Puri, June 27 : Noted sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik immortalised ''King of Pop'' Michael Jackson in sand on the scenic beaches of Puri, Orissa.

As tribute to the legendary singer, who had moon walked his way into the hearts of his fans, Patnaik created a four-feet high sand sculpture.

The colourful sculpture of Jackson''s face, his hat and a guitar also drew the attention of the tourists who also came forward to pay tributes to the dead star. "We have made a four-feet high sculpture of Jackson, we have also recreated his hat and a guitar. The tourists coming to the beach can pay their tribute to him. We as artists have paid him a tribute through our art," said Patnaik.

Known as the "King of Pop," for hits that included "Thriller" and "Billie Jean," Jackson''s dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

He transformed music videos and his lifetime record sales tally is believed to be around 750 million, which, added to the 13 Grammy Awards he received, made him one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

Jackson, who had lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation, had been scheduled to launch a comeback tour from London next month.

The singer had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months in anticipation of the tour, which was set to run from July 13 of this year until March 2010. (ANI)