Michael Jackson memorial service
A public memorial service for Michael Jackson was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, twelve days after his death.Jackson's closed, solid-bronze casket, plated with 14-karat gold and lined with blue velvet, which was not originally expected to be at the memorial service, arrived just before 10:00 a.m. local time when it was placed in front of the stage.Berry Gordy, Brooke Shields, and Smokey Robinson gave eulogies, while Queen Latifah read "We Had Him", a poem written for the occasion by Maya Angelou.Jackson's then-11-year-old daughter, Paris, while unable to give her speech without crying, told the crowd, "I just want to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine, and I just want to say I love him... so much.[12] Streets and highway exits around the Staples Center were sealed off,[12] and 3,000 officers, the largest security effort planned since the 1984 Olympics,[12] were on duty at a cost of $1.4 million to the city.[13] The motorcade for Jackson's casket was headed by two police motorcycle outriders, and the LA freeways were closed for the journey of approximately 11 miles (18 km) from Forest Lawn to the Staples Center.A gospel choir sang Andrae Crouch's "Soon and Very Soon" as Jackson's casket entered (culminating around the line "you will see the King"), followed by statements from Pastor Lucious Smith.In the eulogy of Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, he stated, "In fact, the more I think and talk about Michael Jackson, I feel the King of Pop is not big enough for him.Marlon Jackson then thanked the crowd in attendance, and the family escorted the casket out of the arena while an instrumental version of "Man in the Mirror" was performed.Pastor Lucious Smith closed the service with a prayer and quote saying "I'm alive and I'm here forever" from the Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson duet song "The Man".The participants were Ron Boyd (family friend), Los Angeles Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, fellow Motown Records alumni Berry Gordy, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Andrae Crouch (choir), Queen Latifah, Judith Hill (recruited 'This Is It' performer), Jennifer Hudson (in her first public appearance since the double murder of her brother and nephew), Shaheen Jafargholi (a child finalist on Britain's Got Talent, who sang a Jackson song), Martin Luther King III, Bernice A.In addition to the above persons, ABC News reported, Lionel Richie's daughter Nicole, who was Michael's goddaughter, singer Akon and producer/rapper Sean Combs would attend the services.The service was broadcast live around the world, from the U.S. to Slovakia (Eastern Europe) to parts of Asia and Oceania, making use of the Intelsat global satellite network.[27] Public screenings were held in 88 cinemas across the U.S.[28] as well as in Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Gothenburg, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Malmö, Oslo, Paris, Milan, Seville, Stockholm, and Tallinn.
Staples CenterMichael JacksonLos Angeles, CaliforniaSmokey RobinsonMariah CareyMacaulay CulkinTrey LorenzQueen LatifahLionel RichieJohn MayerStevie WonderKobe BryantMagic JohnsonJennifer HudsonBerry GordyRev. Jesse JacksonRev. Al SharptonBrooke ShieldsJermaine JacksonMartin Luther King IIIBernice KingSheila Jackson LeeShaheen JafargholiKenny OrtegaJudith HillMarlon JacksonJanet JacksonParis JacksonOrianthi PanagarisLos Angeleshis deathHollywood HillsBeverly HillseulogyPastorthe Jackson 5sequinedWe Had HimMaya AngelouAl SharptonAEG LiveKenneth Ehrlich1984 OlympicsDiana RossSouth African PresidentNelson MandelaAndrae CrouchPaulette McWilliamsI'll Be ThereWe Are the WorldJesus Is Lovethe CommodoresMotown RecordsOff the WallNever Dreamed You'd Leave in SummerThey Won't Go When I GoRemember the TimeWill You Be ThereDangerousFree WillyHuman NatureThrillerThe Little PrinceCharlie ChaplinMartin Luther King Jr.Martin IIIBerniceUnited States House of Representativesinnocent until proven guiltyGone Too SoonRyan WhiteThe Ed Sullivan Showthe MiraclesWho's Lovin' YouBritain's Got TalentThis Is ItDorian HolleyOrianthiHeal the WorldMarlonMan in the MirrorPaul McCartneyThe ManLos Angeles LakersBernice A. KingOmer BhattiLil' KimABC NewsNicoleSean CombsTaj JacksonTwitterWade RobsonDebbie RoweElizabeth TaylorWhitney HoustonBatesville Casket CompanyJames BrownBells of IrelandForest Lawn Memorial ParkGlendaleSlovakiaIntelsatBarcelonaBerlinBrusselsBucharestGothenburgLisbonLondonMadridMalmöSevilleStockholmTallinnMelbourne, AustraliaFederation SquareNielsenstate funeral of Ronald ReaganstreamingLos Angeles County Sheriff's Departmentfirst inauguration of Barack Obamaopening ceremony of the 2008 Summer OlympicsUnited KingdomSky NewsGermany