Jim Marshall

You live forever.

MJ Tribute from The Jerkins Family (AC PRESS)

My Dad saved this page for me from today's AC Press. I remember being so upset in 2001 when I read after the fact that Michael Jackson was in Pleasantville (town 5 mins away from Atlantic City) recording music with local producer Rodney Jerkins for the "Invincible" album. Feels like yesterday when I was shocked knowing MJ was sooo close and no one knew it. He just crept in for a week, and nicely crept right on out.

At the time, I remember thinking "Aww, that's ok. I'll get my chance."

Good look Jerkins.

Rest In Paradise Michael...

Michael's Final Curtain Call - ("Smile" for the King)

Today, the world saw The Legendary Michael Jackson's funeral and memorial service on television. According to the BBC, a record number of 2.5 billion watched. Words cannot express how I felt seeing his shiny gold casket on stage while phenomenal artist like Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Queen Latifah, Mariah Cary and others paid beautiful tribute to Michael Jackson. As an artist, humanitarian and philanthropist, he's done so much. It's how I feel artist who are blessed with his influence and money should really act and give back. Not only did he achieved the American Dream, but the Global Dream! How can we ever forget you Michael? It's impossible to and as Stevie Wonder said at the service today, "As much as we need you here Michael, God must need you far more."

You're gone too soon, but Lord knows you are truly in a better place.

My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to The Jackson family and his three children. With God's strength, you will get through.

In closing, I'd like to post a beautiful rendition of the song "Smile" by Janelle Monae. If you've been to this blog or my flickr before, then you are well aware of my support and love for this girl's art. However, if you haven't heard it, please take a listen today. Originally recorded by Charlie Chaplin, then Michael himself, it was his favorite song. Jermaine, Michael's brother, also sang it at the Memorial Service today.

Thank you Janelle.

And Michael, you will forever be in our hearts.

Eternally,

~Nastassia Davis

The Day The Earth Stood Still (Harlem Remembers MJ)

When my children ask me one day where I was when Michael Jackson passed away, I'll tell them this:

I had just come home from being out with my mom and sister. My dad was upstairs in his room watching CNN and asked us if we had heard about Michael Jackson being rushed to the hospital. I said "No..." and quickly turned my attention to the tv. I was thinking "First Ed McMahon...Then Farrah Fawcett this morning...and now...Oh God...please not Michael" My dad said "Well you know they say death comes in 3's"...I couldn't believe what I was hearing and just knew that Michael would be alright. We all sat there and waited...I got calls from my friends Michael and Gia as we kept going back and forth over the phone lines just waiting to hear good news.

I immediately turned on my mac to see what Twitter was saying..."RIP MICHAEL JACKSON" was the trending topic, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. TMZ had already announced it, but I didn't want to believe such a gossip news channel. Then about 15 minutes later, MSNBC and CNN stated the very unthinkable thing that I could ever imagine:

"MICHEAL JACKSON DEAD AT 50"

Silence.
Disbelief.
Devastation.

All jumbled together. I became so overwhelmed that I couldn't help but start to cry as if the news was talking about a family member of my own.

Michael Jackson's dead?? I kept repeating.

It almost felt like a terrible dream that I wanted someone to wake me from.

Days later, still in shock, I knew I didn't want to be in Atlantic City where no one was really remembering or reacting to MJ's passing in the way I wanted to see.

I knew I had to go to NY.

This is what my eyes saw that day...









































The last of his kind.



President Barack Obama comments on Michael Jackson's passing:



Michael Jackson's music was a huge part of my childhood and life in general. I was born the same year and month he showcased his famous "moonwalk" dance. When my dad use to make home videos, I remember seeing one where my sister and I (around 8 and 9 yrs old) were dancing in a dim living room to "Thriller". In the video, my sister was dancing so hard she ended up falling down and spraining her ankle! Never forget that.

I remember loving Michael Jackson so much as a kid, thinking he was so incredibly talented and so very handsome. Everyday since his tragic passing on June 25th, I wake up hearing his music playing in my parents room and I'm reminded he's not here anymore. It's such a surreal thing. Never thought I'd see "RIP" next to Michael Jackson's name so soon in my life. Although he was photographed looking very troubled and often ill over the past few years, I just always thought he'd be around. Seeing younger pictures of him now make me want to cry knowing we had such an iconic figure on this earth, someone who bought so much happiness to many people around the world, and now he's left in our hearts and the history books. Forever.

His music will live on until the end of time. And I feel privileged knowing he lived in my lifetime.

Rest In Peace at last Michael. How you made people of all races across the globe and expanding generations feel so good will forever be remembered.

Love Eternally,
Nastassia