Be my guide: Mourners remember Michael Jackson as a neighbor in his native Gary, Ind. [Updated]
Michael Jackson fans are convening all over the world to mourn a superstar. But to residents who gathered this afternoon near his childhood home in Gary, Ind., Jackson was a once-beloved neighbor.
A man walked down Jackson Street sobbing uncontrollably to someone on his cellphone. A woman carrying a bouquet of flowers wore sunglasses to mask the tears. Stuffed animals and signs commemorating the music star were placed near the door to the home.
Though many in the crowd had driven from Chicago and other nearby cities, Gary’s locals reminisced about the boy who used to hang around outside and cause a racket.
Jackson wasn’t just a catchy tune on the radio or an exquisite dancer on the TV screen to these people. He was the local boy who loved to sing, a customer at nearby stores and eventually an inspiration to many.
Paul Warner, a freelance photographer whose shots are featured by Getty Images and the Associated Press, lived near the Jackson home in the humble neighborhood. (Describing it as humble is, in fact, a serious understatement.)
[Updated June 28: This story originally said Warner lived "down the street." He actually lived a few blocks away. The story also gave the impression that he lived in Gary during the initial boom in Jackson's popularity.]
“I was here during the boom,” said Warner, who lived in the nearby town of Hammond, Ind., when the Jacksons blew up onto the national stage. When the gravity of Jackson’s death sunk in today, “I wept in the train coming back” from Chicago, he said.
Warner, who is also an amateur drummer, said the Jacksons’ explosive success spread music throughout the neighborhood. ”They were a huge inspiration,” Warner said. “When they exploded, all of the kids here started picking up musical instruments.”
Gary isn’t normally a place where big dreams are made. In this neighborhood, many houses are vacant or abandoned. Crime is a problem. “I don’t come down here at night,” Warner said. ”You don’t want to be here at night.”
But things changed Thursday night when the news broke of Jackson’s death. For the first time in a long time, locals said, the neighborhood was bustling past midnight. ”This is great,” Warner said, but “it’s a shame that it took Michael Jackson’s death to do that.”
Wyatt Puryear, a young truck driver who has lived in Gary his entire life, stood in front of the house last night and returned this morning. The gathering is a sort of medication for the pain.
Holding an autographed, Jackson-branded cologne bottle and a Moonwalker Sega Genesis video game cartridge, Puryear recalled Jackson’s 2003 visit to Gary. Jackson grabbed Puryear from out of the crowd to sign his memorabilia and give him backstage passes to an upcoming concert.
“He helped everybody,” Puryear said.
Not everybody could wrap their heads around all the hype.
“I don’t understand why everyone is out here,” said Michael Fuller, a high school student from Gary who rode his bike over to see what the commotion was about. “He’s been gone for years.”
But Jackson brought hope to many of the impoverished citizens of Gary. Now they’re saying their goodbyes to a former neighbor, who hadn’t lived in the area for decades but still touches the lives of those who remember him.
— Mark Milian, Los Angeles Times staff writer
To provide travel tips for my two-week, reader driven road trip, inspired by music, send e-mails to mark.milian@latimes.com, leave comments on the Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal Blog or, for those on Twitter, send tweets to @mmilian.” To follow my road trip status live, visit http://twitter.com/mmilian. For the trip schedule and cities, check out earlier posts.
[Photos from the top: Crowds at MIchael Jackson's childhood home in Gary, Ind.; a young girl surveys stuffed animals in makeshift memorial; and Wyatt Puryear shows off his autographed Jackson memorabilia. Credit: Mark Milian / Los Angeles Times]
31 Comments on “Be my guide: Mourners remember Michael Jackson as a neighbor in his native Gary, Ind. [Updated]”
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June 26th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Mi madre lamenta tremenda perdida.Y le dice a Michael donde quiera que este su alma que lo queriamos tal y como era;No era necesario someterse a una vida de cambios fisicos ni de color porque nuestro favorito fue como Dios lo embio al mundo.
Que Dios guarde su alma.
