Michael’s music, his creativity and his heart for people is what I’ll never forget. His music is the soundtrack of my life, at the tender age of 10 the Jackson 5 exploded onto the music scene and into my life and Michael made an indelible impact upon my creative soul. I am soooooo sad about his tragic and untimley death, I’m devastated. My heart and my prayers go out to his family, close friends and to other fans who love him as much as I do. To me, Michael Jackson was the Greatest Entertainer of All Time!
I just want to share some of the memories I have and my experiences regarding the Great Michael Jackson.
When I was 10 years old, my mother took me over to visit our family friends. Their daughter Kay, grabbed me a pulled me into the living room and put a 45 (single) on the HiFi stereo system (a record player in a big cabinet). She said, “You’ve got to hear this” and then it happened; Michael’s voice pierced my heart as the melody of “I Want You Back” pulsed through my soul. We played that song and danced around the room for about an hour. I was soooo excited that I begged my mother to go and buy that record for me, she did and I wore it out. The girls in my homeroom class dressed up like the Jackson 5 and made up dance routines to that song and many other J5 songs. We were so in love with Michael and his brothers, that we bought every Right On magazine they were in, every J5 and MJ album and attended every J5 concert that came to town. We argued over who loved Michael the most and we all wrote him love letters and hoped to one day get the chance to meet him and his brothers.
Little did I know that I would get my wish a few short years later. At the age of 13, my brother-in-law (a Motown musician) invited me, my best friend Fran and my family to meet the Jackson 5 at a Motown reception at the Metro Airport Hotel. We were literally crazy with excitement and exhausted ourselves in anticipation of the event. My mother took me shopping and allowed me to pick out a new outfit and shoes for the event (before this time she had final approval over all of my clothing purchases and from that time on she allowed me to make all of my fashion choices on my own-this was a big deal-coming of age situation for me).
At the reception we got to meet, greet and shake hands with the Jackson 5. When my time came and I shook the hands of Marlon and then Michael, they both looked at me and then looked at each other and winked. We said our brief hellos and I whispered to Michael, I love you and moved on down the line. My best friend Fran, brought her camera and took pictures during the event (We pull those photos out from time to time and remember the fun and excitment of that special time in our lives). After the reception, we asked if we could go up to Michael’s hotel room to see him again. My brother-in-law said that no girls were allowed and took my little step brother instead (we were floored and upset to say the least).
Later that night, we went to the J5 concert at COBO Hall in Detroit. We went backstage and watched the concert from the wings seated with the Gordy’s and other Motown folks. Needless to say, it took me several years to get over the whole event; as it was the biggest thing that had ever happen to me up to that point.
Flash forward about 15 years, it was the time of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album and worldwide concert tour. My ex-husband bought tickets for us to go to the concert. He said that his good friend from Moorehouse College was the principal background singer and would get us backstage. Before the concert started, my ex-husband went to talk with his friend and upon his return; he presented me with “After the Show” backstage passes. I was excited and afraid at the same time. The concert was off the hook and I was in awe, Michael cut up the stage and sang his heart out; I had become star struck all over again. After the show, we made our way backstage and I got autographs from many of the band members, when it was time to go back and meet Michael I froze and couldn’t go. I told my husband that he wasn’t the same Michael that I remembered and I didn’t want to spoil that memory. He said,” You’re crazy, girl come on and meet your music idol again….come on!!!!!”, I said, “I’ll see you when you get back”, and I stood there and waited until he got back. The next night, he asked me if I wanted to go back and see the concert again and go back and meet Michael…I told him to take somebody else, but that if he could get my program autographed, that would be great, he did and I was happy with that. My ex told me that Michael was very friendly and talkative telling jokes and drawing lots of cartoons on a chalk board on the wall of his dressing room (My ex said that Michael was a very talented artist). Later, I felt bad about judging Michael’s appearance and not going back to talk with him; so I wrote him a final fan letter. I totally regret not taking a final opportunity to meet and talk with the King of Pop. Hopefully I’ll see him in heaven.
