Michael Jackson Memorial Service

"THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THAT EVER LIVED" The words of Motown records founder and lifelong friend Berry Gordy.

The king of pop was laid to rest yesterday evening at a glamorous and moving ceremony at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles rather fitting that the service should be staged there as it was only a couple of short weeks ago that MJ was in final rehearsals for his massive 50 shows london tour which was dubbed "This Is It".
The ticket sales reached 750,000 in just a few hours, who was to know on the 25th june 2009 that the man dubbed wacko jacko would collapse and die which would unite the WORLD in grief.

The Memorial service started at 6:30 BST and his gold plated coffin was brought in by his Brothers and his father whom he controversially left out of his will.
The ceremony began with a message of condolence from Nelson Mandela calling the singer a "giant and a legend".

Jackson's £15,000 coffin was then wheeled into the arena. It was made of solid bronze, plated with 14-karat gold and had a blue velevet interior.
It was placed in front of a stage decorated with extravagant floral tributes and a screen proclaiming: "In Loving memory of Michael Jackson, King of Pop 1958 - 2009".

RnB Diva Mariah Carey opened what can only be described as "The Show", it's only what MJ would have wanted Mariah gave an emotionally charged performance of the Jackson 5 Classic "I'll Be There" as she was joined on stage by Troy Lorenz.
Mariah finished the song by saying we'll miss you Michael.

Singer and movie star Queen Latifah took to the stage to deliver a speech saying "You believed in Michael, and he believed in you".

Legendary singer/songwriter and also longtime friend Lionel Richie took to the stage next and performed a commodores song "Jesus is Love" as images of Jackson played behind him.

every mourner that took to the stage were comforted and led of stage to love and warmth by the Jackson Family.

Some of the other speakers such as Pastor Lucious Smith with moving comments as
“Michael Jackson wanted nothing more than to give love to the world…and perhaps to be loved back in return,” he said.

"He raised the bar, and then broke the bar," says Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records

Stevie Wonder then Took to the stage to rapturous applause from the 17,000 strong crowd inside the arena and before singing his ballad "never dreamed you'd leave in summer" which was unbelieveably apt for this memorial poignantly said,
"this is a moment that I didn’t think I'd live to see”. But he does know that God is good and that, much as his friends and family needed Jackson, “God must have needed him far more”.

Heavily pregnant Jennifer Hudson, RnB star Usher among others took to the stage and clearly struggled with their emotions especially Usher as he broke down in tears and had to be led away by the Jackson Sisters.

Jermaine appeared on stage complete with Michaels infamous Sequin white glove to sing a rendition of The charlie chaplin song "Smile" which was described by his brother as michaels Favourite ever song.

undoubtedly the surprise of the night was when 12 year old Shaheen Jarfagohli of Swansea, Wales took to the stage to say goodbye to the man he grew up idolising and performed a faultless rendition of Jackson 5 hit in 1969 "Who's Lovin You".
The youngster found fame on Britains got talent and finished 7th in the show, it was revealed that MJ watched clips of the lads performance and invited him to sing on stage with him at the 02 arena, sadly he never got that privelege so the Jackson Family invited him to perform at his hero's Memorial.
Not many people would have heard of Shaheen before last night but the young welsh singer is now on the lips of every american who witnessed the performance as he recieved a standing ovation by the crowd.

More tributes were pouring out for the Legend as his brother marlon choked back the tears Looking at the coffin "I stand here trying to find words of comfort... trying to find why the Lord has taken our brother after such a short time on earth."

My brother was unable to cross the street without being followed. "We will never understand what he endured ... being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take?

"Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone... you have finished your work here on earth, and the Lord has called for you to come home with him... I have one request, Michael, one request. I would like for your to give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, a hug from me."

He then broke down in floods of tears was comforted by his family as his incredibly brave 11 year old daughter took to the microphone, Her voice breaking, she says: "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," as her aunts and uncles gather around her.as her aunts Janet and La toya embrace her and lead her and the Remaining Jackson Family Off stage.

This was undoubtedly THE biggest funeral/Memorial Service seen Since Lady Diana was Killed in 1997.

A legend,Never to Be forgotten His Music R.I.P MJ: From A music Lover