LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's 50-concert comeback bid in London next month was intended to wash away the taint of freakish scandals and restore him to glory as the King of Pop. But the curtain will never rise.
In an instant Thursday, the man who moonwalked above the music world was gone, leaving a shot at redemption unfulfilled and fans and pop stars alike in anguish and shock.
"I can't stop crying over the sad news," Madonna said in a statement. "The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever."
Said Dick Clark: "Of all the thousands of entertainers I have worked with, Michael was the most outstanding. Many have tried and will try to copy him, but his talent will never be matched."
Jackson, 50, died at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in Holmby Hills. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at his home for nearly three-quarters of an hour, then rushed him to the hospital, where doctors continued to work on him.
"It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known," his brother Jermaine said. Police said they were investigating, standard procedure in high-profile cases.
Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of Black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.
His 1982 album "Thriller," which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller," is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.
At the time of his death, Jackson was rehearsing hard for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13.
He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his backward-gliding moonwalk; his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves; and his high-pitched singing, punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks, as was his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.
"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller." ''He was the consummate entertainer, and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time.
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In photo: A ring of fresh white roses encircles a reflective sign on the front gate of the Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., predawn on Wednesday, July 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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