Published: July 01, 2009 09:51 am      

The scene seems all too familiar for many of us

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 — I was not alive when Elvis died and can only try to understand the sorrow at his death by reading newspaper headlines and viewing television newscasts of the scene around Graceland in the hours after his death.

After overcoming the shock when the news broke of Michael Jackson’s death Thursday, I immediately began thinking back to the image’s of Elvis’ death 32 years ago.

We once again have a mysterious death of a popular performer, an extravagant person, a person who was larger than life. There’s the talk of drug use, just like Elvis. There’s the scene of an outpouring of fans flocking to his home, just like Elvis. Fans paying tribute at other places connected to the star.

Even Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter and former wife of Jackson, said that Michael talked of how he might end up like her father, and that the scene Thursday was too familiar for her.

Michael Jackson was the Elvis of my generation.

Before the jokes about color of skin, allegations of child molestation and over-the-top antics, there was a talented singer, dancer and showman who had hit after hit — a person who catapulted the popularity of the music video as a music selling device.

In the 1980s, Michael Jackson was the music man. His “Thriller” album remains the biggest selling album ever, with some sources estimating 100 million copies or more.

I did like some of his songs, and I believe I received a black leather jacket as a gift one year. It looked much like one he would wear and it may have been some of his merchandise. I can’t remember if I ever wore it, but I wish I had it now.

His look changed through the years, which is something he also has in common with Elvis. Many Elvis fans will debate which Elvis was better: the young Elvis, the ’68 Comeback Special Elvis or the 1970s jumpsuit wearing Elvis.

Michael Jackson fans have young Michael, the Moonwalking Michael, the gloved-one and many other incarnations.

While I find myself listening to Elvis music much more than Jackson’s, I enjoyed a nice dose of Michael’s music and videos over the weekend, as just about every channel found some way to pay tribute to him. People who aren’t fans of his music may not realize how many memorable tunes he had, but as I was watching these tributes, the songs of my youth and teenage years kept creeping back into memory.

Even with all the outside factors that played into his personal and public life, no one can dispute that Michael Jackson was one of the greatest talents we’ve ever seen. Many of today’s artists owe their careers to him. Just as Michael took parts from Fred Astaire, James Brown and others, today’s performers modeled their careers after the King of Pop.

We can only wonder what his upcoming comeback tour would have been like — a tour that he had already said would be his farewell tour.

Little did we know that the farewell would be much too soon.



B. J. Drye is managing editor of The Stanly News and Press. Write him at P.O. Box 488, Albemarle, NC 28002. E-mail him at snaponline25@yahoo.com.