Guinness World Records is saddened to hear of the death of Michael Jackson at the age of 50.

Jackson holds numerous Guinness World Records including the most Grammy Awards won in a year, most hit singles in the UK charts in a year, best selling album of all time, longest span of No.1 hits by an R&B artist, best selling music video, highest annual earnings ever for a pop star, and most successful pop music family.

Speaking in London tonight, Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday commented "I will always be immensely proud to know that Michael considered me a friend, and I know that everyone at Guinness World Records will be numb from hearing the news that this gentle, kind, shy man is no longer with us. On his last visit to the Guinness World Records office, he devoted a few valuable hours of his time being photographed with everyone, and we were all touched by his humility and willingness to please everyone present with autographs and photos. I'm honoured to have had the chance to spend some time with such a wonderfully talented artist - the man we called the Most Famous Living Man on Earth - and to present him with his favourite world record of all, the biggest selling album of all time, for Thriller, of course. He leaves behind an incredible musical legacy and a body of work unrivalled by any other performer."

26 June 2009