Goodbye, Michael

As I sit here in my hospital bed... a prisoner to "what's good on TV tonight" (yeah right!)... I am absolutely stunned and saddened by the news that another one of the greatest musicians of all time has died. What? Michael Jackson? The "KING OF POP"? Gone? No way!!

While I am taking in all of the tributes on CNN, FOX News, MTV... I try to understand why I am so emotional about his death. Is it selfishness? I mean... is it because I grew up with his music and his groundbreaking videos... and all of that is now OVER? Could it be because (as a musician) I learned more about R&B rhythm, syncopation and tightness from Michael's music than any other artist I have ever studied? Or could it be that I am just feeling sorry for him? Feeling sorry for the strange turns that his life took in recent years. The scandals... the facial changes... and the bizarre behavior.


He had it all... and yet he seemed to live a sort of misunderstood and tormented life. It's just so sad.

I think that maybe the real reason that I am so emotional about Michael's death has more to do with the fact that I connected with Michael (Whether I realized it or not) on many different levels. Michael Jackson and his music had a profound impact on my musical development over the years, my appreciation for quality and excellence, my fascination with creativity and innovation and... well... my LIFE.

Many of his songs were just great songs "musically". They were fun to listen to, to sing, to play and to dance to. But songs like "Heal the World", "Man In The Mirror"and "We Are The World" challenged us to change the way we looked at the world... and ourselves. Who doesn't remember the first time they heard "We Are the World"??? That was HUGE!

Well... whatever you thought of the bizarre things that he did in his later years... you cannot deny the fact that Michael Jackson was one of the most innovative, ground-breaking musical artists of our lifetime. As unusual as he was... Michael Jackson was a musical genius. And for that reason... I have always had a great respect for the artist.

Whether it was the structure and lyric of the songs that he wrote... the creativity and production value of his music videos (Yes... I have the Thriller video on my iPOD)... or his amazing choreography (which every dancer, since, has just emulated)... you cannot ignore the fact that Michael Jackson single-handedly changed the face of the music industry.

Only God knows what went on in the heart of Michael Jackson. If you ask one person... they might say that he was a "freak". If you asked another... they would say that he was a kind, gentle man who wanted nothing more than to make the world a better place with his music.

I (for one) am thankful for the music that he shared while he was with us. As far as I'm concerned... he will always be remembered as one of the greatest musicians of our lifetime.

Goodbye, Michael... you will be greatly missed.