Heart attacks. Plane crashes. Car crashes. Drug overdoses. Murder. Over the years, these have become some of the most common causes of the often shocking deaths in the music industry. On a lighter note, some might argue that even ham sandwiches have been involved.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.