BYE, KING OF POP

Katherine Jackson and Joe Jackson

The pop singer Michael Jackson, who died in June at the age of 50, has been buried in the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Los Angeles suburb, Glendale, CNN reported on Friday 4.
The private memorial ceremony, with only immediate relatives and friends present, had 200 invited guests among them Elizabeth Taylor, actor Macaulay Culkin and music producer Quincy Jones, media reported. Jackson's relatives and friends delivered memorial speeches, which were not broadcasted by media in accordance with the Jackson family's request.
After the service, the coffin with Jackson's body was put into the Great Mausoleum, where the Hollywood stars Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable are also buried.


PHOTOS-Reuters

MICHAEL JACKSON TO BE BURIED NEXT WEEK

After nearly two months since Michael Jackson died at the age of 50, he will finally be buried next week, on what would have been the pop star's 51st birthday, August 29, New York Daily News reports.
The singer's father, Joseph Jackson, told the paper that Jackson will be buried at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Cemetery in accordance with plans that were finalized over the past few days.

KENYAN CELEBS REMEMBER JACKO

As the world mourns the death of the greatest pop icon ever, Three Kenyan celebs give their own thoughts on the same. Michael Jackson, 50, died early Thursday afternoon after suffering a cardiac at his Holmby Hills home. Paramedics were unable to revive him.


RUFFTONE – VITA500 BRAND AMBASSADOR, PRODUCER AND MUSICIAN
“I think it is a funny thing that he has become an instant hero now that he is dead. I saw on TV a fan who almost fainted when they were told Michael Jackson is dead. For me, it is a difficult lesson to learn that you are never indispensable and there are really never any superstars. Look at Jackson’s life. He died in a rented house, his home was repossessed, he lived in a foreign country, Bahrain, for a long time after America and the world had forgotten him. After his child molestation trial his musical career was brought down just like that. The UK tour was to help him make a financial comeback, now he’ll make a musical one. Despite his musical success people ditched him and now that he is dead people are still thinking of ways to cash in. It is a big lesson for me as an artiste that there is nothing like a super star.”


PIERRA MAKENA – ACTOR AND FILMMAKER
“I’m terribly crashed by his death. He was the big star I listened to growing up. I was also waiting eagerly for his South African tour, because I heard last year that he was going to do one. The world did not treat Michael the way he should have been treated. You know what Quincy Jones said, ‘It’s a surprise that guys were not really nice to him when he was alive, and now that he is dead they are all teary and sad.’ I think people should have just treated him as a star; after all we all have our weaknesses. And for that people judged him harshly. Despite all that he is still my hero.”

AMANI – SINGER
“I still look up to him. I’m a pop artiste and he is the Kind of pop. I loved listening and watching his performances during his world tours, he was my inspiration. I still believe he will make a commercial come back. The only other pop icons that equal his legendary status in my opinion are Mariah Carey, U2 and Madonna.

CHANNEL O PAYS TRIBUTE TO KING OF POP

Channel O is paying tribute to Michael Jackson in the most fitting way possible – by a video mix and so much more - featuring hit after massive hit from the global icon.
The 30-minute specialised O-Xpress will provide a platform for the universally acknowledged King of Pop’s astonishing array of hits, on Monday June 29 (13:00 CAT) and Tuesday June 30 (11:00 CAT).

Hit songs like Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black and White, Scream, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel and You Are Not Alone will be showcased in this unique video mix.

O-Boma (16:00 CAT) and O-Boma Xpress (from 22:00 CAT) will be dedicating today’s live shows to the man.

The poll question is – “What is your all time Michael Jackson track?” Alongside the music, it was Jackson’s dancing – most ironically the Moonwalk – that ensured even his early videos would be something special, and over his career he took care to push the benchmark when it came to creating the visuals to go with his endless supply of hit songs.
Over the course of his career, Jackson sold more than 750m albums worldwide and won 13 Grammy awards.

Channel O joins in the other thousands of voices around the world mourning the loss of this one-of-a-kind entertainer and truly gifted musician. Channel O is available across the continent on DStv channel 320.

AS WE MOURN MJ...

The following celebrities have sent out their condolences.


Former Tanzania President Alhaj Ali Hassan Mwinyi gave a an exclusive BBC interview on Friday of June 26, 2009, on the death of Michael Jackson.
In the interview, conducted in Swahili, President Mwinyi recalls Michael's visit to Tanzania in 1992 and described his sudden death as a huge loss to the music fraternity world wide, and that the late King of Pop was a legend that will forever remain etched in the memories of both young and old alike - even for those who were not around during the thriller's unique lifetime.


Known Entertainment Executive Ben Brown, the Man Who Discovered Michael Jackson, Issued a Statement Regarding Michael's Recent Passing.
Said, “I was deeply saddened to hear the reports of the passing of my friend, the 'King of Pop.' My prayers, thoughts, and best wishes go out to Michael's family, friends, and fans around the world," Ben Brown said today, according to SuperGold International.
Brown went on to say, "Michael, a giant in the music and entertainment world, I feel, will continue to impact the world of entertainment and the world itself through his creative works. He will be missed."


Chris Brown: “Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I will continue to be humbled and inspired by his legacy. My prayers are with his family. Michael will be deeply missed, but never forgoten. He’s the greatest… the best ever. No one will ever be better. ”


Usher: “This loss has deeply saddened me, with a heavy heart I composed this statement. May God cover you Michael. We all lift your name up in prayer. I pray for the entire JACKSON family particularly Michael’s mother and all his fans that loved him so much. I would not be the artist, performer, and philanthropist I am today without the influence of Michael. I have great admiration and respect for Him and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to meet and perform with such a great entertainer In so many ways he transcended culture. He broke barriers, he changed radio formats! With music, he made it possible for people like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to impact the mainstream world. His legacy is unparalleled Michael Jackson will never be forgotten.”


Elizabeth Taylor: “Dame Elizabeth Taylor is too devastated by the passing of her dear friend Michael Jackson to issue a statement at this time.”
Taylor, who was a close and dear friend to Jackson for several years, was the one who dubbed him the “King of Pop.”


Paul McCartney: “I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.”


Madonna: “I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever!My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”