♪ ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. >> today, although our hearts are aching, we need to look up. ♪ hold me >> this is a celebration of his life, of his legacy. ♪ hold me ♪

♪ carry me >> it took a toll for all of us. we are missing michael jackson. but we do know we have him. ♪ just call my name and i'll be there ♪ ♪ i'll be there ♪ i'll be there ♪ i'll be there baby >> good evening and welcome to this special edition of "dateline." as a young boy, michael jackson brought crowds to their feet with the purity of his voice and perfection of his dancing. today in death, he brought millions to tears in a shared moment of grief as people all over the world stopped what they were doing to watch the emotional and at times

electrifying memorial that unfolded here. to honor one of the most epic and tragic figures in modern american life, it began with the gold casket being rolled in by his brothers and with the children taking the stage as their father so loved to do. his 11-year-old daughter paris' voice heard by the world for the first time, breaking down as she remembers her father. we have never heard so many people close to michael jackson speak to openly and personally about him until today, almost as if we had to wait until his death to hear these voices speak about how he lived. and here is dennis murphy. >> reporter: never can say good-bye, but then, that's what funerals, memorial services are all about. the ones remembering and saying

heartfelt good-byes are the people in michael's life who knew him best. >> michael, i love you and i told you this many times so i'm at peace. i'm at peace with that. >> reporter: the ones who are inspired to follow in his professional foot steps. >> one of the first records my brother and i ever bought was dancing machine and i'll never forget the two of us trying to get the robot going and trying to be like the jackson 5. he let me know that as an african-american you could travel the world. ♪ you and i >> there were almost two jacksons remembers, little michael with the jackson 5 of the late '60s. ♪ where there is love, i'll be there ♪ ♪ i'll be there >> and michael of a sequenced glove and killer moves.

barry gordon, the founder of motown, remembered how he, years later, along with a national television audience watched the stunning performer known as ever after known as michael performing during the 25th special. >> from the first beat of "billie jean" and the toss of that hat, i was mesmerized. it was magic. >> reporter: and if you were magic, mack jij johnson, you'll never forget that he invited you over to the house to talk about his tune and out came the bucket of chicken. >> and i went crazy like, wait a minute, michael, you eat kentucky fried chicken? that made my day. that was the greatest moment of

my life. i want to thank michael for opening up so many doors for african-americans to be on late night shows, be allowed to kobe and i to have our jerseys in people's homes across the world because he was already there. >> reporter: if he made magic johnson feel like a kid, pal brooke shields said that she field the same with michael. >> to the outside world, he was a genius with unchallenged ability. to the people who were lucky enough to know him personally, he was caring and funny, honest, pure. we never collaborated together. we never filmed a video or recorded a song. but what we did do was laugh. michael loved to laugh.

>> reporter: the reverend al sharpton passed the performer as someone who crashed through racial barriers to others could follow him. >> i came to say thanks. thank you because you never stopped. thank you because you never gave up. thank you because you tore down our division. thank you, michael. thank you, michael! thank you, michael! >> reporter: but it always came back to the legacy of the music. the great singer and song writer, smoky robinson, hearing 10-year-old michael nailing one of his own tunes "who's loving you". >> i wrote that song. i thought i sang it. >> reporter: smoky so disbelieved his ears that day, he wanted to check the birth certificate of this kid with a wise soul. >> i'm glad i lived in an era

when i got a chance to hear everybody saying what is the greatest entertainer of all times. i believe so much that this is not it. so he's going to live forever twice because he's going to live forever right here because the world will never, ever forget michael jackson. i love you, my brother. i celebrate your life and i am proud that i had the chance to know you. >> reporter: for most of us, michael jackson left the stage, even oconsciousness a long time ago. brother marlon remembering the distinctive artist and human being. >> i thank you, michael, for all of the smiles that you've placed in many people's hearts and i thank you for everything that you've done for others. >> reporter: and michael jackson, if anyone doubted, a

devoted father, his daughter paris. >> ever since i was born, daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine and i just wanted to say i love him so much. >> it was a tough moment. joining us now, the reverend al sharpton. reverend, good evening. thank you for being with us. a lot of people the last couple of weeks have had difficulty reconciling their feelings about michael jackson, the performer. what do you think they should have walked away from the service today? >> i think they should have taken away that michael made historic changes. when you see magic johnson and kobe bryant to say that their

jerseys are hanging in homes because michael made races of differences comfortable and when you see legends themselves, the greatest entertainer of all times, i think you'd be geared to say, wait a minute, a lot of the controversy, a lot of the unproven allegations don't seem to match up to this level of respect from these level of people. >> you brought the crowd to its feet at one point when you spoke directly to his children and i was going to paraphrase you. remind me what you said. >> i said to remember that their father was not one that acted strange. he was dealing with a strange situation. and i think it was important that his children who will grow up one day and want to know about their father and review this service, that they should not be distracted by those that found his style one way or another. they should understand the context in which he operated. he operated in an industry that in itself has very strange ways.

