Family, friends, fans bid farewell to Jackson

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By Joseph Weber, Michelle Bollman and Julie Pendray THE WASHINGTON TIMES

UPDATED:

The public memorial service for pop superstar Michael Jackson on Tuesday at the Staples Center arena in Los Angeles was billed as an unparalleled Hollywood-style event, but it unfolded into a largely somber farewell, with goodbyes from friends and some of the entertainment industry's biggest stars.

"The more I think about Michael Jackson, the more I think 'the King of Pop' is not big enough for him," said Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, who gave Mr. Jackson and his four brothers their big chance. "He was the greatest entertainer who ever lived."

Mr. Gordy also recalled the mesmerizing effect of Mr. Jackson's moonwalking and playfully chided singer Smokey Robinson about how a 10-year-old Jackson did a better version of Mr. Robinson's own "Who's Lovin' You."

"He made some unfortunate decisions but accomplished everything he dreamed of," said Mr. Gordy, acknowledging Mr. Jackson's troubled life, which included health and financial problems as well as allegations of drug abuse and inappropriate contact with young children.

Mr. Jackson died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest on June 25. He was 50.

The sold-out event began at about 12:30 p.m. EDT with Mr. Robinson reading a tribute from Diana Ross, which was followed by the Andrae Crouch Choir singing the hymn "We Are Going to See the King."

At the foot of the stage rested Mr. Jackson's golden casket, carried in by dark-suited pallbearers, each wearing a sequenced glove, and adorned in red roses. Above the arena stage, bathed in blue lights, was a banner depicting Mr. Jackson's face and the words "In Loving Memory of Michael Jackson. King of Pop. 1958-2009."

"We had him," said singer-actress Queen Latifah, reading from a poem Maya Angelou wrote for the occasion. "He was a gift to us and we had him. He came from the creator. . . . In Johannesburg and in Pittsburgh we are missing you."

Performers who graced the stage during the memorial included Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Jermaine Jackson, Usher and Shaheen Jaforgholi.