NEW ORLEANS Inspiring gospel music and messages reigned supreme Sunday inside the Morial Convention Center on the final day of the Essence Music Festival which honored Bishop T.D. Jakes as part of its 15th annual celebration.
LOS ANGELES The Rev. Al Sharpton has delivered a sermon in Los Angeles where he called for nationwide "love vigils" for Michael Jackson on Tuesday.
People gather near a large poster at the Staples Center in Los Angeles , Sunday, July 5, 2009. The venue is the planned location for late pop star Michael Jackson's memorial service scheduled for Tuesday, July 7.
LOS ANGELES Los Angeles police say Michael Jackson's family is planning a private ceremony at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.
LOS ANGELES Like a modern-day Willy Wonka tale, fans celebrated Sunday after beating the odds to win coveted tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial service at Staples Center.
LONDON Madonna paid tribute to Michael Jackson on Saturday night in the same arena where he was to stage his comeback, dancing along with an impersonator doing Jackson's distinctive moves.
Dr. Tohme Tohme, an advisor to Michael Jackson, stands in front of a painting of Jackson titled "The Book," by artist Brett-Livingstone Strong, in the law office of Dennis Hawk in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday, July 3, 2009. Tohme vividly remembers the first time he met with Michael Jackson to discuss his finances. It's not the money talk that stays with him now, but his enchantment at entering Jackson's world of love.
LOS ANGELES Dr. Tohme Tohme vividly remembers the first time he met with Michael Jackson to discuss the pop star's finances. It's not the money talk that stays with him now, but his enchantment at entering Jackson's world of love.
FILE - In this January 1977 file photo,Yoko Ono, center, and John Lennon, right, are shown with Allen Klein, president of ABKCO Industries Inc., and former Beatles manager. Former music manager Allen Klein, a no-holds-barred businessman who bulldozed his way into and out of deals with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, has died, Saturday, July 4, 2009 in New York.
NEW YORK Music manager Allen Klein, a no-holds-barred businessman who bulldozed his way into and out of deals with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, died Saturday, a publicist for his company said. He was 77.
In this Oct. 11, 2008 photo provided by the Westchester Philharmonic, Itzhak Pearlman, right, debuts as the Westchester Philharmonic's artistic director, during a performance at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College in Purchase N.Y. Adding the popular, world-famous violinist to the orchestra attracted new subscribers, plus raised the reputation and repertoire of a suburban orchestra just outside New York City. Fundraising also increased by 40 percent at a time when corporate sponsorship was in decline.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. When he hired Itzhak Perlman as artistic director of the Westchester Philharmonic in 2007, Joshua Worby thought he'd hit a grand slam.
Macky Dancy Jr., 7, looks at a rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson on display at the Dancy-Power Automotive Group, a showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York Thursday July 2, 2009. Owner Marty Abrams says the oil painting titled "The Book" is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams chose the showroom because it is near the Apollo Theater, where the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967.
NEW YORK When Rabbi Shmuley Boteach brought his children to play with Michael Jackson's kids at Neverland Ranch some eight years ago, the rabbi's youngsters naturally made a beeline for the fabulous rides - the Ferris wheel, the roller coaster, the bumper cars.
A card signed by fans is shown at the gates of the late Michael Jackson's former residence, Neverland Ranch, in Los Olivos, Calif., Friday, July 3, 2009.
CHICAGO No matter how unusual their lives may have been so far, Michael Jackson's children now face a universal trauma felt by all kids who suddenly lose a parent.
U2's Bono performs during their 360 Tour at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, July 2, 2009.
BANGKOK, Thailand As U2 kicks off its world tour, the Irish rockers are turning a spotlight on Myanmar's jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
LOS ANGELES More than 1.2 million people have now registered to get tickets for Michael Jackson's memorial service next week.
Fans place a poster of Michael Jackson at a makeshift shrine outside the O2 arena in southeast London, Tuesday, June 30, 2009, where he was scheduled to play 50 shows from July 2009. Now that the reality of Michael Jackson's death has sunk in, some Londoners are assessing the economic impact of his sudden departure and they don't like what they see. The demise of the pop legend means the cancellation of 50 planned shows at London's 23,000 seat 02 Arena, which was sold out for the long anticipated Jackson run. Some replacement events will be scheduled in their place, but the loss of the superstar means lots of empty hotel rooms, half-filled restaurants, and quiet nightclubs.
