Where were you when you heard?

Where were you last week when you heard the news?
If you’re asking, “What news?” then you probably have just awakened from a coma, or at least have been sequestered from the outside world. It was hard to miss the details of music superstar Michael Jackson’s death, especially since most media outlets gave it comparable coverage to that typically reserved for the passing of influential heads of state. Of course, maybe that level of coverage was deserved since Jackson was the proclaimed “King of Pop.”
I was at work when news of Jackson’s death reached the Courier-Post newsroom. In 10 years (six weeks) will I remember where I was when I heard the news? It’s hard to say. I still recall where I was on Aug. 16, 1977. It was on that date that another “king,” Elvis Presley, passed away in Memphis, Tenn., at the age of 42.
Unlike Thursday, when even the flow of information on the Internet was slowed significantly by the volume of Jackson-related messages being sent, there was no Internet to pass on news and personal reflections regarding Presley’s death. Still, much like last week, fans shed tears and staged candle-lit vigils.
For those of an earlier generation, who may be having trouble grasping what all the fuss is about in regard to Jackson, or even Presley for that matter, let me take you back to Dec. 15, 1944. Can you remember where you were when you heard that band leader, composer, musician and arranger Glen Miller had disappeared during a flight over the English Channel? Do you still remember the sense of loss you might have felt at the loss of the 40-year-old Miller?
On Friday, I heard a radio announcer advise listeners that a Jackson update was on the way at the top of the hour, adding that until the network news break the on-air discussion would return to a topic “that really matters.”
In the great scheme of things Jackson’s overall impact can be debated. He never passed a single piece of legislation. Neither did his efforts influence the cost of gasoline, health care or a loaf of bread. But considering the tsunami of reaction that word of Jackson’s death ignited as it spread around the globe, it would be foolish to say his music did not touch people’s lives in a powerful way.
In terms of raw numbers, Jackson’s 1982 album, “Thriller” - which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” - is still the best-selling album of all time. The album, which won a then-unprecedented eight Grammy awards, sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide. His 13 No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts puts him behind only Presley, the Beatles and Mariah Carey.
In the music industry, it’s been said that Jackson influenced rock, pop, R&B and even rap artists. He also impacted culture as people imitated his dance moves, including his backward-gliding moonwalk.
Jackson’s legacy is not all centered on the influence he had on his peers, the awards he received and the sales his albums/CDs generated.
While many who knew him say he was a caring father, it’s hard to dismiss the 2002 images of him dangling his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Germany. There were allegations of improper conduct between Jackson and youngsters who visited his Neverland ranch. Also difficult to ignore is how Jackson’s appearance steadily changed as a result of a series of plastic surgeries.
Will you remember where you were when you heard the news that Michael Jackson had died? It will probably depend if you consider him a uniquely talented musician or just another troubled star.