It’s already been 15 years since the “King of Pop” died. On June 25, 2009, the whole world was in shock after learning of the sudden death of Michael Jackson from cardiac arrest at the age of 50.
An icon, a legend
Recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time, he is a leading figure in the history of entertainment and one of the major Western cultural icons of the 20th century. This Tuesday, June 25, 2024 marks the 15th year of his death.
Part of a family of 10 children, Michael Jackson sang with his brothers from the age of 6 and began a professional career at 11 with the Jackson Five.
In the 1970s he launched a solo career and it was in the 1980s that he became a major figure in pop music. His music videos, often ambitious and innovative, are made like short films, as for the titles Beat It, Billie Jean, Thriller, Bad or Smooth Criminal.
He popularized many dance steps, including the moonwalk, which became his signature. Having merged the genres of soul, funk, pop and rock music, his vocal and musical style continues to influence many contemporary hip-hop, pop and RnB artists.
Michael Jackson broke several industry records, earning him the nickname “The King of Pop” with more than 500 million records sold worldwide.
A look back at the death of the pop star
According to the Los Angeles Times (and AFP), firefighters responded to a call from his home at 12:26 p.m. (9:26 p.m., in Reunion). The singer was no longer breathing when they arrived, the newspaper said. He was taken to UCLA Hospital, where he died shortly after. The news of his death was later confirmed by a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Forensic Institute on CNN.
The death of the “King of Pop”, born August 29, 1958, in Gary (Indiana), comes as he hoped to make his comeback on stage this summer in London. After having virtually disappeared since his acquittal in 2005, in a trial where he was accused of sexual touching of a teenager – the case was settled out of court, for 23.3 million dollars – Michael Jackson had reappeared briefly, in March, to announce a series of around fifty concerts.
