The King of Pop

i’ve been immersed in the music industry since 1990. i grew up listening to my favorite artist, prince, and taking his side in numerous arguments over who was more talented – he or michael jackson. while i was never a huge fan of the king of pop, there was no denying his enormous gifts. i won’t lie – there was a time when i was big into dancing and i often tried to emulate his steps. man, there was no touching the dude. click on for a tribute.

michael jackson. the king of pop. perhaps the greatest entertainer of all-time. the first great musical icon to die in my lifetime – save john lennon and kurt cobain. neither of them has been or will be deemed as influential. one of the most creative americans in our short history. a magnificent singer with a truly original sound. a show-stopping dancer who created moves and a slickness we hadn’t seen and may never see again. a bolt of light, energy and charisma that few could resist. a fashion trend-setter. a music video pioneer who took music from something you listen to something you also have to watch. someone who pushed the limits of branding before it was a buzz word. not just the king of pop music and culture, but someone who transcended his own humanity to mean something far greater to many, many people. an eccentric whose lifestyle and choices often left people scratching their heads. a man who was abused as a child by his father and lived his entire life (save his first 4 years) in the spotlight. a man who never had a chance to grow up normally. yet another tragic tale for american music – and creativity in general.