Tributes to Michael Jackson have been flooding in from across the world as fans continue to mourn his sudden death yesterday.
View a gallery of Michael Jackson's life & career
The singer collapsed at his rented mansion in the exclusive Los Angeles neighbourhood of Holmby Hills and was rushed to hospital by paramedics before being pronounced dead at 2:26pm local time (10.26pm Irish) last night.
One of the most influential figures in pop history - whose career included the highest-selling album of all-time, Thriller - Jackson had been preparing for a concert comeback in London next month.
News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief as shocked celebrities, foreign governments and devoted fans from Beijing to Beverly Hills paid tribute to the troubled star.
Lieutenant Fred Corral, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner's office, said an post mortem examination would likely be carried out today. He would not speculate on the exact cause of death.
President Barack Obama said the 50-year-old was a 'spectacular performer' and a 'music icon', he added that some aspects of Jackson's life were 'sad and tragic' and offered his condolences to the musician's family.
Michael's brother Jermaine, the family's official spokesman, later revealed that physicians had battled for more than an hour to revive the star after his arrival at the UCLA Medical Centre.
'He was taken ill at home and his personal physician tried to resuscitate him but could not,' Jermaine told reporters.
'Our family requests that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time.'
Hundreds of fans and reporters had gathered throughout the day outside the UCLA Medical Centre amid conflicting reports about his condition.
At the same time police motorcycle riders surrounded Jackson's gated mansion as crowds of tourists and fans congregated.
Jackson's first wife Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, said his death had left her speechless.
'I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him, and for his family,' Ms Presley said.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lamented the loss of 'one of the most influential and iconic figures in the music industry.'
Career overshadowed
While Jackson ruled the charts and dazzled audiences with electric dance moves, his once-stellar career was overshadowed by his public behaviour, his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.
Jackson's musical legacy - Read
He lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.
Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar, who named his ranch after Peter Pan's 'Neverland' of perpetual childhood, struggled to recover.
Born on 29 August 1958, Jackson made his show business debut with four of his elder brothers in the Jackson Five, and went on to lead the stage clan with a piping soprano and dazzling dance moves.
In 1979, Quincy Jones produced Jackson's first solo album for Epic, 'Off the Wall,' a huge disco-oriented success that sold 10m copies.
They teamed up again in 1982 for what would be Jackson's breakthrough album as a composer and co-producer, 'Thriller.' It became the top-selling album of all time, with sales exceeding 41m.
Quincy Jones reacted with shock after being informed of Jackson's death last night.
'I'm absolutely devastated at this news,' he said. 'I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together and allowed us to do what we could do through the '80s,' Mr Jones said.
