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Michael and Elvis: The Two Sweet Kings of Music

Two eras of the best music in show biz history, and I was privileged to witness them both in their lifetime primes.

I am happy and privileged to say that I lived, as a little girl and as a young woman, through the eras of two of the greatest entertainers in show business - Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

When I was born, Elvis was still "hot" and when I became a pre-teen, Michael and his four brothers, Marlon, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie, arrived on the scene with the first 45-RPM vinyl single I ever bought in my life: "I Want you Back."

I had just gotten a record player, a manual one, for Christmas 1969 and I remember running to the record store in downtown Columbus (the one next to The Movin` Man men's clothing store on Broad Street) to get that "new record" by this new group called The Jackson Five in January of 1970. I wore the thing into the ground playing it over and over again; then seeing them appear on Don Cornelius' Soul Train back in the early seventies was the joy of my pre-teen existence. I soon had a 12-piece record collection consisting of Sam & Dave, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and eight records by the Jackson Five.

In the late 70s, my baby-boomer-like generation fizzled out on Michael, said he had lost touch with his own generation and sounded too much like a kid. We were growing up and Michael still sounded like he was five years old to us.

Then came Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough. Some of the guys we used to hang out with who were in the funkier and more soulful lyrics of Bootsy Collins, Parliament, and this newby on the block called Prince tuned back in to Michael. One of the guys yelled out, Aw sooky-sooky now; Mike done growed up! He's finally a man! His voice had deepened just a bit and we never lost touch of him again. Thank God he walked away from Berry Gordy and Motown for a better deal; and thank God for Berry Gordy and Motown for bringing him and his brothers to us in the first place.

It was a weird day for me when I heard that Lisa Marie, Elvis` only child, and Michael were married. My only thought was "Please don`t have any kids..." That child would have been haunted for the rest of its natural life in those murky shadows. People tried to ridicule Lisa for marrying Michael, but truth told, she is just as weird and eccentric as he was.

People say it`s strange that Michael is forever bound to Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett, but he had "stranger" associations in life, so this day is par for the course. I know Ed and Farrah are in heaven looking at him and saying, "You always got to steal the show." (smile)

Rest in Peace Michael; and go with God. You were Bad, Dangerous, a Smooth Criminal, and a Thriller all rolled into one.

You lived a life and a half. You listened to the music in your heart and soul. If we all did that - followed our true callings in life, whatever they are- the world would be a much better place in which to live. Thank you for the music, man.

You made more than a few people smile and you changed the music world forever. That is just one more sweet sound coming down on the Night Shift.

*In honor of Michael, and the generous and charitable spirit of Elvis, I donate any proceeds earned on this title to The Magic Foundation for Children's Growth.*

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