Michael Jackson fireworks, the workaholic

I completely agree with your comments on Michael Jackson, but you should mention that his doctors are greatly at fault for enabling his behavior rather than directing him into treatment.

I disagree that James Brown was the first to earn the "title" of "The hardest working man in show business",
in my opinion it was the late, great, and not self-proclaimed King of Rock - Elvis Presley (as Michael Jackson was a self-proclaimed King Of Pop).

This was a beautiful,thoughtfully written article. We surely have to check on ourselves. Thank you.

I'd disagree with you both. Pete Seeger has been touring, writing, singing, and entertaining America for many, many years. Hearing him sing Woody Guthrie's, "This Land is Your Land" on July 4th. is a highlight not to be missed.

Yes, he had a hit song over 20 years ago and now he is some "legend",,,,,,,,please. He was a has been who died and we now want to admire him. His dancing was what we admired, his songs were nothing more than self proclamation and about HIM. He had no friends really, not REAL ones who stood by him. Jackson was so self absorbed he didn't even like what he looked like. He was nothing more but an insecure grown man who still wanted to be a little boy cause he could not handle the responsibilities of a real man. He also as is being proven, spoiled to the point if you did not do as he said, he'd fire you or never talk to you again. And, he is nothing better than a addict on the streets of any city in this over blown country. Now the authorities want to get the people who supplied him his drugs,,,,lol,,,,typical America, always fix the problem afterwards. He is absolutly nothing compared to Sir Paul McCartney, Elvis, and many others who had or have the courage to know it doesn't last forever and at the same time were happy and content with their true selves. Life comes and goes, it's how you stand up and handle it that truly defines who you are. He ran from everything, the epitimy of a true loser in life.....music or not.

Working hard will not kill you - trying to go beyond just might. This is not about hard word, it may well be about stress. Back in 1906 a fellow with a very successful business, no martial problems or any others that anyone was aware, took out a gun a shot himself in the head. He was an artisan. His father was an artisan. He could not attain the stature of work of his father and obviously, deemed himself a failure. It is a strange world we live in. Michael was also quit in debt, despite his hard work. I think that we should give his age and debt load some credence toward his demise.
Such a situation would only push someone to work even harder to overcome what looks like a failure.

This is so well written...good insights. I am one of those fans you spoke of that thought of Michael today...actually, I've thought of him everyday. Each time I walk by a store or car that has his picture displayed or is playing his music, I just want to cry...it hurts so much. I feel bad because I feel as a fan I am partly to blame for his death. I'm sorry that my love for him caused him to push his self into a quick death.

Without Quincy Jones Michael would have never completely emerged from the shadows of the Jackson Five. Michael had talent but the production values on his records soared after the Q got involved and after they parted ways Michael
went through the motions and his record sales though still huge by comparison to other artists were simply anemic for him. Michael came of age at the same time as Donny Osmond. Donny had a mild comeback of sorts in the 80s recording a gold album but he never achieved the platinum status of Jackson.

People need to stop this sad, sad, idolatry. Whatever Michael was, I'll leave that up to the psychologists and the multitude of biographers to come, without a doubt he was one twisted hombre. This is a man who could've like Elvis, made a real difference in the world, but in the end became a poster child for all of the moral ills that are uniquely American. Both disgust me and listening to their music or reading a book about them is the last thing you'll ever catch me doing and I've got to tell you I practically played my cassette of "Thriller" to death when it was released.

Elvis, walrus like, dying on the bathroom floor while his latest girl du jour slept in his bed, and Michael nothing but a emaciated, crazed junkie, got what they deserved. They surrounded themselves with enablers and psychophants who wouldn't have told them the correct time of day. Blaming Joe Jackson or the Memphis Mafia is ridiculous and weak. Take responsibility for your actions and more particularly for your mistakes or we'll all end up the wards of some government agency.

Dan,

Pete Seeger could tour for a hundred years from here to the moon and he would not be the hard working entertainer that Jackson or Brown was. Almost any rock band touring the country today has to put more energy and spectacle into their shows to maintain an audience. Pete Seeger may have talent and stamina and a worthy message but his music and performances are quite tame.

Mike,

Much of what you say is true but I would take exception to a few points. For starters "Since March 2003, Michael Jackson has released 24 songs that have placed on international charts starting with One More Chance in fall 2003." I would also disagree about his real friends, who are many in the industry; unfortunately those friends were not among his contemporaries. I agree with you that as a song writer Jackson cannot be compared to the prolific McCartney but as an entertainer he was second to none.

William,

No doubt stress was a major factor.

Greg,

You make many good points and I too thought of Quincy Jones contribution to Jackson's mid career success. I do not idolize Jackson and would not put him in top ten list in any decade but it is his recent passing and the body of his work that I focus on here.

For the record I think another child prodigy that was popular in the sixties, and remains so today has many times the talent of Jackson and most everyone else -- Stevie Wonder is that person.

No, I thought your missive on Michael was balanced and illuminated a side of show "bidness" that few see or appreciate.

Hard working?

Classical, Yo-Yo Ma records with everyone but your, your mother and still has time to get involved with that Silk Road shenanigans.

Rock. Chuck Berry, check-out Taylor Hackford's "Hail, Hail Rock-n-Roll" which chronicled Berry's 60th birthday and Keith Richards' attempt to get Chuck together with a decent band.
And, you can't overlook the boss, Bruuuuuce.

Country, Willie Nelson. "On the Road Again," no try forever. I guess smoking pot like milk does some bodies good.

Female Rocker? Joan Jett. She has been playing USO shows for decades and she's still hot. Joan, give me a call, I want to have your baby. We can work around that whole lesbian thing-trust me.

The difference? These folks handled stress and didn't believe they were some type of voodoo children. They stayed grounded.