Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
Mariah Carey, left, and Trey Lorenz sing at the memorial.
Celebrities
praise the late singer's life, and his daughter, Paris Katherine
Jackson, delivers a tearful statement to the Staples Center crowd:
'Daddy has been the best father you can imagine.'
By Geoff Boucher and Cara Mia DiMassa
1:07 PM PDT, July 7, 2009
Music
legends, sports figures, and civil rights leaders paid tribute to
Michael Jackson today during an emotional, song-filled service at
Staples Center that was part polished entertainment, part revival
meeting.
Jackson was praised as a music pioneer and a barrier-breaking cultural
figure, who the Rev. Al Sharpton said paved the way for other black
entertainers to reach superstardom.
"Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other," Sharpton said.
Audience members -- dancing along to some musical performances, and
stifling tears at some of the many tributes to the singer. There were
also shouts from the audience of "Power to the people," "Long live the
king," and "We miss you Michael!"
The service culminated with Jackson's 11-year-old daughter Paris
Michael Katherine Jackson -- in tears -- telling the audience from the
stage, "I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the
best father you can imagine. I just wanted to say I love him so much."
It began as Jackson's gilded casket -- borne by a group of pallbearers
each wearing sequined glove -- was brought into Staples Center to a
standing ovation. Many in the audience snapping pictures with their
cellphones. A gospel choir sang in front of a backdrop made to resemble
a stained glass window.
Event producer Ken Ehrlich said that the service was showing all of the
many facets of Jackson's influence. "All the colors of his life are
coming out, everyone is saying something different and authentic," he
said as the show was under way.
Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz sang Jackson's "I'll Be There." Jennifer
Hudson sang his hit "Will You Be There." And John Mayer performed
"Human Nature" on his guitar.
Lionel Richie sang his Commodores song "Jesus Is Love." And Jackson's
brother, Jermaine Jackson, sang what actress Brooke Shields called
Jackson's favorite song: "Smile," from the Charlie Chaplin movie
"Modern Times."
Holding back tears, Shields told the crowd that the two former child
stars were always "two little kids having fun" when they were together.
She recalled Jackson trying to teach her unsuccessfully -- to do the
moonwalk.
"He was caring and funny, honest, pure, non-jaded and a lover of life," she said.
Lakers star Kobe Bryant called the singer a "true humanitarian, who gave as much off stage as he did onstage."
Queen Latifah read a poem from Maya Angelou that praised the singer's
global influence, from Japan to Ghana. "We are missing Michael
Jackson," the poem read. "But we do know we had him, and we are the
world."
Motown founder Berry Gordy said that Jackson -- who began his career as
part of the Jackson 5 for Motown -- "was like a son to me. Gordy called
Jackson "the greatest entertainer that ever lived." The pronouncement
was greeted with massive applause.
"He was driven by his hunger to learn," Gordy said, "to confidently top
himself, to be the best, the consummate student. He studied the greats
and became greater. He raised the bar and then broke the bar."
Gordy made note of Jackson's checkered past--which included a series of
allegations of child molestation. "Sure there were sad times and
questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished
everything he dreamed of."
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who said that she honored Jackson's
"American story," also appeared to refer Jackson's legal troubles.
"We understand the Constitution, and we understand laws, and we
know that people are innocent until proven otherwise. That is what the
Constitution stands for," she said.
Near the end of the service, the immediate Jackson family, clad in
black, gathered on the stage. Most of Jackson's brothers wore matching
yellow ties, with red roses on their lapels.
Brother Jermaine Jackson thanked the people in the arena for coming to
the service. "As you know," he said, "I am lost for words. I was his
voice and his backbone. I had his back. So did the family. But we thank
you. That's all I can say. We thank you very much. "
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