Sadly, yesterday the world lost one of the most pivotal icons in entertainment history. When Michael Jackson passed away Thursday afternoon, a void was created that may never be filled. For many, not since Elvis has there been an artist that so captured the hearts and minds of a global audience. In that respect, he surpassed Elvis by leaps and bounds. Michael Jackson had a universal appeal that categorically transcended all entertainment genres. In many respects he was a genius.
I was amazed by his voice and his footwork. Michael made his performances seem effortless. His rhythm and pitch were always perfect, and he had a boyish charm that seemed infectious to everyone around him. Whenever I hear one of those old J5 songs, I’m instantly transported back to when I was a husky little boy who loved music, books and baseball more than anything else. As much as I enjoyed Michael and the J5, my very first album was his brother’s Jermaine’s first release, a birthday gift from my grandmother. As time went on and I entered my teenage years, Michael was becoming a superstar.
One year our dreams came true when my mother and father took my sister and me to the now defunct Mill Run Theatre. It was an intimate venue much like the Park West, except for it was theater-in-the-round with a rotating stage. This allowed you get a 360 degree view of the show, and it was great! The Jackson 5 had now become The Jacksons, and Randy had joined the bad. The “Destiny” album was climbing the charts and Michael already had numerous hits out with “Off The Wall.” I never got the chance to see them again, and after that, MJ became a megastar. I continued to listen to his music, and then came the videos.
When MTV debuted, it catapulted MJ to a level of stardom that was previously unattainable. As talented as he was as a performer, he was also sharp enough to know how to use this new medium to his advantage. He made music videos an art form and became the benchmark for the industry. If you look closely at many of his videos, you’ll see future music, dance and theatrical stars. MJ not only made hits, but he was a hitmaker launching the careers of entertainers like Brandon Adams, Alfonso Ribeiro, or working with established actors Stony Jackson, Eddie Murphy and the late legendary Vincent Price. His choreographers included Boogaloo Shrimp, Michel Peters, Kenny Ortega and “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul among others. Even basketball greats Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan came out to support him, and Johnson and model Iman made an appearance in “Remember the Time.”
The more I think about Michael the more I remember. I could go on and on, not because I’m an obsessed fan, but because I respect his gift, humanitarianism, his faith, his timeless talent and for changing the visage of entertainment. Michael Jackson will truly be missed.
One final note, I’d be remisced if I didn’t say that whomever his stylist was, they need to be locked in a dungeon and flogged by rabid gibbons.
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AP Photo
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