Category: Deaths

Author E. Lynn Harris Dies

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The man who first let African American women know about the “down low” brother died Thursday at age 54 while on a book tour in Los Angeles.  E. Lynn Harris first jumped onto the literary scene in 1994 with his debut fiction novel, “Invisible Life.” 

Born in 1955, Harris was raised in Little Rock, Ark.  A  journalism honors graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville,  he was the school’s first black yearbook editor, the first black male Razorbacks cheerleader and president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, reports the Associated Press.

Released in January, the author’s latest book, “Basketball Jones,” is about the gay lover of a NBA star.

Michael Jackson’s father greets hometown Gary crowd

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The Jackson family patriarch, Joe Jackson, returned to their hometown of Gary, Ind. for a memorial service Friday for the King of Pop.  Twenty Jackson cousins were also there to greet him at the 6,000-seat stadium, reports People.  Although most of the cousins have not kept in touch with the Jackson clan, they still felt the loss.

“We might not have seen him in 10 or 15 years, but it’s still family,” said Fossett Turner, 55. “You don’t see him, but that doesn’t mean the love isn’t there.”

Michael Jackson’s last rehearsal

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A memorial service is now planned for Michael Jackson.  Fans can log in to the Staples Center website for a chance to get one of the 17,500 tickets to the memorial service or to watch the simulcast across the street at the Nokia Theatre Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Check out video of the 50-year-old entertainer rehearsing, “They Don’t Care About Us,” for his upcoming London concerts two days before his death.

Obama speaks out about Michael Jackson’s death

 

barack-obama1michael-jacksonPresident Barack Obama, who sent a private condolence letter to the Jackson family, spoke publicly about the death of Michael Jackson Thursday.

“I’m glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer,” Obama said in an AP interview.

The president said he grew up on Jackson’s music and “I still have all his stuff on my iPod.”

“I think that Michael Jackson will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers,” Obama said. “His brilliance as a performance also was paired with a tragic and in many ways, sad personal life.”

Michael Jackson’s Will Revealed

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In Michael Jackson’s will, created in 2002, the entertainer named his 79-year-old mother, Katherine, as the guardian of his three children:  Prince, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7.  If his mother is unable to care for the children, Jackson named Diana Ross, 65, as their guardian.  Jackson left his assets –valued in 2002 to be $500 million–in a family trust and named attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain and accountant Barry Siegel as executors, reports People.

Michael Jackson’s mother gains temporary custody of children and his father speaks out

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Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, gained temporary custody of the entertainer’s three children Monday until an Aug. 3 hearing when permanent guardianship of the children is decided.  The Superior Court judge did not grant her request to be the guardian of the children’s estate.

Michael Jackson’s father, Joseph, along with family friend Rev. Al Sharpton held a press conference Monday and stated that funeral arrangements will not be made until after the results of the second autopsy of the entertainer’s body.  Jackson said that the family will not rush their plans because they want to  “preserve the legacy” of Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson’s father releases statement about his death

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Michael Jackson’s father, Joseph, released the following statement Saturday regarding his death:

In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times. 

We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you – who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever. 

In addition, Joseph Jackson wishes to personally convey: “My grandchildren are deeply moved by all the love and support you have shown for them and their father, Michael Jackson.” 

Joseph Jackson & Family 

Michael Jackson autopsy results unclear

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While rumors continue to swirl about the King of Pop’s prescription drug use, authorities were unable to determine a cause of death for Michael Jackson after the autopsy of his body Friday.

“The cause of death has been deferred, which means that the medical examiner has ordered additional testing such as toxicology and other studies,” Los Angeles County Coroner‘s spokesman Craig Harvey said. “Those tests we anticipate will take an additional four to six weeks.”