I grew up to Jackson Five and early Michael Jackson in London.  I would practice dance routines and moonwalking for hours with my school mates. I even rocked a red glitter/sparkling jacket in my early 20′s and rocked the white glove on special occasions.

When ‘Off The Wall’ came out I used to listen to the album beginning to end about 20 times a day. He brought me so  much joy and entertainment.  When he wrote “We are the World”- I felt like that was my song- my anthem…I’ve always strived to bring cultures, race/religion together- never saw any barriers or color and was brought up in a very multi-culture environment.  Every project, event and vision I have- I’ve always put forth the energy and passion and target everyone!

There’s not a person in the world who doesn’t love his music!  He will live on through all of us and our memories!

Michael Jackson- An Amazing Singer, An Incredible Entertainer, A Legend and An Incredible Man!  We will miss you greatly! Now you’re singing with the Angels!

Shared moments:

As a kid in the Bronx, I was the proud owner and wearer of homemade Michael Jackson buttons.
Before moving to LA, I’d cut pictures out of newspapers and magazines and paste them on top of buttons that belonged to my dad.
I’d wear them all the time. he was talent, he was spirit, he was human……he was magic!
Rahsaan Patterson

My favorite Michael Jackson memory was watching the making of We Are the World as a kid over and over and over.  Who else could call on the greatest artists of that time to come together for an all-night recording session and raise money for famine in Africa? It was especially touching to me because I am from Ethiopia, and here was the greatest star in the world lending his name and talent to supporting our people. I knew then, I wanted to be an artist and to do something meaningful with my life.
Wayna

For me, it’s not so much about one amazing moment where Michael Jackson made an impact on my life. His music was the soundtrack for my childhood.
On Saturday mornings, when both my Mom and Dad had time off from work,  we’d celebrate the family time by listening to music and dancing.    When “Thriller” came out, our Saturday morning dance parties got taken to another level. My family simply couldn’t get enough of that album.
Just like millions of other people around the world, we were altering our dance styles to be more like Mike.
While many people seem to take great pleasure in seeing MJ go through the bevy of personal issues that plaugued him, few if any will ever be fortunate enough to make even a fraction of the impact Mr. Jackson had on the world.
To say the least, he was an unbelievable talent, a trendsetter, a trailblazer, & a musical genius.  I hope that in his death, people
will focus more on positive aspects of what be brought to the world  than the negatives.
Thanks for revolutionizing music and boldly marching to the beat of  your own drum Michael Jackson.
Rest in Peace.
Mr. Lif

Growing up , my parents would always play Michael through the house, which inspired me to grab the remote control, the white gloves and do the moon walk on the wooden kitchen floor.
Though im only 18 ,Looking back on his career on the videotapes, i gotta say, my favorite moments was when he was performing with the jackson 5 on the Merv Griffin Show.He has touched our hearts in so many different ways..and will never be forgotten..
I send my prayers to him and the Jackson family through these tough and sorrow times…May he rest in peace….
Quincy B

Well I would watch motown 25 just about everyday when I was about 2… First time he did the moonwalk… My father videotaped every Christmas since 83′ so I can watch myself at 2 years old wearing my dad’s big hat, throwing it off like mike and trying to moonwalk…I was obsessed… Will miss him..
pj morton

had so many MJ moments.. one of them was just a soundcheck that eventually led to this:

this one was Jazz FM’s a-list song in the UK for a while, among lots of other ‘titles’ it got.
crazy day!
Jonathan Dagan- J.Viewz

beat it video:

this video reminds me of how quickly I “assimilated” a year or two after moving to the States from Jamaica. I had the coat, I had the curls, and I could do every single move in this video with my eyes closed. My mother used to get me to ‘perform’ for her friends and the rest of the family.
Ann Marie Nicholson

I remember dancing to “Rock With You” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” at the party for my elementary school graduation back in 1980, and the way the crowd went crazy each time one of Michael’s songs came on. I was rocking my tan corduroy leisure suit, and it was the first time I worked up the nerve to ask a girl to dance with me. Ah, childhood…Brett Love

mike killed em at the garden in October ’87! I was 10! Mom took me for my birthday and the man was BAD! Damion Williams

My 3 sisters and I practicing Thriller in the living room at 3 am . A VHS tape that I borrowed from my classmate , the cover became so disheveled because I was holding the box in my sweaty hand , I was afraid to return it to her and offered to pay for it ….I was 12
Denyse Jeanne Goddard -Jones

I got Thriller for my birthday. I was in preschool my friend Anthony got his first. I was pissed but my mom made it up by surprising me for my birthday so I was the second kid in class with the album. It was the first record I owned and my mom called me a couple of hours ago to let me know she still has it! Then when I was five I dressed up as Michael for Halloween I had a gold lame(material) version of his red jacket, loafers and I died my hair neon green (It was my very abstract interpretation of his look but It’s one of my favorite childhood moment and lead to me being a singer- performer today!
Rip Michael… Heart broken.-  Yuzima Philip

Working in a camera store in a mall many years ago, right across from a music store, and the “Thriller” video ran continuously for a while. I must have seen it a thousand times. I never tired of it.
Lanie Anderson -Barrett

the first time he moon walked on national tv (nbc) for the motown 25th year anniversary while performing “billie jean” ..
i got the chance to see the j5 back in 1971 or 72 here in Tampa although my family and i were way in the back and the girls were screaming so loud that you couldn’t hear anything…
i was working at tower records uptown back in 1986 when janet came in with a friend.i was going to go over and say hi but it got so crowded around her that she had to leave after about 15 minutes..

