Quotes about the death of Michael Jackson | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Friday, June 26, 2009

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Memories of Michael Jackson - Share your memories of the pop superstar with Action News
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"Yesterday was a day I will never forget, or want to remember. Michael was both weak and strong, clever and kind, talented beyond belief and equally insecure. He was a doting father, respectful son, loving brother, and caring uncle. He was my friend. I take great solace in the pride and confidence he exhibited during production rehearsals on Wednesday night. That is the memory I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Randy Phillips, President & CEO of AEG Live, producers of "This Is It."

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"On behalf of Lou Ferigno, Carla Ferigno and myself, we are devastated and in shock over this great loss. Our hearts and prayers are with all of his family and friends." -- Tracey Mapes, spokeswoman for bodybuilder Lou Ferigno, who was helping Jackson train for his upcoming shows.

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"The world has certainly lost a great individual and we only hope that America and the rest of the world will continue to focus on the positive and not speak poorly of a man who was under constant scrutiny his entire life. We are happy to have had the opportunity to know Michael since he was a little boy and most recently we had the pleasure of working on one of his projects in Los Angeles. ... God bless you, Michael, and we will miss you!" -- The O'Jays, Walter Williams Sr., Eddie Levert Sr. and Eric Nolan Grant.

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"I am truly saddened that my mentor, brother and friend will no longer be with us physically. At the same time I feel so blessed to have been touched by his music, his dance, his lyrics and his pure genius. It is because of Michael's yesterday that I am who I am today! My condolences to his family and friends around the world. Michael Jackson rest in peace and may your music and legacy forever reign on Earth!" -- Singer R. Kelly.

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"I can't stop crying, this is too sudden and shocking. I am unable to imagine this. My heart is hurting. I am in prayer for his kids and the family." -- Singer Diana Ross.

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"Michael Jackson will live forever through the thing that he put all of his life energy into: his music. I will do my part to keep the melody alive, to keep the energy forever changing form, but never ever dying. Long live Michael Jackson." -- R&B singer Ne-Yo.

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"This was the most exciting collaboration of my life with a man who has inspired me like no other. ... This was the world's greatest performer and the world will miss him." -- Kenny Ortega, who was directing Jackson's upcoming concerts in London and who said he was his friend for 25 years.

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"He was truly a king, as a dancer, as a singer and we may never, ever see a person of talent like that again." -- The Laugh Factory comedy club owner Jamie Masada, who arranged Jackson's introduction to the cancer-stricken 13-year-old boy who later accused the singer of molesting him.

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"Michael Jackson's accomplished so much that there's not even words to explain what he's done for urban and pop music. Every artist that I personally know has been influenced by him. The world has lost one of the greatest entertainers who shaped many generations and will continue to for years to come." -- Motown/pop singer Akon.

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"When we worked together on `Bad,' I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion." -- Film director Martin Scorsese.

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"The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be. ... I love you Michael." -- R&B singer Beyonce Knowles.

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"From the beginning of my career, he was my idol in show business. ... I had his poster on my wall." -- Singer Celine Dion.

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"Dazed in the studio. A major strand of our cultural DNA has left us. RIP MJ. ... I think we'll mourn his loss as well as the loss of ourselves as children listening to `Thriller' on the record player." -- Musician John Mayer, via his Twitter feed.

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"We are out of our joy. He is out of his pain. ... He was constantly challenged in the press and all he really wanted to be was the greatest entertainer and he was that." -- Politician and civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who counseled Michael Jackson at his Neverland ranch while the pop star was defending himself against molestation charges.

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"He broke barriers, he changed radio formats. With music, he made it possible for people like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to impact the mainstream world. His legacy is unparalleled." -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)