"Gone Too Soon"

Like a comet blazing 'cross the evening sky, gone too soon

Like a rainbow fading in the twinkling of an eye, gone too soon

Shiny and sparkly and splendidly bright

Here one day, gone one night

Like the loss of sunlight on a cloudy afternoon, gone too soon

Like a castle, built upon a sandy beach, gone too soon

Like a perfect flower, that is just beyond your reach, gone too soon

Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight

Here one day, gone one night

Like a sunset dying with the rising of the moon, gone too soon, gone too soon.

- Michael Jackson, 1991

It is necessary, on this day, to address the loss of one of our nation’s, our world’s, greatest performers. Having grown up as a dancer and a singer, Michael Jackson was an integral part of my maturity as an artist. He was a beacon for us, the shining image of what dreams one was capable of achieving.

His music is inventive, inspiring, and globally accessible. He reached the four corners of the earth with his sound, his words, and his message. And, in this time of sweeping global strife, the loss of an individual whose mission was to eternally preach peace, through the universal language of music, is a staggering one. Today, on the New York Times website, his global reach is exemplified through quotes, from individuals around the world, flashing across the screen, as they react to this sudden and tragic loss.

In my life, the music of Michael Jackson has played a central role. His albums trace the progression of my childhood, both in my development as a performer and as your average kid living in the United States.

Growing up, I had friends who had close personal relationships with the King of Pop. They shared with me stories that revealed his true character amidst the haze of an unforgiving media and an irreverent paparazzi. Today my heart goes out to those friends. Having seen him through great turmoil in his life, and bearing witness to the struggles he faced, they grieve the loss of their dear friend, and they, along with his family, are in my prayers.

The story of Michael Jackson – the awe-inspiring fame and the torturous internal conflicts – is a touching and heart wrenching one. I suspect many of the people across this nation who criticized and denounced him during an embarrassing and disturbing trial, are the same who now mourn his death. He lived a life that externally seemed fantasy-like, other-worldly in its ostentation, and yet, it is clear that the emotional pressure and mental abuse he encountered as a child, left wounds that never healed. Perhaps we are all so captivated by him because the tale of the tortured artistic genius is one that reads and sells well. But I implore you today, to take a moment and acknowledge his humanity; soften your hearts to a star that shone brighter than any our generation has ever, and will ever know.

While he has left us with an anthology of riveting and inspiring music, I can’t help but feel as though we have been robbed of the great treasures he had yet to create. It is a sad reality for the entertainment industry and for the world, as one of its most beloved icons has truly “gone too soon”.