Thursday saw the fans of the music legend’s years of fame under the spotlight, gathered outside the UCLA medical centre where he was pronounced dead, aged 50 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. The star had been due in London for a series of comeback concerts next month.

UCLA medical centre in West Hollywood pronounced the singer dead two hours after paramedics were called to his Beverly Hills home at about midday on Thursday after he had stopped breathing.

Fans showed their support by singing his songs and dancing to the celebration of Jackson’s life and music, as far as they are concerned he is still the King Of Pop and his music will live on.

"It's so sad and shocking," said former Beatle Paul McCartney. "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy- man with a gentle soul”.

He went on to say, “His music will be remembered forever."

Jackson is considered one of the most successful entertainers of the past century, he dominated the charts in the 1980s and had a lifetime sales tally estimated at 750 million records, 13 Grammy Awards and several seminal music videos to his name.

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said : "I'm wondering, as we find out details of his death, if perhaps the stress of preparing for those dates was a factor in his collapse".

This backs up the many concerns that were raised last month when four of Jackson's planned comeback shows were postponed, however organisers insisted that the complexity of staging the show were the causes of the dates being moved.

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy said "Michael was and will remain one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived".