Michael Jackson was one of the world's most famous entertainers. So it was no surprise that thousands of his fans–black and white, rich and poor, young and old–braved the sun and the rain to celebrate the late singer's life and music at the theatre that helped propel him to stardom.
Fans waited for hours to enter Harlem's landmark Apollo Theater on West 125th Street. Some had reportedly secured their spot in the early hours of the morning, long before the doors were scheduled to open. To ward off impatience and discomfort, they imitated Jackson's signature dance moves, spontaneously burst into song, and snapped photos of the joyful scene with their cell phone cameras. Many were dressed up like the late singer, wearing red leather jackets, white gloves, and Jackson's signature fedora.
A time to reflect
Joseli Roman, 17, of Coney Island, waited in line for three hours with her friends before she was allowed into the Apollo. "He was really a big inspiration," she said, holding a poster of Jackson as a young boy with the words "RIP Michael, We'll Always Love You," on it. "It's sad, the fact he had to go so unexpectedly, so suddenly." Inside, the theater was alive with the screams and cheers of hundreds of fans enjoying a 45-minute music and video tribute, hosted by the Reverend Al Sharpton. They sang and danced as Jackson's most famous hits, many donning the wide variety of Michael Jackson T-shirts being sold outside.
Jonathan Roper danced with his infant son, Tanner, on his shoulders. He said he would remember Jackson as "someone who made music for everybody." Jackson performed at the Apollo Theater in 1969 at the age of 11, when the Jackson 5 won the theater's Amateur Night contest. Music critics say it was a pivotal moment for the singer, launching his hugely successful solo career that spanned four decades, but was often marred by scandal.
Trinis among celebrants
But at the Apollo, there was no mention of the allegations of child molestation or of Jackson's oddities. Instead, Jackson was remembered as a gifted entertainer and humanitarian who touched the lives of people around the world.
Trinis among celebrants
Jennifer McBurnie, 47, came from Brooklyn with her son, Shepard, 14, to honor the singer. Originally from T&T, she says she used to have dreams about Jackson. "He was my world. I had a crush on him. He was my idol," she says. She says Jackson will always be remembered for his talent, and for the love and joy he brought to so many hearts. "He's going to be missed tremendously. It doesn't matter how he went, it's what he gave us when he was here," she says.
Jackson items hot commodities
Meanwhile, across from the fans waiting to enter the Apollo, people were snapping up Michael Jackson hats, pins, posters, and t-shirts. A man named Mel said he had sold 60 T-shirts for five dollars apiece in just two hours.
"I printed them up yesterday," he said with a smile, as a customer approached him with cash in hand. Will Smith, 39, bought hundreds of framed photographs of Jackson to sell. "He was a great performer, a great father, a great family member. "With the money, the media, the constant harassing, when you get big, you fall off," he said.
A legend is gone
One customer, Tony Melendez, 38, came to Harlem from the Bronx to pay tribute. "He was a legend. Just like the Pope, man," he said. Melendez says he didn't believe the news of Jackson's death until dozens of people started texting him at the same time. "It still hurts, it's a shock. I guess he was unhappy. "Jesus just took him home," he says.
Michael Jackson died on June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest at a home he was renting in Los Angeles. The exact cause of the 50-year-old singer's death is unknown. Another public memorial was held at the singer's beloved Neverland Ranch in California yesterday, and will be followed by a private service tomorrow.