>> and we both sat here a moment ago and heard paris and those final remarks that really ended that memorial today. did that, in your mind, crystallize a part of michael jackson that people did not recognize. >> no doubt it humanized him. after all of these people, after all of these well-known people saying what they knew, including myself, we end with his daughter reminding us, i'm burying my daddy and he was a good daddy to me. it all came home with paris ending that statement. >> one sense you get is that people needed closure, they needed an end to this period of mourning. did this do it? >> i think this ended this phase of the mourning. i think now people are determined to make his legacy live, make it potent, make it clear. i expect on his birthday, august 29th, we're going to see huge events. i think his family is going to

be determined to continue his work. i think this is just another phase of how we deal with the ongoing contributions of michael jackson. >> reverend sharpton, thank you for being here tonight and to talk to you. >> thank you. when we come back, the music that made the memorial and one of the most emotional moments of the day, jermaine jackson singing the song that his brother loved best. ♪ if you would just smile 750,000 wish they weren't. - ( phones chirping ) - construction workers are making 244,000 nextel direct connect calls. 1 million people are responding to an email. - 151 accidentally hit "reply all." - ( foghorn blows ) that's happening now. america's most dependable 3g network bringing you the first wireless 4g network. - sprint. the now network. - ( whoosh sound ) deaf, hard of hearing and people with speech disabilities access www.sprintrelay.com. what about the drink and the chips? extra. think a $5 sub is a good deal? it's time to unthink.

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♪ hold me like the river of jordan ♪ carry me. today's memorial was part church and part concert. doing what perhaps simply could

not. ♪ ♪ we are going to see the king hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ we are going to see the king ♪ i'll be there to protect you just call my name and i'll be there ♪ ♪ i'll be there to comfort you ♪ the world that surrounds us

♪ i'll be there to love and be your friend ♪ you know i'll be ♪ ♪ when you wish upon a star i hope you don't mind ♪ ♪ walk with me to walk with you ♪ ♪ and do all of the things that you want me to do ♪ ♪ oh yeah ♪ oh

♪ ♪ ♪ gone too soon ♪ and one day gone one night

♪ you said you would be the light in the autumn ♪ ♪ and autumn leaves ♪ no i never but now it's gone away ♪ ♪ michael why didn't you stay ♪ carry, carry the glory

♪ save me ♪ save me ♪ i'll be there ♪ lift me ♪ lift me up slowly ♪ hold me ♪ we are the world we are the children ♪ ♪ we are the ones that make a brighter day so let's start giving ♪ ♪ there's a choice we're making ♪ ♪ we're saving our own lives

♪ it's true we make a brighter day just you and me ♪ ♪ make it a better place for you and for me and the human race ♪ ♪ there are people dying ♪ if you care enough, you'll be there for me ♪ ♪ people dying if you care enough for the living you'll make it a better place for you and for me ♪ ♪ there are people dying ♪ make it a better place for you and for me ♪

♪ you and for me ♪ you and for me ♪ you and for me ♪ you and for me ♪ you and for me ♪ you and for me ♪ you and for me >> and watching those last few moments remembering that is pot tif messages and those who loved him clearly drawing strength from that music and messages. when we come back, an unforgettable day. we'll be right back. ♪ here one day gone one night

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welcome back. for a city that has seen just about everything, this day was a stand out from the solemn motorcade that closed l.a.'s famous freeways, the quiet and

devoted thousands gathered at the memorial, a day dedicated to michael jackson, one that would certainly have made him proud. >> reporter: an unforgettable daybreaks over the hollywood hills. a beautiful summer morning for the final act in michael jackson's remarkable story. ♪ you and i must make a pact ♪ we must bring salvation back >> reporter: for the private and most public entertainers, thousands mourning and a dozen helicopters swarming overhead. this couple won tickets in the internet lottery and walk towards moving history. >> i think it's a celebration of his life. i did bring a lot of tissue. it's in my purse.