LONDON Forget those reports that Swedish supergroup ABBA will be reuniting to cover Michael Jackson's sold-out concert dates.
NEW ORLEANS Brass band musicians on trumpet, trombone and tuba belted out "A Closer Walk With Thee" as the Essence Music Festival gave a salute to Michael Jackson befitting a New Orleans jazz funeral procession.
In this handout photo provided by AEG, pop star Michael Jackson rehearses at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
LOS ANGELES Madonna is paying tribute to Michael Jackson in the same arena where he was to stage his great comeback.
JOHANNESBURG Several hundred South Africans gathered on Friday for a moonwalking tribute to the King of Pop that reflected the diversity of the rainbow nation.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. A spokesman for country star Ferlin Husky says the singer has been hospitalized in Tennessee.
LONDON Legendary music producer Quincy Jones says Michael Jackson's sudden death is too surreal to process.
Weekly charts for the nation's best-selling recorded music as they appear in next week's issue of Billboard magazine. Reprinted with permission. (Platinum signifies more than 1 million copies sold; Gold signifies more than 500,000 copies sold.):
LOS ANGELES The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson's home, a law enforcement official said Friday as the city planned for a massive crowd at the singer's memorial service.
SACRAMENTO California Attorney General Jerry Brown says his office is helping Los Angeles police investigate the possible involvement of prescription drugs in Michael Jackson's death.
A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson is displayed by owner Marty Abrams, left, and Rick Kaplan, co-owner of Dancy-Power Automotive Group, a showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York Thursday July 2, 2009. Abrams says the oil painting titled "The Book" is the only portrait Jackson sat for because he was friends with Australian painter Brett-Livingstone Strong. The 40-inch-by-50-inch portrait was sold for $2.1 million in 1990. Abrams chose the showroom because it is near the Apollo Theater, where the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967.
NEW YORK A rarely seen portrait of Michael Jackson is on display inside a New York City showroom that sells luxury cars to celebrities.
LOS OLIVOS, Calif. Like an old Western boomtown, the makeshift village that sprang up around the gates of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was vanishing Friday, with visitors and vendors packing up tents, tarps, posters and CDs.
OLYMPIA, Wash. It's been a busy year for former Nirvana bassist turned politico Krist Novoselic (noh-voh-SEL'-ich).
LOS ANGELES Los Angeles city officials are preparing for massive crowds downtown during Tuesday's public memorial for Michael Jackson at Staples Center, even though only 17,500 tickets are being offered to the public.
In this handout photo provided by AEG, pop star Michael Jackson rehearses at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
LOS ANGELES A 30-second snippet of Michael Jackson rehearsing two days before his death was released Thursday, part of more than 100 hours of footage that could be turned into live albums, a movie and a pay-per-view special, the promoter said.
BOGOTA Colombian pop star Shakira says after her latest album is born she plans to undertake a new labor: multiple children.
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter, right, of the Los Angeles Coroner's office, arrives at the rented home of Michael Jackson, Monday, June 29, 2009, in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.
LOS ANGELES A TV station says the mother of Michael Jackson's two eldest children wants custody of them.
PITTSBURGH Tilesha McClurkin wanted to join other Michael Jackson fans to celebrate his life, but she knew she wouldn't be able to go to whatever official memorial celebration might be held.
President Barack Obama prepares to leave following his interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in the West Wing of the White House in Washington.
WASHINGTON The King of Pop had a fan in the White House.
LONDON An all-star Michael Jackson tribute show? A Jackson family concert, minus Michael? An ABBA reunion?
FILE - In this May 29, 2009 file photo, Brad Paisley is shown in Nashville, Tenn.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. As much as he enjoys singing about the double lives of computer geeks ("Online") and amorous country boys ("Ticks"), Brad Paisley says there's too much going on in the world to be too lighthearted on his new album, "American Saturday Night."
LOS ANGELES Nearly two in three Americans say news organizations have given too much coverage to the death of Michael Jackson, but half say the media have struck the right balance between covering the pop star's personal life and musical career.
Jermaine Jackson leaves the Jackson family home in Encino, Calif., Sunday, June 28, 2009.
NEW YORK Jermaine Jackson says he would like to see Neverland Ranch as his brother Michael's final resting place.
