Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.

Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: "Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him."

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: "Michael Jackson's unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly."

Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: "Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences."

Five of Jackson's solo albums – "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory," all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label – are among the top-sellers of all time. During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award.

Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the epic "Thriller." Jackson's sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.

We, like many soccer fans across the globe, are greatly saddened by thedeath of the music legend.


The reports of Mr. Jackson’s death ricocheted around the world withremarkable speed that our Ghana's soccer news website has no option but to pay aspecial tribute to him.


Jackson was one of the artistes pencilled down by his Senegalese friend Akonto perform at the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup.


Akon has been appointed as the music director and Jackson would haveperformed at the first World Cup to be held in Africa where the Black Stars areoverwhelmingly expected to play in.


The American pop legend Jackson died of a heart attack in a Los Angeleshospital today, just weeks before he hoped to resurrect his four-decade longcareer with a series of sold-out shows in London.

Jackson was taken to the University of California at Los Angeles medicalcentre, and paramedics administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation in theambulance.

He arrived at the hospital in a coma and was reported dead aboutthree hours later.

Although in the last two decades his reputation wassullied by accusations of child molestation and his bizarre public behaviour,the shows sold 1m tickets within hours, proving the King of Pop has enduringappeal, even among fans who were not yet born when he released the"Thriller" album in 1982.





Jackson's impact on American pop music cannot be overstated.



His signaturevocal style, dance moves, including the moon walk, and his military-inspiredfashion sense influenced pop culture world wide.



He earned worldwide acclaimfor his 1982 Thriller album, produced by Quincy Jones. His subsequent efforts,including his Bad album in 1987 and a collaboration with sister Janet Jacksonwere also well received.



His Thriller video, with its occult imagery andchoreographed ensemble dance helped launch the music video genre.



He ultimately sold more than 750m albums worldwide and won 13 Grammy awards.

Funky Hair Style

Singer
Mariah Carey and husband Nick Cannon seen on Roberto Cavalli’s yacht during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival. Nick looks like a deer in headlights when Mariah goes to kiss him? If I hadn’t seen ‘Love Don’t Cost A Thang’ so many times, I’d swear he’d never kissed a girl before.

The stars of the upcoming movie ‘Kites’ were in attendance at Cannes and while I always relish the sight of Hrithik, I must say I was disappointed. He looks tired and scruffy and just not red-carpet ready. As for his costar Barbara Mori, looks like she pulled an old prom dress out of her closet and paired it with some tacky costume jewelry. Both don’t fare that much better the next day either in more casual avatars; looks like Barbara could have used an iron on her dress and Hrithik could have used some sleep. The only person looking decent is dad Rakesh Roshan.

Nearly 20 children who acted in the Oscar-winning 'Slumdog Millionaire' have been thrown on the streets after Mumbai civic authorities Thursday morning demolished nearly 50 huts in a slum here, terming the slum unauthorised.

Azharuddin Ismail M Shaikh, the main child star of the movie, said a team of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) came unannounced this morning, ordered them to move out of their shanties in Garib Nagar slum of Bandra East and demolished them.

"We have nowhere to go. We are just sitting on the road in the blazing sun right now. All our belongings and other household goods have either been thrown out or damaged. We don't know what we will eat today," Azhar, crying inconsolably, told reporters.

When contacted, Assistant Municipal Commissioner H (East) Ward UD Mistry said the MCGM had specific orders from the headquarters to clear off all hutments which are constructed on the main drain in Bandra East.

"It may have happened that these celebrity children's homes also fell in this category, but we have to follow orders," Mistry said.

He added that if eligible, all the displaced persons would be provided alternative accommodation before the monsoon, expected to hit Mumbai early June.

In the meantime, the families of Azhar and his co-star Rubina Ali Qureshi are now pinning their hopes on getting a flat as promised by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

The flat allotment was delayed since the elections were announced but now the model code of conduct will be lifted Monday.

This is the second time in the past five years or so that the MCGM has demolished the shanties in the area. Since the last demolition, the families, including those of the 'Slumdog' artistes, have been living in a park or pavements, said a resident, Yakub Abdul Sheikh.

Stunning Mountains

Mandira bedi's new hair cut look for IPL 2009 (courtesy SETMAX)

Elderly Robo