>> reporter: the last jurn knee through the city of which he was raised and of which he died. the world stops to watch a lone hearse covered with flowers. in l.a. they stop to look and in new york city and in london, screams across the globe as a med media outpouring of love, unlike anything ever seen before. >> i'm here because i love michael jackson. i love him so much. i love his songs. i wish i could dance like him. >> in lebanon don, they watch the hearse go by and in russia, fans release balloons.

inside the arena, a lucky few fans stand shoulder to shoulder with celebrities. >> michael, michael, michael. >> reporter: outside, the giant crowds which police feared would choke the city streets don't really materialize and the cost, through this website, the city of l.a. solidly in the red these days is asking for help paying the bill, which might climb to $4 million, hoping the owners the staples center will pitch in as well. >> let's not get greedy. the city of los angeles is asking to be paid for what we've expended in personnel and equipment to maintain security. because if we weren't there, then it would be one disastrous situation with no security or control. >> reporter: across the nation, dozens of movie theaters welcome jackson fans. >> to me, michael jackson is love and i just cried.

i couldn't stop crying. >> reporter: more many, reality takes hold during the service. >> he is gone. i'll never forget it. >> and for the thousands that entered the staples center so exuberant left feeling like they had been to a funeral. >> to me it felt bigger than the venue. you know how everybody around the world feels. it's just something taking place everywhere. >> a beverly hills reception for those closest to the star. for michael jackson, this was one last crowd to thrill, one last gathering with the family that helped make him so famous. one last day under a spotlight.

for a man whose life, public and private, unfolded. >> his family, the famous, and a few lucky people attended and tens and millions of others had a message for michael. over the past few day, they have been sharing some of those messages with us. >> we're just here facing respects to the man, the king, michael jackson. >> it's heartbreaking for the world to realize just how special he really was. >> i really think there's a place for you in heaven. >> thank you for sharing my childhood because i really realized through this process now that you gave up your childhood so that i could have a wonderful childhood. and i thank you for that.

>> when you sang, i would listen all the time. >> it really made me feel special inside, that there were other kids like me who were lonely and needed a special friend. >> dead and gone, he will survive and we will rock forever and ever. we'll miss you. >> you have touched too many people's lives from across the world. ♪ we are the world ♪ we are the children ♪ people are suffering just like me ♪ i love michael jackson for all my life so he was part of my family. >> i just want to say, thank michael for all the good things

he gives us. >> thank you for your music, michael, and your dancing. i love to dance. >> he was our mozart. he really composed music and was a great choreographer. he did so much so we can do what we do today. >> your loneliness is really sad because you also made us happy. >> thank you, michael. we love you. we will miss you. you're always forever in our hearts. you really did rock our hearts. i hope that you're up there moonwalking in heaven. do you know michael jackson's favorite song? jermaine jackson since it next. what are you doing for lunch?

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>> now, to one of the emotional highlights of the day, the song michael jackson loved best, sung by his brother jermaine and introduced by brooke shields. >> michaels favorite song was not one of the countless masterpieces that he gave us, but it was a song that charlie chaplain wrote for the movie "modern times." it's called "smile" and there's a sentence in the song that says "smile even though your heart is aching" ♪ smile though your heart is aching ♪ ♪ smile even though it's breaking ♪

♪ when there are clouds in the sky you'll get by ♪ ♪ if you smile through your fear and sorrow ♪ ♪ smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see the sun come shining through for you ♪ ♪ light up your if you just smile ♪ though your heart is aching ♪ ♪ smile even though it's breaking ♪ ♪ when there are clouds in the sky you'll get by ♪ ♪ if you smile through your fear and sorrow ♪ ♪ smile and maybe tomorrow ♪ you'll find that life is still

worthwhile if you just smile ♪ ♪ that's the time must keep on trying ♪ ♪ smile, what's the use of crying ♪ ♪ you'll find that life is still worthwhile ♪ ♪ if you just smile >> today, although our hearts

are breaking, we need to look up where he is undoubtedly perched in the crescent moon and is smiling. when we return, the superstar send off. how the public reacts or over reacts@the passing of celebrities. ♪ count your children some days my 8:15 bus is just a bus,

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♪ we are the children >> the relatively small crowds that gathered outside was a surprise to some especially given the reaction of the days that followed his death. he's been remembered as mother more like a brother or best friend. but then the public always seems to go into overdrive when a superstar dies. here's keith morrison. >> reporter: why do so many people care deeply about a public personality, as to feel real grieve for someone they've never actually met? >> michael jackson's work touched the whole human heart. he made you want to dance. he made you want to cry. >> you wonder, was this the same michael jackson openly mocked, even reviled not so long ago. >> michael jackson a few weeks ago would have had a hard time reaching this number of fans, particularly in this country.