FILE - In a Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1986 file photo, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie receive a Grammy for best song of the year for their song "We Are the World" at the 28th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Richie, a longtime friend to Michael Jackson, says the country is in need of some healing after the pop star's recent death and the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans is going to provide the perfect remedy. Essence, which begins Friday, July 3, 2009 and runs through Sunday, will feature performances by Richie, Beyonce, John Legend, Ne-Yo, Anita Baker and a host of other artists. Organizers are now also planning a special tribute to Jackson.
NEW ORLEANS The celebration of black music and culture at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans will provide comfort to artists and fans alike after a tough week following Michael Jackson's death.
Uri Geller, 62, a medium, a phychic spoonbender and a close friend of Michael Jackson, poses for the Associated Press at his mansion outside London, Thursday July 2, 2009. Geller, a former Jackson confidant, said Thursday he tried to keep Jackson from abusing painkillers and other prescription drugs, but others in the singer's circle kept him supplied. "When Michael asked for something, he got it. This was the great tragedy,"
LONDON Two of Michael Jackson's former confidantes, medium Uri Geller and ex-bodyguard Matt Fiddes, say they tried in vain to keep the pop superstar from abusing painkillers and other prescription drugs suspected of leading to his death - but others in the singer's circle kept the supplies flowing.
Members of the grounds crew work on a gate at Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., Wednesday, July 1, 2009 as preparations are made for a possible memorial service for the late pop star Michael Jackson at his former residence.
LOS OLIVOS, Calif. With Peter Pan as inspiration, Michael Jackson turned his lush Neverland ranch into a whimsical retreat with carnival rides, a chimpanzee named Bubbles and even a Disney-like train station where he could recapture his lost childhood.
FILE - In this June 12, 2009 file photo, musician Kevin Jonas of the music group The Jonas Brothers performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" show in New York.
NEW YORK The eldest Jonas brother, Kevin, and his girlfriend Danielle Deleasa were engaged Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES Deborah Rowe, the ex-wife of Michael Jackson and the mother of two of his children, has not reached a final decision on whether to seek custody of the children, a lawyer said Thursday.
In this image released by Nonesuch Records, members of Wilco, from left, Pat Sansone, Mikael Jorgensen, Jeff Tweedy, Glenn Kotche, Nels Cline and John Stirratt are shown.
MANCHESTER, Tenn. When it's remarked to Jeff Tweedy while walking backstage at the recent Bonnaroo Music Festival that it's a shame he won't have time to catch most of the festival's other acts, he turns and smiles.
LOS ANGELES One site under consideration for a public Michael Jackson memorial is the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Los Angeles Lakers held their championship celebration last month.
FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 27, 2003 file picture, Michael Jackson thanks the audience during the Radio Music Awards at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.
NEW YORK Michael Jackson had a mountain of unreleased recordings in the vault when he died - music that is almost certain to be packaged and repackaged for his fans in the years to come.
A look at who wins and loses in Michael Jackson's 2002 will, which aims to move all of his estimated $500 million-plus assets into a private family trust.
Antonio Williams, 7, of Orlando Fla., performs the dance moves of Michael Jackson for those waiting online for the doors to open for amateur night, which is dedicated to the late singer, at the Apollo Theater in the Harlem neighborhood of New York Wednesday, July 1, 2009.
NEW YORK Tributes to the King of Pop continued Wednesday at the Apollo Theater, where the weekly Amateur Night turned into a Michael Jackson celebration, with impersonators emulating his outfits and mimicking his dance moves.
LOS OLIVOS, Calif. Adoring fans and dozens of news crews poured into this bucolic town near Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on Wednesday expecting to witness the finale to the story of the King of Pop - only to learn their hasty trips were unnecessary.
LOS ANGELES A judge ruled Wednesday that Katherine Jackson will retain control of 2,000 items from Neverland Ranch until another hearing is held Monday, despite claims that the Jackson family had moved too quickly to take control of the pop star's $500 million estate.
Members of the grounds crew put down fresh sod at Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, Calif., Wednesday, July 1, 2009 as preparations are made for a memorial service for the late pop star Michael Jackson at his former residence.
LOS ANGELES An effort to bury Michael Jackson at Neverland Ranch has fizzled and it appears more likely a funeral and burial will take place in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
A vender sells T-shirts at a makeshift memorial outside the family home of the late pop star Michael Jackson in the Encino section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 1, 2009.
LOS ANGELES Michael Jackson's album sales have exploded - three of his albums are in the top three spots and 2.3 million tracks have been downloaded in the United States since his death, Nielsen SoundScan said Wednesday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Country singer Josh Turner and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of a second son.
