The Los Angeles Times is reporting that singer Michael Jackson was rushed by paramedics to a nearby hospital in Los Angeles early this afternoon, and that he was not breathing. WINS is referencing celebrity gossip site TMZ that he died of cardiac arrest, though other reports say he is still alive, but in serious or critical condition. Jackson was born 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana, and first became a singing star with his brothers in the Jackson Five in the 1960s. In the 1970s, he launched a solo career, and became a pop superstar. He had 13 number one hits during his solo career, as well as the mega-hit album Thriller.
In later years, he was known more for his personal quirks and antics than for his talents, but he was reported to be working on a come-back tour recently.
Many of Jackson’s songs and music videos dovetailed with—if not being firmly within—the speculative fiction fields. He also performed on the soundtracks of numbers films, and acted in several films and tv shows. His genre appearances as an actor include: Miss Cast Away (2004), Men in Black II (2002), Space Channel 5 (1999), Ghosts (1997), The Simpsons, Captain EO (1986), and The Wiz (1978). His genre soundtrack appearances include: 13 Going on 30 (2004), The Meteor Man (1993), Back to the Future, Part II (1989), and Superman (1987).
Jackson was twice divorced, and has three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.

Edited a few minutes later: The Times is now reporting that Jackson is alive, but in a coma. More news as we learn it.
Edited at 6:19PM EDT: The paper’s site updated itself at 3:15PM PDT to say Jackson “was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.”