We Will Always Miss You Michael! Gone Too Soon! Our Personal Recollection of That Day.

We Will Always Miss You Michael! Gone Too Soon! Our Personal Recollection of That Day
by Ron Worthy

I remember that day two years ago when I heard the news that Michael Jackson had died. At the time, I was on a conference call with Steve Harvey’s team at Beverly Hill’s SLS Hotel and got an urgent message from a my frat brother Frederick. The message told me that Michael Jackson had been rushed to a hospital not too far from where I was at the time. Immediately, I alerted my colleagues and the call went silent. Within seconds, everyone agreed that we should reschedule the call until the situation got better. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

Later, in another meeting, I got a follow-up text from my friend that Michael Jackson was dead. I was crushed. Too crushed for words, actually. I simply turned my phone towards the other people in my meeting and everyone just gasped in disbelief. A few phone calls and Google searches confirmed our fears. Our childhood idol, our King of Music, not just Pop, was gone forever.

After ordering the requisite rounds of drinks, I knew exactly what we needed. I played the video for the “Motown 25” celebration which featured one of Michael’s many steps to immortality. We all watched in awe as if we were 13 again and for a moment, it felt like we were in a dream and Michael was still alive.

Alas, he was not. I remember leaving the hotel that day very choked up and actually feeling a little lost. I had never been in a world without Michael Jackson.

I drove out of the parking lot of the hotel and turned on the radio. Nearly every station was playing long stretches of Michael’s music. I turned to KJLH and they were playing ‘Good Times’, a song that is actually rarely played on the radio anymore. The deep melody and lyrics, which seemed more timely than ever literally broke me down. Michael’s voice and the music was just too much to continue driving.

I pulled over and cried like a baby. Head in hands. After composing myself, I drove to Frederick’s house. Once we both saw each other, I remember us just giving each other a hug and crying. We had been through a lot as boys but I never recall a more emotional moment. I’m glad we were there for each other at such a time of loss. We hung out and talked about how unbelievable it was and how sad we were. Afterwards, we met up with another frat brother, Lawrence, at one of our favorite places in LA, The Cork, where Michael’s music was playing and people were singing.

Sure, over the years, there had been years of allegations that Michael had had inappropriate relationships with children and that he was using prescription medication, maybe even excessively. However, we never believed that Michael would do anything to ever harm a child and always believed in his innocence. What we did know was true was that a lot of people are motivated by money and will do anything to dim the shine of one of the greatest stars the world has ever known. We later found out that Michael had been using prescription medication after his 80’s Pepsi commercial debacle where his hair caught on fire. Until the subsequent investigations, we also learned more about the extent of that usage and its administration, both of which played a significant role in his death.

Today, we are deeply saddened to know that we may never really know what happened to Michael on this day two years ago. At the same time, we are happy that his legacy lives on and continues to inspire people throughout the world. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear at least 1 Michael Jackson song and that is a blessing. We miss you Michael!

Where were you when you heard?


Ron WorthyRon Worthy is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of soulhead.com. A passionate audiophile who has been a DJ for over 25 years, Ron studied classical music and plays 4 instruments. He loves discussing all things Prince, Hip-Hop, and Funk.  When he is able, he shoots a mean game of pool, digs comedy, loves eating fried fish sandwiches, making crab cakes and drinking micro-brews from all over the World. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and cat. Check out some of his work for soulhead.

 

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