One of the first songs I remember hearing was a Michael Jackson song because like many survivors of the eighties, my parents were Jackson fanatics. The beginning beats of Billie Jean are iconic but to me it was an exciting awakening as a four or five year old kid, because like drawing or painting or photography music is an art of the world and Michael was a symbol of that art...an icon. Even though his life was far from normal and every bit controversal, he was still a genius, and his music was still making music through musicians influenced by him. He's gone now and it just blows my mind. I'm still numb from the news and everything's spilling out about him - prescription drugs, loneliness...but rest in peace Michael Jackson, and may you wear that glove and jacket moonwalking your way to the pearly gates.