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Michael Jackson: old-timers, like me, missed his greatness
June 29, 2009It took our newspaper three editions before a story about Michael Jackson's death finally made the front page.
Back in 1977, when I was news editor, I filled our front page with Elvis' death every day for about a week.
Finally, one morning Rhea Howard - the owner and publisher of the Times Record News - called over to the editorial department and ordered:
"I don't want to see that hippy on the front page anymore."
Michael Jackson was a superstar, his music loved by a lot of people.
But I completely missed his greatness.
This old man remembered little Michael singing a love song to a rat named Ben.
I also remember his crotch-grabbing at halftime of Super Bowl XXVII.
But Michael Jackson was another generation's Elvis.
I realized that as I watched all the TV coverage the past few days.
Still, I am stuck further back in time.
Back in 1970 and 1971, we lost three rock superstars in a span of 288 days.
Jimi Hendrix died on Sept. 18, 1970.
Janis Joplin checked out just 16 days later, on Oct. 4, 1970.
Jim Morrison left us on July 3, 1971.
Strangely, all three were 27 when they died.
Michael Jackson's death is a sad thing, but at least he lived 50 years.
Posted by at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Comments
I know he was a great entertainer however his death over shadowed a couple of other great entertainers death. That is just sad. BTW miss ya Nick :)
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