Singer Michael Jackson, 50, whose dance music defined the 1980s, was
found unconscious this afternoon and was rushed to a hospital in L.A.
He was pronounced dead of a heart attack, news accounts confirmed
Thursday evening. The story was broken by TMZ but later confirmed by
the LA Times and NBC.

Jackson's music provided the soundtrack
for a generation. He achieved early success as a member of the "Jackson
5" in the 1970s, but his personal life was fraught with problems,
including having overcome sexual abuse by his own father, he said. He
also was literally never comfortable in his own skin, and was said to
have had numerous plastic surgeries.

Because of his troubled
youth, Jackson made it a point to help children and ran the "Neverland
Ranch" to cheer up sick kids. However, in the 1990s, he faced his own
charge of sexual abuse coming from a young boy who had stayed there.
Jackson ended up settling out of court with the boy's family and was
never brought to trial. He became more reclusive in ensuing years.