This is IN THE NEWS in VOA
Special English.
(MUSIC)
Fans
around the world are remembering the man who called himself the King of Pop.
Michael Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles.
This was the emergency call from the
house where he was living:
CALLER: "We have a gentleman
here that needs help and he's not breathing. He's not breathing and we're
trying to pump him but he's not -- "
OPERATOR: "OK, OK. How old is he?"
CALLER: "He's fifty years old, sir."
OPERATOR: "Fifty, OK."
A
personal doctor was with him at the house.
Michael
Jackson would have celebrated his fifty-first birthday in August. He was just
days from launching what he hoped would be a comeback -- a series of fifty
concerts in London.
More than seven hundred fifty thousand tickets
sold out within hours of going on sale in March. The shows were set to begin
July thirteenth. There were questions, though, about whether his health could
handle the extended tour.
And after he died there were more
questions -- this time about his use of painkillers. Medical examiners did an
autopsy on Friday, but tests for drugs in the body normally take weeks.
Around
the world, fans like this one reacted to news of his death.
WOMAN: "Somebody like
Michael Jackson who's done so much for the world and stuff, you think almost
like he's invincible."
(MUSIC)
"Thriller," his
nineteen eighty-two album, earned a place in Guinness World Records as the best
selling album of all time. It produced hits like "Beat It" and "Billie Jean."
(MUSIC)
Michael
Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. He was five years
old when he and his brothers began performing in the Jackson 5.
He
was eleven when they had their first album. "Diana Ross Presents the
Jackson 5" was released in nineteen sixty-nine. Their album
"ABC" followed less than a year later.
(MUSIC)
In
nineteen seventy-one, Michael Jackson began his solo career. He went on to sell an estimated seven hundred fifty million
albums. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- twice.
But as talented and
successful as he was, he was also deeply troubled. His behavior and appearance
grew increasingly strange. He was heavily in debt.
He
was childlike. But in nineteen ninety-three, a thirteen-year-old boy accused him
of child molestation. The case was settled out of court. Later, another
accusation led to a criminal trial. But four years ago this month a jury
cleared him of all charges.
Michael
Jackson left his mark on popular culture. His music, his videos. His dance
moves and moonwalking. The hand in a sequined white glove. The father of three
was even married for a time to Elvis Presley's daughter. Now, he leaves behind
family, friends and fans to mourn his death. In a sad way he did make a
comeback. His death has pushed sales of his music back to the top of the charts
again.
And
that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by June Simms. I'm Steve
Ember.