MICHAEL JACKSON 1958-2009

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August  29, 1959 and died on Thursday June 25, 2009. As the world mourns the loss of this entertainment legend, the Star also pays tribute to this global  icon.

Entertainment writer  Toni Nicholas recalls his first two albums being Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” and Prince’s debut album which featured “I Wanna be your Lover.” “I practically grew up on the Jackson 5. My brothers were avid music fans and I recalled listening to the early Motown stuff which included the Jacksons. Then in 1979 a friend of mine was leaving the island and decided to share his records among his friends. I chose “Off the Wall” and Prince which I still have to this very day. I later became hooked on Right On magazine, collecting all the MJ posters, some I still have to this day. And I think that some of those Cynthia Horner articles may have inspired my interest in journalism. I loved Michael because to me he was the ultimate entertainer, the dancing, the choreography, the music, the lyrics and he was a trendsetter. Back in the day I sported one of those red MJ jackets, wore the bottle neck black pants with white socks showing and even got into break-dancing thanks to MJ and the moon walk. Sorry, I stopped short of the jerry curls. It is difficult for me to say which is my favourite Michael Jackson song, I have so many.
“My last Michael Jackson CD was the five CD box set and DVD which came out in 2006, which I got myself as a Birthday gift. One of my most memorable Michael Jackson features was a  VH1 Behind the Music, where a former prostitute confessed that on the road Joe Jackson, Michael’s father used to invite prostitutes into his sons, room when they were on the road touring. On one occasion the prostitute interviewed by VH1 says she was asked to help MJ lose his virginity and was put in a room alone with him. Instead, she said she left the hotel that night converted by Michael Jackson into a Jehovah’s witness. But that was Michael, always having a profound impact on persons across the world, myself included. I remember him for the influence he had not just on entertainers, not just on black people, but on the human race, like no one else has done before.
Some leading personalities in the entertainment circle in Saint Lucia also have their say on Michael Jackson:
Teddyson John-performer: Michael Jackson was responsible for a lot of what we hear and see now musically, he caused a lot of people to come out, black and white and probably even me. As a matter of fact just Tuesday I was watching a DVD of a “live” Michael Jackson concert in Europe, I mean I love live music and Michael Jackson was the ultimate performer on stage, the band, the choreography, the lights, the sound, he had a complete package and I try to learn from that. And seeing that concert I was able to draw a parallel to an Usher 8701 concert that I saw, where the influence of Michael Jackson was clear. So his loss is definitely a great one, but he have left behind a legacy for artistes like myself to learn from.
Ronald “Boo” Hinkson- musician: Michael Jackson was the ultimate entertainer. He took it to another level where no one else had gone before and where I do not think we will see another going anytime soon. In spite of his eccentricity, Michael was the total package in an industry which can be so demanding. But he has also taught us as black people that we can achieve anything if we are persistent, diligent, professional, hard-working, focused and determined—qualities that he also embodied.
Pringles aka Superman- radio host/entertainer: I was one of those who idolized Michael Jackson and right now I am sort of at a loss for words knowing that the world has lost one of the greatest entertainers, ever.
Giovanni St Omer, Designer, Artiste: Man for persons like myself the eighties was about Michael Jackson, we breathed and lived Michael Jackson. I was and still am a big fan and I am still in shock. This to me is one of the greatest single world events and Michael was simply put the greatest entertainer of all time. But more than that, his music brought persons from all over the world together and let us not forget his humanitarian efforts with songs like “We are the World” and even taking on the environment with “Heal the World.” I mean he was the greatest and even several of the world’s so called great entertainers called him the greatest and I think his passing will have a profound effect across the globe.
Ian Sanchez, producer/artistes management: MJ was an eccentric figure but beyond that he had immense talent which went beyond just the music, but as an iconic figure. And let’s face it too, he helped reshape and redefine the whole black music industry and also raised the value where music videos are concerned.
Carmy Joseph, Television news reporter: Well when I first heard the news about Michael Jackson passing I was at work and at first I could not believe it. But when I got home and I sat down to tune in to CNN and BET it hit me and I cried. I mean it instantly took me back to what I was wearing when I saw my first HBO Michael Jackson concert, I was in my black leather shorts and white tank top and I danced till one of my buttons popped. MJ was just phenomenal, I mean who can forget him at the Grammys.
Sean Phillip, Teacher/Radio announcer: Michael Jackson was a larger than life personality—larger than his music, larger than his dancing and maybe even larger than the industry in which he was. He was a global phenomenon and someone who blended different elements of music. He was not just about Funk, or Pop, or R&B or Rap, Michael Jackson used all of these elements to appeal to persons across the globe. And more interestingly Michael Jackson who started when he was just a boy in the 60’s remained relevant for more than four decades, up until today where he was about to perform his finals series of concerts to sold out shows.
Tony Paul, radio announcer: I remember the early days of Michael Jackson when as a boy my family got his first solo album, an album cover I can still recall with him on a red bike. That album featured “Ben” a song that I immediately fell in love with and since then I have been a fan of Michael who to me was simply the best. To me he was just phenomenal, an absolute perfectionist,  one of the greatest ever, ever, ever. And we may never have another like Michael Jackson.