August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009
I was in a state of disbelief when the reports first started about Michael Jackson’s passing. A mega fan I was not, but like many people who grew up in the 80s with parents that went through their teens in the 70s, I grew up on Jackson 5 and watched Michael Jackson solo career as it evolved and eventually demised. In fact, seeing Thriller on the TV is one of my most vivid memories from my youth. To me, Michael Jackson really encapsulated and era.
I always want to do music that influences and inspires each generation. Let’s face it, who wants mortality.
-Ebony, Dec. 2007: Cover Story The Thrill is Back
Anyway, since there are millions of posts about Michael Jackson, and this one is really for my benefit, I will do that thing where I post links to old magazine articles that are of interest about Michael Jackson:
Jul 30, 1970 – Jet: Talking About (bigger than the Beatles)
Mar 16, 1972 – Jet Article: Michael Makes it Big Alone
Jun 1976 – Ebony Jr. Cover Story: Michael Jackson’s Worldwide Scrapbook
Mar 31, 1977 – Jet Cover Story: Michael Jackson: A Young Bachelor Married to Music
Aug 16, 1979 – Jet Cover Story: Michael Jackson: Nearly 21…
Oct 1981 – Ebony Cover Story: Is Michael leaving the Jacksons?
Dec 1982 – Ebony Cover Story: Michael
May 1984 – Ebony Cover Story: Michael Jackson: The Worlds Greatest Entertainer
Dec 1984 – Cover Story: The Michael Jackson Nobody Knows
Apr 8, 1985 – Jet Cover Story: Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie’s Song Earns Millions for Africa’s Famine Victims
Sep 1987 – Ebony Cover Story: Michael Jackson Comes Back!
June 1988 – Ebony Cover Story: A New and Revealing Look at Michael Jackson
Feb 27, 1989 – Jet Cover Story: Michael Jackson Quits Concert Stage After World Tour Sets New Records
Feb 17, 1992 – Jet Cover Story: Jackson, Michael: Remember the Time
May 1992 – Ebony Cover Story: Michael Jackson: Crowned in Africa, Pop Music King Tells Real Story of Controversial Trip
Sep 13, 1993 – Jet Cover Story: Family and Fans Support Michael Jackson in Child Abuse Investigation
Oct 1994 – Ebony Cover Story: Michael Tells ‘where I Met Lisa Marie and how I Proposed’
Jun-Jul 1995 – Vibe Cover Story: Action Jackson
Mar 2002 – Vibe Vixen Cover Story: Michael Jackson Unbreakable
I guess I will stop there. There are so many stories. I guess these ones represent how I remember Michael Jackson. This is the arc I know, from the stories about him shining with the Jackson 5, to the trial in the 90s, to the attempted comebacks there after. Surprisingly, I have no memories of him and his drug addiction and the burn incident is more of a blur.