While in the midst of grueling rehearsals for a planned concert residency in London called This Is It, Michael Jackson died from cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009.
His estate issued a statement on June 25 2019, the 10th anniversary of his death. Here’s a portion of it:
Ten years ago today, the world lost a gifted artist and extraordinary humanitarian. The entire global community joined in grieving during a powerful and emotional memorial service witnessed by more people than had ever viewed a live event before. Messages of condolences from Nelson Mandela and others were read as was a poem written for the occasion by the esteemed Maya Angelou. Berry Gordy Jr., founder of Motown, eulogized his protégé by saying, “…the King of Pop is not big enough for him. I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.”
In a world where numbers are the measure of a man, Michael Jackson is a resounding success, whether by his 16 #1 singles and 8 #1 albums in the US or the fact that his album Thriller is owned by more people on the planet than any album ever made and Thriller the short film is the only music video to have been inducted into the National Film Registry.
But we best remember Michael by paying tribute to his legacy of philanthropic work and ask music fans everywhere to make a difference in their community – whether it’s planting a tree, volunteering at a shelter, cleaning up a public space or helping someone who is lost find their way. “I believe each person can make a difference in the life of someone in need,” he said. This is how we honor Michael.
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