Jackson Played Peter Pan to Charm White America

(NEWSER) - As legions mourn the King of Pop, Time rounds up the 10 defining moments of his life and career:

• The Jackson 5 bursts onto the scene in 1968, and its first single, “I Want You Back,” makes it to No. 1.
• The release of Thriller in 1982 makes Michael Jackson, in the words of Time, "the biggest thing since the Beatles.”

Assisted suicide advocate hospitalized since last month

(NEWSER) - Jack Kevorkian, longtime advocate of assisted suicide, died early this morning at age 83. Kevorkian had been hospitalized in Michigan since last month for kidney trouble and pneumonia. A friend tells the AP he recently spoke to Kevorkian about his pending release and rehabilitation, "then I left and he took a turn for the worst." Nurses played music by Johann Sebastian Bach for him before he died. No cause of death has been determined, but the friend says it was likely pulmonary thrombosis. More»

Motown Californian rocked fans' worlds

(NEWSER) - R&B soul singer Teena Marie was found dead in her bed at her California home yesterday. She was 54. Known as the "Ivory Queen of Soul," Marie signed with the legendary Motown label in the '70s; recorded 13 albums, including hits Lovergirl, Fire and Desire, Square Biz and I'm a Sucker for Your Love; and collaborated with Rick James. "She was a black voice trapped in a white body," said Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One, a broadcasting company that targets African-American listeners. "She was one of the greatest vocalists of our time." More»

Guest judge Harry Connick Jr. calls out Australian TV performers

(NEWSER) - A popular Australian TV variety program is under fire internationally for a skit that depicted Michael Jackson in whiteface and the rest of the Jackson 5 in blackface. Guest judge Harry Connick Jr., was shocked. “We’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see something like that we take it really to heart,” he said. The host of Hey Hey It's Saturday apologized on the air, the Times of London reports. More»

New single 'That's How Love Is' available online now

(NEWSER) - The Jackson 5 may well be back on the charts this November with the release of I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, a collection of never-before-heard material and alternate versions of beloved tunes. One of the new songs, “That’s How Love Is,” can be heard on the group’s website, jackson5.com. And there’s more to come for those grieving brother Michael. “We are going to miss him,” a collaborator tells USA Today, "but hopefully, we can fill in the blanks.” More»