2010.
A public memorial service for Jackson was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he had rehearsed for the London concerts the night before his death. The service was broadcast live around the world, attracting a global audience of up to one billion people. In 2010, Sony Music Entertainment signed a US $250 million deal with Jackson’s estate to retain distribution rights to his recordings up until 2017, and to release seven posthumous albums over the decade following his death. Jackson’s death is ranked No. 1 on VH1/VH1 Classic‘s list of 100 Most Shocking Moments in Music.
Performs “Slave to the Rhythm” at 2014 Billboard Music Awards!
~~Uploaded May 18, 2014~~
The late Michael Jackson steals the show at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, held on Sunday, May 17, 2014, with a computer-generated hologram performance
The Michael Jackson performance on the 2014 Billboard Music Awards was the result of nearly half a year of planning, choreography and filming, not to mention the development of new technology.
He will always be in our memory, hearts and mind. With the magic of technology, we can make believe that he is still among us.
It Is What It Is 