By Ivan Pereira
Michael Jackson may have had millions of fans worldwide, but to his admirers in southeast Queens, the King of Pop was a personal inspiration for a generation of musicians and fans.
Across the streets of neighborhoods like Jamaica, St. Albans and Hollis, store signs bore tributes and pictures of Jackson, 50, who died last Thursday at his home in California. Grief-stricken fans of the controversial music star said they remembered Jackson as a hardworking pioneer who showed you can make it if you tried.
“A lot of people saw his moves and they’d say, ‘Hmm, maybe I can do that, too,’” said 25-year-old fan Cory Smith of St. Albans.
Hollis Famous Burger, a hip-hop museum and restaurant at 201-03 Hollis Ave., was one of several venues in the city that paid tribute to Jackson. On Saturday afternoon, nearly 150 fans gathered outside to dance and jam to the singer’s hits like “Beat It,” “Bad” and “Man in the Mirror,” which were played by a disc jockey.
Harold Peterson, a chef at the restaurant, said the crowds did not get emotional during the service. Instead, they took time to reminisce about their fondest memories of the singer, who began his career with his brothers in the youth Motown group the Jackson 5.
“The guy was awesome,” said Peterson, 31, who used to be a rapper. “Word for word, he could describe what it was like to be in love with a woman.”
City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), who said he was a fan of Jackson’s music, also attended the celebration.
“Who was not touched by the Michael Jackson magici” he asked. “The songs that he created are part of Americana.”
Jackson, who was born in Gary, Ind., helped bring inner city music into the mainstream media and had an influence on the hip-hop performers who came from southeast Queens, according to his fans.
“People would use samples from his songs because they’d want to spread his message,” Smith said.
Jackson died weeks before he was set to begin a new concert tour in London.
Unique Johnson, a lifelong fan and chef at Hollis Famous Burger, said the death was more shocking to her because she was eagerly anticipating the concert and the possibility he would release his first major album in eight years.
“Anytime his music was on, it gave you energy, it made you dance,” the 27-year-old Hollis resident said.
For nearly two decades, Jackson was the subject of scrutiny from the media over several allegations of his sexual molestation of young boys, one of which led to a criminal indictment and later acquittal, eccentric lifestyle and questionable parenting skills.
Johnson and other fans acknowledged Jackson’s controversies damaged his reputation as a musical master.
“At the end of the day, I saw him as a little kid who came up from nothing and went for it. It was always something to look up to,” Johnson said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
