I have always loved music. Always. Michael Jackson played a huge part in shaping my taste in music and even my style as a singer and musician.
My first cassette player was this futuristic looking white cube with round corners. It had AM/FM radio and a really long silver antenna. My first cassette tape to go with my shiny white player was Off The Wall by Michael Jackson. It was 1979 and I was almost 11 years old. I played that tape over and over while playing in my back yard and swinging on the swing set. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Rock With You, Workin’ Day and Night, and She’s Out of My Life were incredible songs and I memorized them all.
Michael is 10 years older than me. Some of my best memories in junior high and high school included Michael Jackson’s music as a big part of the soundtrack. Growing up in a small town of 1,200 people, there wasn’t a lot to do, so I escaped through music. From teaching myself to play the piano, to learning how to moonwalk, I was all about the music. I was in the music and the music was in me. Please don’t laugh, but I even made my own sequined glove. And, yes of course, I owned replicas of the jackets he wore in “Beat It” and “Thriller”.
Michael was a pioneer, breaking through stereotypes, racial barriers, music genres and more. From learning to emulate the high vocal tricks he sang on The Way You Make Me Feel to watching the Thriller and Smooth Criminal video tapes in my VCR, over and over again, I felt a strong connection with Michael.
I was just a white kid from Quinton, Oklahoma, but Michael Jackson connected me to something bigger in the world. Music, dance, creative videography, fashion, style and soul. It’s a sad day today for people my age as we reflect on Michael Jackson, and his music and impact on each of us. My generation loved you Michael (whether they admit it or not) and you will be missed. Thanks for opening my eyes and ears and heart to more than I probably even realize.
Thanks for some of the best music of my generation. Love ya Michael.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
this is very sweet david
David~
What a great post! Very touching! Growing up in the small town of Quinton also, & in the country, I too escaped through music. Michael Jackson had a huge impact on me growing up, as well. I played his videos over & over… practiced the ‘moonwalk’ for hours… had the posters, He is just Awesome! Thanks for posting.
Love ya Michael~*
Thanks! If I remember correctly, you pulled off the Madonna look pretty well :) Those were the good ol’ days and we were too young to realize it, huh?
Excellent post. It is so strange to see how many people felt that way. People from all walks of life were moved by his music and pioneering spirit. He definitely is (IMO) our generation’s “Elvis”. He is one of only a few artists whose music outshined his…..eccentric personal life. I also think (another IMO) that he was the one of the first people who was “stalked” by the paparazzi…before Jon and Kate Plus 8, Paris Hilton, and Lindsey Lohan….the world was intrigued by crazy “Wacko Jacko” and what he was doing. He really paved the way for tabloid fodder round the world.