While it is more than evident that possibly through a lessened indication that it was completely his fault, Michael Jackson experienced a crazed and sad and regrettable life. I know the media has to do its job and give us the unseemly details, as a published music critic I would rather mute these horrible but factually correct snippets and remember the Michael I knew. He was threaded with his brothers to the unreal brilliance of the Motown performers and just as Little Stevie Wonder sang Fingerpopping Time with a huge harmonica bigger than he was, I vividly recall the genius of little Michael on the Sullivan show. Stevie as an accomplished adult prodigy gave us Songs in the Key of Life and likewise. Michael miraculously created Thriller and Billy Jean and Beat It. I want to think of the genius of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson; sure they all had their problems,but the music is what it is all about for me. I in some ways do not think Motown and its players got the accolades that they deserved in those times.

Jay Adler