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Michael Jackson
Year: 2009; Age: 50
The final years of the King
of Pop’s life were mired in
controversy. Gossip persisted
about his ostentatious wealth,
extensive plastic surgery
and bizarre habits. He had
been accused of child sexual
abuse, and though a 2005 trial
resulted in an acquittal, the
charges continued to haunt
his career and reputation. A
series of planned 2009 shows
titled “This Is It” were designed
to shore up his unstable
finances as well as reward
Musician Deaths
by James Stafford
When the people who write
the soundtracks to our lives
pass away, the moments they
sound-tracked immediately
fans who had waited years to
see the legendary performer
live. Then, on June 25, 2009,
Jackson suddenly died after
overdosing on physician-
prescribed medication.
(Dr. Conrad Murray, who
administered the drugs, was
later tried and convicted.)
Despite these distractions,
his death prompted the world
to focus on his genius and
an enormous body of work
(beginning with his days as
a kid with the Jackson 5) left
behind. His memorial service
was broadcast on national television and treated like a
state funeral. A 2010 film,
This Is It, documenting the
rehearsal sessions for those
aborted London concerts,
became the highest-grossing
musical film in history. And
many of his impossibly
massive, culture-defining
hits – “Billie Jean,” “Bad” and
“Black or White” – re-entered
the charts. It was all part of
the mourning process for one
of the greatest entertainers
of all time. Jackson’s legacy
continues to linger. His estate
is one of the most profitable among entertainers; it’s
also the frequent target of
lawsuits. More than his status
as a money-generator, it’s
his unique blend of childlike
innocence, songwriting
magic, and incandescent
performances that is
irreplaceable. “We have lost a
genius and a true ambassador
of not only Pop music but
of all music,” said Justin
Timberlake, who sang on
Jackson’s posthumous 2014
hit, “Love Never Felt So Good.”
“He has been an inspiration to
multiple generations.” MR
come back into focus. I can’t
hear Earth, Wind & Fire’s
“September” without being
instantly transported back to
junior high dances. When I
heard the news about Keith
Emerson, I didn’t think of his influence on modern music.
Instead, the news took me to
the garage of my childhood
home, where I spent hours
sanding my first car while
Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s
“Lucky Man” repeated every couple of hours on FM radio.
While we mourn the loss of a
life, we’re also mourning the
loss of something inside us.
We’ve got to pull the shade
down on happy memories that
now sting just a little.
iconz magazine