props! I hope it is re-run soon.. I missed the first hour or so, I attended a local vigil at the Motown Museum...
Please tell us about that event...
http://www.motownmuseum.comSince Michael’s passing on last Thursday 6/25, there was a stream of people bringing tributes (record sleeves, homemade signs, teddy bears, scented candles, flowers) to the Motown Museum on 2648 W. Grand Boulevard in Detroit (the museum is actually two adjacent houses, one being purchased by the museum’s ownership shortly after it was first inaugurated). The formal candlelight vigil took place on the evening Sunday, June 28. Giant-sized photographs/posters of Michael and the Jackson 5 were prominently placed on the front windows of the museum. The program was planned to begin at 8 p.m.; I got there around 7:30, and there was already a sizeable crowd. Police had blocked off a section of the eastbound portion of W. Grand Boulevard where the museum resides (with Henry Ford Hospital is in the immediate vicinity).
Easily several thousand people had gathered. All ethnicities could be seen, and considering some people brought their babies, you had infants to (great-)grandparents representing in the crowd. Some folks were selling memorabilia like T-shirts and buttons. I saw a woman wearing a well-preserved Victory Tour 1984 shirt.
Situated at the porch area of the museum were speakers pumping Michael/Jackson 5 songs like “ABC”, “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Man in the Mirror” and more (one odd moment occurred when the DJ cued up New Edition’s “Candy Girl”—I don’t know if they thought it was a Mike song, but I suppose it’s a tribute song, of sorts—heh..) There were also two Michael impersonators who took turns performing on the front porch- ‘brown skinned Mike’ and ‘light skinned Mike’; I don’t know if they were hired or they just showed up- (and light-skinned Mike was clearly a woman when she later excused herself past me). They were lip-synching to the records played, to the enjoyment of the crowd. Candles were passed among all the attendees.
Longtime local radio personality John Mason served as the emcee for the tribute. He started off by telling a series of humorous fictional anecdotes about Mike in between sing-alongs to his Motown-era hits. Berry Gordy’s niece was introduced, who read a written statement by her uncle. The Motown Museum CEO was introduced; he made some brief statements, and was shortly joined by the manager of an area cemetery, who announced that all of the tribute items brought to the Museum site would be placed and preserved in a special mausoleum. Lastly, local pastor Charles Ellis was introduced, who made an extended speech about Michael’s life and legacy, finally leading the crowd in prayer as the candles were finally lit. There were numerous people that by now were openly crying. It was just a beautiful, peaceful scene, even as it finally dispersed.
Next up is another tribute at local concert venue Chene Park. Keith Washington has been confirmed; several of the surviving 60’s Motown stars had just returned stateside from a UK tour stint this weekend (Mary Wilson, Martha Reeves, the Miracles
sans Smokey).
I took some photos, I'll have to post them later today..
