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Michael Jackson fan remembers 'cool'
TOKYO - SEPTEMBER 14 : Michael Jackson performing on stage during his 'Bad' World Tour in Tokyo,Japan on the 14th of September 1987.
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Michael Jackson fan remembers 'cool'
Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans gathered outside UCLA Medical Center Thursday to pay tribute to the pop icon.
Morris Irvin is 32, and a teacher in Los Angeles.
Morris Irvin: "It was just a shock. Ya know, we know everybody dies. I mean that’s inevitable. But nobody thought Mike would die. I’m going to keep it real. Nobody thought Mike would die at 50!
"I remember when he was 20 and going out with Brooke Shields. I remember his penny loafers, the jackets, the jeans, the tube socks. But he was just so cool. And he was sincere and authentic. That’s why so many people loved him. Because he believed in himself and he believed in his dream."
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Among officials paying tribute to Jackson was the head of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Neal Portnow. He said “rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson. He was a true musical icon.”
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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