My two favorite Michael Jackson Albums
Michael, I love you and I miss you! Thank you for sharing your music, your creativity and your love with all of us!
Thank you, thank you so much for sharing this. I kinda figured you would be taking this hard like all the rest of us. Don’t feel bad about the last concert you saw him, we all felt the same way. Was it really a skin condition or did he really want to be white? I dunno. All I know is I just feel bad that he had to endure so much pain and ridicule throughout his life. Good thing is he is at peace now. RIP-MJ
Michael’s skin condition was very, very bad. His vitiligo spread over his body as well as all over his face. By the time, "Off the Wall" was released, he had to be painted brown to appear normal. He stated in an interview that he got sick and tried of being painted brown everytime he went out in public. I believe it was necessary for him to resolve his skin situation in the best way he could, which resulted in bleaching his entire body. I know for a fact that Michael did not want to be White and that he loved being Black. I’m sure his bleached skin made it easier for those of other races to better love and accept him. Whether looking Black or White, I realize that he was the same person with the same heart. Thanks for your encouragement, I do feel bad about my reasoning and my choice at that time.
See thanks for that tidbit of info…I had no idea he had to be painted brown in the days of "Off the wall". I thought it started affecting him after "Thiller". How ironic that one of the greatest entertainers of our race was afflected with a disease that turned him white. He caught a lot of heat from people (including) myself) who thought he wasn’t proud of his heritage. Over these past couple of days I have been learning or rather relearning alot of things about him, like how he self- financed the videos Thriller and Billie Jean after the company balked at paying for it. It was becuase of those videos Thriller sales went through the roof.Have you seen his father lately out there promoting his new recording company when he should be discussing the passing of his son. The only good thing that came out of his was those Jackson children.
Joe Jackson is sick and a grand embarrassment to his family. They need to keep him away from the microphone. It’s wonderful the amount of economic power Michael had to direct his way through the music industry. I was soo proud when he released the Thriller album videos and when they broke on MTV. We had a party for the premier and tried to do the Thiller dance too…tee hee!
I hope so. And you know how we black folk can get around funerals. I know they will have to deal with his for now but as soon as Michael is laid to rest they better keep his !@# away from the family. I just watched the oprah ’93 interview. I liked the interview. I loved how he never took credit for anything, even the moonwalk which he said he got from some inner city kids. I am now going to watch the one with Martin Bashir.
I loved how Oprah handled him, that was a great interview. The Bashir interview infuriated me…I hate that pile of mess. Bashir had an agenda and he accomplished it. He should be ashamed of himself….shame on him! I don’t like what he did and he should not have been rewarded for it. He’s a hack journalist with a big time job……….:/
Thx for sharing your fond memories of MJJ and the rest of the Jackson Family – An exceptional expose -
Sheldon: Thanks! I have to admit that Michael was my first love. He pulled love and creativity out of me at a very young age. Watching and learning from his talent and ability made me fearless to express my talent and creativity. He really made a positive difference in my life and I’m soooooo blessed to have had a brush with greatness.I’m happy to report that I am among the initial Michael Jackson fans. I remember (many times) standing on a 4 foot baracade at Olympia Stadium in Detroit (held up by our parents hands) screaming my guts out and sing all the J5 songs. Yes, we were fanatical; but it was exciting and fun and one of the best times of my life. I’ll never forget the joy that the J5 and especially Michael added to my childhood.
I watched that Bashir interview…Bashir went in already on the attack against MJ. To me Bashir is of that East indian variety that have this bias against people of color and even though MJ has light skin he is still black. I thought MJ was really being honest in the interview, maybe too honest but honest. It was unfortunate that Bashir used his honesty against him. Don’t worry though, I am a firm believer in karma.
Chocolate: I agree. Bashir was out for blood. I believe that in the Bashir interview, Michael was the most open he had ever been in an interview. I still hate watching it, I get really upset.