A host of world famous stars are set to participate in today’s (July 7th) memorial service for Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson’s fame crossed all boundaries. One of the first black American stars to truly conquer the pop charts, Jackson pioneered the use of promotional videos as an artistic tool changing the music industry forever.
One of a handful of stars whose fame crossed the globe, Michael Jackson’s death last Thursday (June 25th) left millions in mourning. Fans stage impromptu memorial services as rumours mounted over the star’s death.
Organised by his family, the official memorial service to Michael Jackson is set to take place today (July 7th). Held in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, it occupies the same building that Jackson himself used to rehearse in preparation for his comeback at the O2 Arena.
Some of the world’s best known entertainers are due to pay their respects to Jackson at the ceremony. Stevie Wonder knows all too well the pressures of being a child star at Motown – he scored his first hit aged just twelve.
Yet the singer moved beyond his pop status to produce a series of albums that are regarded as being near the pinnacle of soul music. A life long friend of Michael Jackson and his family, Stevie Wonder will be amongst the mourners at the Los Angeles ceremony.
Fellow Motown icon Smokey Robinson is also slated to participate, alongside church figures such as Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III.
Icons of black America are set to assemble, with basketball legend Magic Johnson set to attend the ceremony. He will be joined by a variety of stars including Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson and R&B star Usher.
The Staples Center service is due to be preceded by a private burial in Los Angeles at 8am. There had been speculation that the singer would be buried at his Neverland ranch, but his family were denied permission for the service.
The official memorial service is expected to be an enormous event. More than 1.6 million people applied to attend, with only 8,750 people being awarded two tickets each.
The event will be produced by Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich and directed by Kenny Ortega, the director of the London shows that were due to take place this summer, reports CNN.
