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“The performer did a full run-through of his planned comeback concert,” said the story. “He and his company — dancers, musicians, singers, aerial performers, choreographers and costumers — planned to fly to England early next week for final dress rehearsals at London’s O2 Arena, the site of the pop superstar’s 50-night sold-out run.” “By lunchtime Thursday, Jackson was in cardiac arrest.” Jackson was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital from the house he was leasing. One of his brothers, Jermaine, said at a news conference that Jackson’s personal doctor as well as paramedics and a team at UCLA Medical Center tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate him. As details of his death at aged 50 began to emerge, my heart began to brake for such a tragic life. Why, I wondered, would anyone want to be famous, when it resulted in such pain, both physically and mentally? Was it worth it all for Michael Jackson to die with debts totaling an estimated $500 million, a face disfigured through so much plastic surgery and an addiction to pain killers? Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. He was to be known as the “King of Pop”, and rose from poverty to stardom alongside his brothers in The Jackson 5 and solo success to become the most influential entertainer of his era, has died. Some of his greatest hits included I Want You Back, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Bad, Black or White and Earth Song. He sold some 750 million albums and earned an estimated $700 million. As his life began to spin out of control, Jackson moved from being the “King of Pop” and then became “Wacko Jacko”, as the British tabloids called him. Many will not know that Jackson was, as least for some of his life, a Jehovah’s Witness. At the peak of his popularity, in 1984, Jackson went door-to-door to proselytize for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the church in which he was raised. One woman told John Randall Taraborrelli, who wrote “Michael Jackson – The Magic and the Madness” (1991; updated in 2005: “A young black man came to my door wearing what was obviously a phony mustache and beard, and a big hat. His face was too smooth for all that facial hair. He looked like a little boy playing grown-up.” The next day one of her neighbors informed her that the Jehovah’s Witness had been Michael Jackson. One press story said, “For all Jackson’s accomplishments in music and humanitarian endeavors, his entire adult life was one attempt after another to recapture a childhood he felt he’d never known. The oddity of his fixation came to a dramatic climax in a criminal trial that led to his acquittal on child molestation charges.” Quincy Jones, producer of Jackson’s most successful albums, was quoted as saying he was “absolutely devastated” by the news that Jackson was “taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age.” “To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all … talent, grace, professionalism and dedication,” said Jones. “He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.” He revolutionized dance as well — he debuted the moonwalk, his apparently gravity-defying signature move — at Motown’s 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever celebration in 1983 to worldwide awe. He later said he had learned the move from ordinary children he had seen performing it.
Another press story said, “His exploits seemed like too many for one life: He co-wrote ‘We Are the World’ to aid African famine relief. He married and divorced Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. He formed famous friendships with such icons as Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minelli, and inspired two generations of young performers, from New Edition to Justin Timberlake. His bizarre exploits included dangling his baby from a hotel balcony, and dramatically changing his face through plastic surgery. “He created a circuslike home called Neverland, based on his hero, Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up. He once told an interviewer who asked if he emulated Peter Pan, ‘I am Peter Pan.’” Now Michael Jackson has gone. How should we look back on his life? I personally think that it should be a warning to all who seek fame and fortune in the entertainment world. One can be “loved” by millions of fans, and deep down back in your own bedroom, be so lonely that it unbearable. For Michael Jackson it appears that his later life had been just that — unbearable!
** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend. This story is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ASSIST News Service or ASSIST Ministries.
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