In the past week three legends have passed away. On this very day Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died of cardiac arrest. I first heard the news on Twitter and then my wife Kathy confirmed it with a text message. Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon. Three legends who will never be forgotten.
What appalled me today is the insensitivity with which people respond to such news. Folks took to their soapboxes, grandstanding on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, denigrating and defiling the memories of these legends with horrible tasteless jokes. I’ve never felt so far removed from my own species in my life. It was deplorable.
Mix the tasteless jokes with the idiots who proclaim, “I don’t know what all the fuss is about…” and you’ve got a recipe for stupidity and meanness. You don’t have to like the man, or the woman. But don’t belittle their effect on life as we know it simply because you don’t understand the outpouring of affection and mourning. Some of the brightest people become the dumbest when it comes to tolerating others. It’s a shame.
But enough of that. I will forever remember Farrah Fawcett. She was my first pinup girl crush. I watched every episode of Charlie’s Angels and I was sad when she left the show. She was once married to the strongest man on earth, The Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Majors, who was also my favorite. I grew up on them.
“Hiiiiiiiiiyoooooooo” That’s what Ed McMahon used to say on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. This dynamic duo was my first ever late night talk show. I loved Johnny and Ed, and I remember thinking (even as a kid) why don’t they give Ed some more stuff to say? But who could argue with the formula? It worked flawlessly. Few talk show duos today have the dynamic presence of those two. They are the benchmark others are judged by. And aptly so
I grew up listening to the music of the Jackson Five, led by Michael Jackson. Then later the “Off the Wall” became a staple of my teenage years in high school. Then, joined by Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson made history with “Thriller.” To my knowledge that album (there were no CD’s at the time) became the greatest selling album of all time — and still is.
I remember doing a dance called the Michael Jackson on the street corners of South Jamaica, Queens in New York and pulling girls as they walked by. I’d do a move and they’d scream, “Oooohh,” because I was that good. I would make up dance moves and then dish them out to my friends to use — with my permission. I once entered a Michael Jackson dance contest and smoked this fool who underestimated me. The same way people do battle with pop-locking and krumping today, that’s how we did battle back in the day: doing the Michael Jackson dance. And I was king.
Later Michael did that very dance on a show, 25 Years of Motown, or something like that. I remembered how everyone talked about it for weeks afterwards. I get chills just thinking about it.
MJ is a legend who changed the face and sound of music. He inspired millions around the world.
I partially came out of my shy shell during that time. And it was all thanks to Michael Jackson. His later albums were impressive to me as well. And Michael’s theme from the movie, Free Willy, aptly called, “Will You Be There” is still one of my favorite songs of all time.
This is how I will remember Michael Jackson. This is what I will teach my kids about him. I will teach them that just because you grow up and become an adult doesn’t mean you must give up the kid inside of you.
To the families I offer my deepest condolences and prayers. To the departed I simply say, the spirit with which you lived will go on forever. Rest in peace.
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