The King of Pop is Dead

CNN, the Associated Press, and ,well every news site and person with a Twitter account is reporting on the death of the King of Pop. Michael Jackson is dead at age 50.

To most young music lovers, Jackson is some weird looking pedophile whose about as relevant as a Pet Rock. But to those who were coming of musical age in the 80's, Jackson is an icon. Certainly his personal antics in the last 10-15 years have tainted that image somewhat, but today is a day to remember the talent. And what an enormous talent he was.

Starting with his brother in the Jackson 5, Michael demonstrated tremendous talent with his vocals and his dancing. While he and his brother earned fame with their Motown releases, it was not until Jackson emerged as a solo artist that he became a superstar. A phenomenon.

His first solo albums, released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise were hits, successes in their own right, but The Michael Era really began with Off The Wall in 1979. While the album had remnants of the disco era hanging on some of the more dance oriented numbers, it also had some tender moments and some true legendary pop gems like Rock With You and Dont Stop Till You Get Enough.

Jackson fulfilled the promise of Off The Wall and and of pure pop perfection with hlp form Quincy Jones in 1982 with Thriller. The biggest selling album of all time. And with good reason. The album opened with Wanna Be Startin Somethin. This tune was a bridge to the sound of 79s Off The Wall and also in many ways the close of the 70's R&B era. From that song out Thriller moves between rock, pop, ballad and R&B seamlessly and effortlessly. From the boppy disco-like start with ...Startin Something to the team up with legendary rock god Eddie Van Halen for Beat It, to the unclassifiable genius of horror pop that was the title track Thriller is an unescapable, infectious, musical piece of art. Jackson's now mature tenor was at his peak and the songs had a timeless sound even then. Even today the genre defying record remains capable of sounding modern and awesome. The timing of this record with the arrival of MTV caused a hysteria and phenomenon of pop music that I doubt will ever be matched by any artist.

Follow up albums Bad and Dangerous and HIStory may have never matched the perfection and hype of Thriller, but those records are mega hits in their own right churning out a steady supply of fantastic tunes.

In addition to being a musical powerhouse, Jackson donated untold millions upon millions of dollars to various charitable causes, often donating entire takes from tours.

Jackson may have been weird, he may have even been a pedophile. If the latter is true its terrible and I feel for the victims. Tonight though I'll just listen to the music and enjoy the massive talent that was The King of Pop...