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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Michael Jackson, who passed away on June
4 25, 2009; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958
6 in Gary, Indiana; at the age of 4, he began singing with his
7 brothers, Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie, and Tito, in the Jackson 5;
8 the brothers cranked out numerous number 1 hits, including "I
9 Want You Back", "ABC", and "I'll Be There"; and
 
10     WHEREAS, After his early success with the Jackson 5,
11 Michael Jackson struck out on his own; his 1982 album
12 "Thriller", which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It",
13 "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", became the best-selling album of
14 all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide;
15 in 1983, when Motown celebrated its 25th anniversary with an
16 all-star televised concert, Jackson moonwalked on stage and
17 joined his brothers for a medley of old hits in a moment that
18 has been described as the peak of Jackson's career; and
 
19     WHEREAS, In 1985, Michael Jackson co-wrote "We Are The
20 World" with Lionel Richie; recording the single with a slew of
21 popular singers and recording artists under the name USA for
22 Africa, the song became one the best-selling singles of all

 

 

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1 time, with 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars
2 raised to help fight famine in Africa; and
 
3     WHEREAS, In addition to his numerous albums, Michael
4 Jackson also delighted audiences throughout the world on his
5 many tours; in the course of his touring career, he made many
6 stops in the City of Chicago, beginning with his first stop
7 with the Jackson 5 on October 18, 1970 at the Amphitheatre; in
8 September of 1972, the Jackson 5 played at the Black Push
9 Expo's "Save The Children" Concert; later, during his solo
10 career, he returned to Chicago on August 28, 1981 during his
11 Triumph Tour; he performed at Comiskey Park on October 12, 1984
12 during his Victory Tour; he also performed for an audience of
13 20,000 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago on April 19, 1988
14 during his Bad Tour; and
 
15     WHEREAS, In 1994, Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie
16 Presley, the daughter of music legend Elvis Presley; the couple
17 divorced in 1996; later that year, he married Deborah Rowe, the
18 former nurse of his dermatologist; Jackson and Rowe had two
19 children together, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince
20 Michael, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson; Rowe filed for
21 divorce in 1999; he also had a third child, Prince Michael II;
22 and
 
23     WHEREAS, Michael Jackson, in an attempt to pull off one of

 

 

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1 the greatest comebacks of all time, was preparing for what
2 would be a series of 50 concerts starting on July 13, 2009 at
3 London's famed 02 arena when he suddenly passed away; as an
4 outpouring of grief in reaction to his passing, the MTV
5 television network switched its programming to play videos from
6 Jackson's heyday, radio stations began playing marathons of his
7 hits, and hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital
8 where he went prior to his passing; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Michael Jackson was considered by many to be the
10 most exciting performer of his generation; known for his
11 backward-gliding moonwalk, feverish dance moves, and his
12 distinctive dress, he ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the
13 Beatles as one of the biggest pop sensations of all time; in
14 the course of his career, he produced 13 number 1 one hits on
15 the Billboard charts, making him the 4th most prodigious
16 hit-maker in music history; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Michael Jackson's legacy of number 1 hits and
18 legendary dance moves will be remembered fondly by the
19 countless musicians who have learned from Mr. Jackson's work,
20 as well as the millions of adoring fans who loved him and his
21 music; therefore, be it
 
22     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
23 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with

 

 

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1 his family and friends, the passing of Michael Jackson; and be
2 it further
 
3     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4 presented to the family of Michael Jackson as an expression of
5 our sympathy.