Local musicians and pop music fans were quick to react to the news of Michael Jackson’s death.
Darrell Kelly, 52, drummer for the local band The Malemen, said his group has been playing Michael Jackson hits since the band formed in 1984.
“We still play ‘I'll Be There,’’ he said. “It's still a good song today.
“Michael was a big influence on us. I was just rehearsing with another group yesterday and they did three Michael songs.”
Olen Justice, 26, a manager at the Back Inn Cafe, grew up on “Billie Jean” and “Beat It”-era Jackson and said he has always been awed by the performer's stage presence.
“I just remember watching his performances and being in awe of the reaction of the crowd,” he said. “Young ladies and men would get carried out of the shows. He was, or is still, very dynamic.”
Barry Courter is associate features editor, entertainment editor and books editor for the Times Free Press. He started his journalism career at the Chattanooga News-Free Press in 1987. He covers primarily entertainment and events for fyiWeekend and edits the Sunday books page. Born in Lafayette, Ind., Barry has lived in Chattanooga since 1968. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in broadcast journalism. He previously ...
The guy had some good music thats for sure. But does it cover that fact that the guy was a child molester?
He was a child molesting sexual pervert of the worst order, hardly surpassed by anyone in our times. He should have been imprisoned for life but bought his way off. The world is better off with him gone. Welcome to Hell, Michael, and enjoy yourself with your kind there.
Let's see, Pedophile, gay, stupid dance and music, dyed his skin to disown his heritage, had his own circus, zoo, and amusement park to entice children, once said he'd rather have a water balloon fight with a child than to have sex. Nah! Can't say I'll miss him. Never liked him to begin with. Good riddance.
What's the matter with you people?! Michael Jackson was NOT a child molester, NOT a pervert and probably not gay...as if that part matters! I've never read so much hate and disrespect based on sheer rumor!!! Fact: he was acquitted of all charges! Fact: the investigation proved that people were just after his money!
Michael Jackson is an icon of American Music!! The world will miss him!
I'm pretty sure I felt the earth shake when he hit the bottom.
The one thing I think useful to say to this group is; "Don't comment about the speck in another man's eye until you remove the log from your own". Gee whiz it is hard to believe this is the 21st century in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We really need the Germans to be reading this "paper" and seeing what bigots live here. A great many people let their children stay over at Jackson's compound so they could enjoy the circus like atmosphere. If Jackson had sexual perversions he was able to hide it from possibly hundreds of parents. Please remember that the News is only for entertainment purposes in today's world and not something to base your hate mongering on.
Hardly a time to be commenting the way some of you people are commenting. A legend has died. Sure he probably did all of those things, but the victims took the money and ran... Have some respect for a legend of music. Talk about his legacy off the stage later.
Regaurdless of what he was, and I believe he did all the things he was accused of, he lived the American Dream, born a poor black child and died a rich white something. Good Riddance
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