A day ago news of Michael Jackson's passing spread around the world. To most of us, he was someone we would have liked to have known; to many of us, he was someone we thought of as a friend; to a few, he actually was a friend. But fragile and gentle, yet driven by the soul of pure funk, if anyone needed a friend, it was Michael Jackson.
It seemed that he was born to perform. From the age of 11 years, fronting the Jackson 5, he brought joy to anyone who heard or saw through his music and dancing. Some say that it cost him his childhood.
But Michael Jackson went on to revolutionize the music video. His album 1982 album Thriller has become the world's best selling album of all time, and it has given us videos like Thriller (directed by John Landis) and Beat It that raised the music video from a promo tool to an art form.
Between his fedora and his loafers, something within the artist inspired him to create an album that is still celebrated by teenagers everywhere. It features the song Billie Jean, with the groove that lifted funky to a whole different level, and it gave us the Moonwalk, Michael Jackson's signature dance move.
To date this album's sold an estimated 60-65 million albums worldwide. And it's still selling. Michael Jackson's total album sales world wide has topped 750 million, and he has been recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time. He leaves us with a legacy of 13 Number 1 singles, 13 Grammy Awards, a two-time member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and an astonishing treasure of dance moves.
And if we learn nothing else from Michael Jackson's life, we need to see the importance of having and keeping true friends and keeping friends true.
Hold your friends close. Let them know you really care. Stay connected.
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