i wish i could find my photos from young years to show you how much we both (michael and I) used to resemble each other as kids. my parents used to get asked all the time. there’s this one shot of me in my plaid pants and button down red shirt sitting on our living room. i didn’t really realize until way later in life that i was a dead ringer for him…Michael Bagley

So many memories….I remember crying in front of the television watching Michael perform…why? I couldn’t really tell you…he touched the heart of so many.
And I have another memory when Thriller first came out. My grade school teachers would plan to combine classes and allow us to watch the video. Afterwards we had to write a paper…entertainment and education all in one…
Michael will be missed. I was definitely looking for a new album…luv ya Mike. May God continue to watch over his children and comfort his family
Mst.Hampton

Mamasemamasamamamacusa … mamasemamasamamamacusa!! Clifton Camp

Two things: Mike was the biggest star of his time to bring attention to the devastation in Africa. I always respected him for that.
Second is when he hopped on top of the limo and showed out for his fans during the bogus child molestation proceedings. Dude was a maverick, incredible businessman, and humanitarian. No one will ever reach his level of celebrity. I think screwing Elvis’s daughter makes that clear. The real King!  Darris Hinson

When ‘Thriller’ was released, I was a certified “metal kid” and among the crowd I ran with, Mr. Jackson wasn’t “cool”. What my buddies didn’t know was that I had vinyl copies of ‘Off The Wall’ and ‘Thriller’ than spun secretly when I was away from my friends! To this day, both of those albums are phenomenal start to finish; true masterworks. Yes, I was a closet MJ fan.  Brian Rickman

I used to carry my son (who was a baby then) and try and dance to MJ’s songs. Had his Thriller casette on then most times.My son used to stop crying whenever I did that. I’ve always loved MJ and always will. R.I.P MJ.   Phidelia Fernandez

Just got back from being at UCLA a group of us went there a few hours ago wanted to be be there near him we watched the helicopter  take him up from Ronald Reagen medical center at UCLA that then flew him to USC coroners office. you could feel his presence go it was hugh this is a sad day indeed…a day the music died
Michelle Needy

He came to Rio in 1996 to shoot a video at a slum called Dona Marta. That was amazing..lots of people having fun along with him. Very nice person.  Sergio Martins

This is a transition moment…how can we ever forget Thriller and We are the World..we loved him for his music, his dance, his clothes..helping create almost a new genre of music..he left his indelible stamp..May his soul Rest In Peace. Sachdev Ramakrishna

1. first time seeing the Thriller video, at childhood crush Julie’s house, she had MTV. we went there after school for a week straight, and finally… !
2. next door neighbor had Thriller on *picture disc vinyl*… and then sold it at a garage sale!
3. last nite living in London, 2001, Daft Punk DJ set at Fabric, they closed with “Off the Wall”. crowd fucking *lost it*.  John DeCicco

My favorite MJ moment? I was 14, got stuck in Edinburgh, and my buddy there was a total fan – BAD just had been hitting stores and he practised, dancing in front of the mirror looking uber cool and playing his E-Guitar. I vividly remember him getting all “and then he goes like this, see.. bamm! who´s bad? and then like,..” (interrupted by kung fu move)
Stephen Tumler

Motown 25 even though Jeffery daniels did it first in 82…when micheal did that joint on tha show…shyt i aint even got no words…thats a irreplacable moment in history…no one can do that again- Prince Syylky D

I came across this You Tube link which brought tears to my eyes and wanted to share it.  How do we say goodbye to Michael! He was a part of most of our childhoods and his passing marks the end of a musical era. Hopefully as he crosses over, he’s found the peace that he’s yearned for and his spirit is as free as Peter Pan’s. It’s another lesson for us to hold the ones we love closer when they’re here and treasure our icons before they leave us!!!

Rest in Peace, Michael…We “never can say goodbye.”  Jackie O’Sare

I saw The Jacksons at Madison Square Garden back in the summer on 1981, I was 4th row from the front of the stage at one of the most memorable concert of my life. Stacy Lattisaw was the opening act. Off The Wall was my favorite album at that time and this was my favorite song. Since then I have had the pleasure of meeting Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Janet Jackson. My heart goes out to them all.

One of the bests songs of Michael Jackson… Don’t stop till you get enough
Ian Burke

We’re all twittering about it, it’s 4am in London and I probably won’t sleep til daylight for all these messages flying about.
Where were you when you found out?
I was here.

At a U-N-I gig in London. They moonwalked during their set. Two songs later,
the entire room (including rappers Chipmunk and Sway) finds out about Michael
Jackson’s death. Nuts. They stop their set and play a tribute to MJ…

Michael Jackson  – 28th August 1958 – 25th June 2009.
Marsha Gosho Oakes
Editor //www.soulculture.co.uk
For teaching me bout The Man in the Mirror thanks MJ . . . Ben some people would turn you away, I wont listen to a thing they say . For making me dance at my 7th grade school dance with joy I wanna rock with You for giving us the opportunity to do your remix peace love blessings and Godspeed-  Hedy and Avon

At the end of the day for all the backlash and tarnished reputation in the late 90′s leading up to his death- The Man in the Mirror – that Man In The Mirror was greater than any of us will ever be!!!

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