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R.I.P. Michael Jackson: The Greatest of All Time

Posted Fri 26 Jun 2009 12:55PM NZST by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training
It still has not hit me. It feels so strange. Michael Jackson is dead. He was only 50 years old, a milestone age. He just celebrated the 25th anniversary of "Thriller," the best-selling album of all time, and re-released it in February.

He was scheduled to start his show run in London in a few weeks.

Maybe Michael's career had reached its peak, but I was not convinced that he was done with music. When he turned 50 last August, I did a series of interviews with radio stations. All of the DJs asked me if I thought Michael Jackson could make a comeback. They wanted to know if he could get past the controversies that dominated his news coverage over the last 10-plus years. My answer was a matter-of-fact "yes."

People often underestimate the power of music, and the effect that it has on us. We sometimes forget how a great song with a feel-good message lifts us up, and makes us smile and remember the place we had the most fun dancing to it and with whom.

Michael Jackson is one of the few artists in the history of the art form to be able to take one song, like "Billie Jean," and reach people of all age groups, races, and nationalities.

Michael has done this time and time again for decades, as both a solo artist and member of The Jackson 5.

This type of legacy cannot be erased by even the most horrible of charges and allegations. His music and performances are historic and forever engrained in our hearts.

Rick Sanchez, a floor manager at the popular Amoeba Music in Hollywood, says that his staff was "equally shocked" when they heard the news of Jackson's passing. "A lot of people are buying his music which usually happens in these situations," Sanchez says, referring to the breaking news of a musician's death.

Sanchez adds that all of Jackson's music always sells well at his location.

Rosemary Jean-Louis, a Michael Jackson fan and blogger from Atlanta, is nervous, hoping the news reports that Jackson has died are not true. "I don't want to believe it because it's Michael Jackson," Jean-Louis says. "He has been the guy considered invincible who always seems to come back. He is only 50. He was on the verge of such a big comeback with his concerts. No matter what he's gone through or what the crazy circumstances and dark period of his life with that poor trial-that taken aside-he is one of the musical geniuses of our times, truly the King of Pop."

I never learned to do his moonwalk dance move, but like everyone else, I was blown away when I saw him unveil it on Motown's famous 25th anniversary TV special in 1984.

I was too shy of a kid to get one of the red-and-black stripped jackets like the one he wore in the "Thriller" video, but I thought it was cool.

I did, however, have an afro Jheri curl in 1979, when Jackson released his album "Off the Wall," which included jams like "Don't Stop ‘til You Get Enough" and "Workin' Day and Night." I was 10, and whenever the high school girls on my block told me that I was cute and looked like Michael Jackson, I blushed and took it as a huge compliment.

My 6 1/2-year-old twins know and love his music as do the rest of us. This will never change.

I know he had been dealing with a lot these last few years. I hope that at the time of his passing he was in a happy place. Reportedly, he had been rehearsing in Los Angeles for the last two months, preparing for his London dates. His 50-year-old life may have been short, but it was impactful. His accomplishments are tremendous.

I offer my sincere condolences to his children, parents, siblings, and other family members, and to his friends and fans.

Watch Classic Michael Jackson videos.

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22115 Comments

1. mjlbsw -
god bless the greatest of all time. there will never be another superstar like michael jackson. his contributions to the world are unforgettable as he will always remain in our hearts. love you michael jackson, you are one in a million.

2. RedEyeTiger67 -
R.I.P Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson. The Greatest Entertainer of All Time.

3. Christina -
R.I.P. M J my thoughts and prayers go out ot your family especially Your 3 babies Michael ,Paris, and Prince
6 11 12

4. mrs jaye 4life -
I really can't believe it. Rest In Peace. Michael Jackson will truly be missed. He is The Greatest Entertainer of All Time. I grew up on his music and because of him and a few others is why I have the love of music.

5. CarrolW -
You are not alone Michael you are with Jesus now. We will miss you but your music will live on forever. My condolscences go out to the entire Jackson family. Rockweiler

6. SPOILED B*TCH -
MICHAEL JACKSON IS ONE OF THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE ARTISTS THAT EVER LIVED, HIS MUSIC TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES, I HAVE BEEN ONE OF HIS BIGGEST FANS . MY AUNT EVEN HAND MADE ME DOLLS OF HIM. I HAVE HIS THRILLER ALBUM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED. I WILL MISS HIM SO MUCH. I DO NOT BELIEVE ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIM. THEY ONLY FIGURED THAT HE WAS A EASY TARGET TO MAKE MONEY IN MY OPINION

7. Yahoo! Music User -
RIP
-Michael Jackson Forever

8. VaughnS -
Michael Jackson is still The King of Pop. Rest in Peace =/ You are still epic.

9. Yahoo! Music User -
it's been 4 1/2 hours and i still can't wrap my mind around all of this.

10. ant -
R I P MICHAEL

11. Sabrina -
cant beleive wat hapened to mikele

12. Yahoo! Music User -
I was sad Michael Jackson died. He had some of THE best songs ever including "Thriller" and "Beat It". He had made some mistakes in life , but people should just forgive and forget. May he, Michael Jackson, rest in peace.

13. Ben -
The greatest of all time has left us today...but all should know MJ wouldnt want any body to grieve over him..lets rejoice for all he has given to us over the years and be pround to say u were able to grow up being able to see the most original entertainer of all time!!!! God bless u jackson family!!!!

14. trinic -
My opinion, Michael Jackson was Iconic. He was up there with Lennon and Elvis. He was not just a singer, he was also a choreographer, dancer, arranger performer, etc.. His thriller video was the first of its kind, I will never forget seeing it in a bar, as the first of a new thing on TV, MTV. He was a legend and influenced so many boy bands, Madonna, Britney, Donna Summer, etc.....He was one of my childhood faves and I will miss him forever.

15. Zoey -
OMG WHY DID THEY HVE TO DIED NO COOL NOT AT ALL

16. Geekery -
LOVE YOU MIKE. Rest in Peace. I will miss you forever.

You keep up that moonwalking ya hear? :)

17. Jasmine G -
Its sad that he died so soon :(

18. lenny -
he will be miss RIP good bye MJ

19. Cj -
I have many great memories of Michael Jackson, and watching him grow up. I am very sad that he is gone. I must say, though, that I wish he had taken better care of himself. Towards his later years, I watched him degrade himself, and slowly diminish, which saddened me. If he had gone a different route, and didn't try so hard to pretend he was someone or something else, I think he would have exceeded more greatly, and lived a longer and fuller life. Rest in Peace, our friend. You will be loved in our hearts forever!! xxoo

20. __A_YAHOO_USER__ -
A great man and overall a great person. He inspired a nation and perhaps the world with his class and humility. He will never be forgotten as he lays in our hearts. The people of the world (paparazzi,news) need to give michael's family comfort instead of causing discomfort. This man deserves to lay in peace. Even those allegations can not diminsh or destroy the legacy that will forever be that of the King Of Pop
R.I.P. Michael Jackson 1958-2009 (;_;)
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