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I, like millions of others, grew up with the sounds of the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson playing on the 8-track and record player.

I had the zipper jacket, I had the glove, and yes even the curl.

I remember that night of the Motown 25 televised special. I was watching with my mom and remember when Michael performed with his brothers, then come out and tore the house down singing and dancing to Billie Jean.

I'm in no way ashamed to admit that I have, until this day, tried to copy each and every one of those moves.

To sit here and write a few paragraphs and thoroughly express what Michael has meant to me is pretty much impossible. There's no way to even scratch the surface. Everything ranging from the humanitarian contributions, to the kind-hearted nature of just being Michael, and then being the greatest performer to ever want this planet….period.

mtvMany adjectives have already been used to describe today's memorial service, but I think the one that stands out for me is…classy. The family and AEG worked closely with the city officials of LA and put together a flawless event. No reported issues, no reported problems with crowds, the ticket distribution, not even much discussion about the inevitable traffic tie-ups.

There is even a website that has been established to help defer the costs. Matt Szabo, a spokesman for the mayor's office says, “…the site launched Tuesday is linked to a PayPal account where donors can help defray the expected millions of dollars in costs with tax- deductible credit-card contributions.”

The Web page reads: “Help the City of Angels provide the extraordinary public safety resources required to give Michael the safe, orderly and respectful memorial he deserves.”

As I'm writing this post, the site is suffering from a multitude of hits, but if you feel inclined, do donate. Click here to be directed to the site.

My recap of the highlights from the memorial service

  • Church folk know the spiritual and when the choir opened with Soon and Very Soon We Are Going To See The King and at that precise moment they brought out Michael's casket the tone of sincerity was definitely set.
  • Queen Latifah read a beautiful poem from Dr. Maya Angelou entitled We Had Him:

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing
Now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace
Sing our songs among the stars and and walk our dances across the face of the moon

In the instant we learn that Michael is gone we know nothing
No clocks can tell our time and no oceans can rush our tides
With the abrupt absence of our treasure

Though we our many, each of us is achingly alone
Piercingly alone
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him

He came to us from the Creator, trailing creativity in abundance
Despite the anguish of life he was sheathed in mother love and family love and survived and did more than that

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style
We had him
Whether we knew who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his
We had him

Beautiful, delighting our eyes
He raked his hat slant over his brow and took a pose on his toes for all of us and we laughed and stomped our feet for him

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing
He gave us all he had been given

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Blackstar Square, in Johannesburg, in Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama and Birmingham England, we are missing Michael Jackson

But we do know that we had him
And we are the world.

  • Stevie Wonder sang the eerily fitting song Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
  • Magic Johnson and the KFC story was a touching and human story. He closed out by restating that the purpose of the day was to celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Jackson
  • Jennifer Hudson singing Will You Be There was flawless, then the heart strings really got pulled with the interlude of Michael's voice
  • Reverend Al Sharpton – powerful, honest, moving

  • John Mayer, Brooke Shields and Usher honored and showed respect to Michael and the family in their own special way
  • Big brother Jermaine singing Michael's favorite song Smile sounded so much like his baby brother.

Of the many good and heartfelt lessons that should be taken from this entire life event, I'm going to remember to live, laugh, and love everyday. On my death bed I won't be saying to my loved ones that I should have spent more time at the office. I challenge everyone reading, regardless if your a Michael Jackson fan or not, to re-focus your actions; be more cognizant of the things in life that truly bring joy; that being family, and caring for others.

God Bless & Be Good…

MJJ-Music


James Hicks

James is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of HicksNewMedia, a Digital Publishing and Technology Consulting team providing effective and relevant solutions to individuals and businesses looking to more effective utilize the social interweb. Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.

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James Hicks

James is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of HicksNewMedia, a Digital Publishing and Technology Consulting team providing effective and relevant solutions to individuals and businesses looking to more effective utilize the social interweb. Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.

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