>> reporter: but now his genius. >> what's happened is that the good, positive part of his legacy has been liberated. it's heads of state that we do this for normally. jfk, reagan, the pope. but sometimes a celebrity with dazzle creativity and vulnerability that we all understand and then an early and unexpected death leave a wake of shared grief that feels lost. there was that other king that was reviled in his last few years of his often dysfunctional life but in death, the mass of

humanity surged at the gates of graceland and the stories of his influence grew. >> suddenly people remembered all that he had contributed to the culture. >> it was different when john lennon was assassinated in new york. his family wanted privacy. there was no official memorial and yet everywhere, spontaneous memorials just materialized. >> imagine all of the people of course, all of this paled in comparison to princess diana, whose troubled life was uncontrol nlable and personal. all of those celebrities suffered through public humiliations but in death, all is forgiven.

they were human, after all. >> at moment's death you focus on the positive things and there's so much positive about michael. ten years down the road, they start to say, there's more to the story. >> michael in death has traveled up a steep road from recovering pa rye yeah to back to prince to, once again, the king of pop. >> when we return, how some of his most famous fans will remember michael jackson. when you have your period, you guard your own movements.

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♪ make it a better day for you and for me and for the entire human race ♪ zoo michael jackson had a wide

range of famous friends and they knew a michael very different from the one we knew. the world noticed michael jackson as a superstar but a select few called him mike and some of them called the out pouring agilation when he died would have blown him away. >> oh, he probably would vice president faint. i don't think he would take that well at all. he would probably be like, oh, my god. are you serious? this did not happen. i'm dreeping. >> singer-song writer akon recorded a song with jackson last year called "hold my hand." akon admits he had his own star struck moments making music with the king of pop. >> every once in a while it hit

me, you know what i mean? >> the two collaborated on "want to be starting something" and he and michael would sneak into movies but only acon would be recognized. >> they came running to me for autographs. like if they only knew that this was mike standing next to me. >> frank, jackson's manager back in the early years and came back in the picture this year, was at a kansas city hotel when the 1984 victory tour kicked off. >> he said, frank, come here. he said, stand in front of me. and i'm going to open up the curtain and we'll boost them out. and i said, okay. so in one swoop he threw money

out of the window. there were hundreds and thousands and 50s that trickled down and fans just went crazy. he laughed for days. days about that. thought that was the funniest thing ever. >> choreographer debbie allen who attended the memorial could not stop thinking about his passion for dance. >> how often do you guys talk about his dancing and his ability to always find another move, another look? >> he would come to my house and train because he wanted to learn things that he hadn't done and how to tap dance. it was wonderful. he wanted to learn how to turn like -- >> singer stevie wonder performing today has said little about his death until now.

>> fortunately, he had love in the music that he did that will live forever and ever. >> after the memorial he often joked what a young michael may have learned from him. >> the dance moves. no, we just shared our love for music and song. >> in the weeks before his death, jackson was preparing for a series of concerts in london built as a spectacle for the ageless. >> when you come to rehearsal, they would say he's going to blow you away. stuff you've never seen before. there were things up his sleeve that he wouldn't even tell me, you know what i mean? >> and then the night before jackson died, he remembers that jackson was at the concert himself called the final curtain

call. >> he said, walk back, my arm around him and his arm around me. he said, i'm ready. we're going to do these 50 shows. he said, i know it's my final again. we're going to recapture everything. >> how anxious were you to see him on stage in the london concerts. >> it's really hard because they asked me -- in london they asked me would i be looking at his show with a critical eye and i said no. i'll be watching as one of his fans. >> michael jackson superstar, remembered simply as a friend, a father, and a fabulously talented entertainer. >> tens and millions from london to tokyo stopped what they were doing to watch their screens and pay their respects to a fallen

star. that will certainly be among michael jackson's greatest accomplishments as he brought so many people together in life and in death. >> we remember our time with him. the truth is, he is never really gone at all. as long as we remember him, he will be there forever to comfort us. ♪ no more crying

♪ we are going to see the king >> we are better because michael jackson lived. michael jackson, i salute you. ♪ hallelujah we're going to see the king ♪ ♪ hallelujah >> michael rose to the top. he out sang and out danced and every time he got knocked down he got back up. every time he came back in. michael never stopped. >> to use that gift and talent to demonstrate god's love in an effort to bring the world together, michael was such a one. ♪ no more lying

♪ they won't go when i go >> he raised the bar and then broke the bar. michael jackson went into orbit and never came down. >> to sing our song among the crowds and walk our dances across the face of the moon. whether we knew who he was or did not know, he was our. >> the more i think and talk

about michael jackson, the more i think the king of pop is not big enough for him. i think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever

[captioning made possible by constellation energy group] ♪ >> in the music world,