Argentina_Tucuman.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I remember first going to see the J5 when they were on the small Black club tours, ticket price $1! My cousin in Ft Wayne would call to let us know that “Jimmy Lynch aka the Funky Tramp who was then the headliner was out of town and the J5 would be doing shows at the Elks club. They wowed the audience so much that by the time they returned ticket prices went up to $2.50 and then they got discovered! Ticket prices for the show in Motown was $7.50! That young talented kid was the MJ I remembered. With a Childs Heart there’ll be no worry and no pain, goodbye Michael…
June 26th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I’m glad to see this article. This is how the man should be remembered–as someone’s friend and neighbor who is gone now, but will always leave an imprint in the memories of those who knew him. Thank you for a thoughtful, well-written tribute to Michael Jackson’s memory. He did many good things during his life, and hopefully it is that legacy that will carry on.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
we really gonna miss u michael
June 26th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Michael thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives I recall the Very first time you and your brothers were brought to my attention so cute so dynamic overwhelming Arohanui my native tongue for Love We will miss you Tianara Raymond Phillips and Family
June 27th, 2009 at 4:42 am
I STILL LOVE YOU MICHAEL. I WILL NOT EVER FORGOT YOU, YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, THE WORLD GONNA MISS YOU MY DEAR, MUCH LOVE
June 27th, 2009 at 8:38 am
It’s sloooooooooowly sinking in, Michael Jackson is dead. Despite my trepidations about his personal life, I love his music and was a big fan in the 80s. He spent 45 years of his life in the spotlight, hopefully, now he can rest in peace. Join me and other fans over the next few days at http://www.runarounddiva.com as we celebrate the life of a legend. Let’s send this “bright star” home in the right way.
June 27th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Michael was a very good and a popular singer through out the world. Most people know Micheal because he was a singer. I just want human beings to know that “if you don’t forgive someone who offend’s you, do you think GOD Almighty will forgive you if you wrong. So please let us all learn how to forgive and forget.
I wish the kids all the best. Micheal Good Bye.
June 27th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Memories of heroes are never forgotten but you Micheal Jackson you are still alive to us all .You are my inspiration so far as music is concern. I pray that my you rest in peace . . .
MY HERO. . .
June 27th, 2009 at 10:14 am
My heart is aching, my spirit dampered a bit, but the beautiful memory of such a loving man will stay with me forever and ever. My prayers of comfort go out to the entire Jackson Family……I know words simply cannot express my deepest sympathy. Much love to the family….from one of your most devoted fans in the world! Rest in Peace my beautiful brother!
June 27th, 2009 at 10:39 am
i just wanted to say that i grew up on michaels music and he is truly a positive inspiration to everyone my kids love (dirty diana)
June 27th, 2009 at 10:47 am
God knew you were tired and He called you home to rest. Rest On Michael. People will always judge you by what they saw. But God looks at the heart and he knew all about you. Praise God for peace!
June 27th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
we just have to thank you for all the joy you gave to us… you give us your life… and we dance and sing during this last 45 years… Thank u KING! thank u… rest in peace…
June 27th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Michael you were my kids hero, sweet, cute and confedencely you work for others that is the most vulnerable kids. In this corner you were a shephered from GOD.MAY OUR ALMIGHT GOD REST YOUR SOUL IN ETERNAL PEACE. AMEN.
June 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
MJ was the greatest of all time the king of pop no one will ever do or be him until this day him hiself and his music still hits my heart I can always fall a sleep to his music just like I did when I was a lil kid.
June 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
To the Jackson Family I am truly sorry for your lost and now the king of pop is gone to a better place. R.I. P. Micheal!!!! You Will Be Miss For Years And Years To Come
LOVE YOU
June 27th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I’ve been a fan of Michael & the Jackson 5 my entire life. A part of my youth has died but Michael Jackson will remain in my heart forever. Man, do we love you, ALWAYS will. Rest in Peace Michael
June 27th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Michael, my heart aches for you.i am still in shock and still can’t believe that you are no longer with us. you have brought so many smiles to my lips and brought me so much joy through your music, your kindness, love for humanity, your love for performance, your dance and so much more.you will be sadly missed, but never forgotten. your music lives on in all of us. i always saw the good in you and regardles of changes that you made physically in my memory you are just Michael Jackson; King of Pop.may you soul rest in peace. i love you.
June 27th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Ironic that a town who’s only claim to fame was a song in the movie “Music Man” wil now be known as the birthplace of the king of Pop.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
i love you michael so much.i am so sad from the moment i learned about your death.it was a big shock for me…rest in peace
June 28th, 2009 at 12:59 am
it is so sad how he died my nana was sad to sh e said ‘i listened to him a long time’.
June 28th, 2009 at 4:42 am
god blase you michael we love you
June 28th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Micheal!!!! You Will Be Miss For Years And Years To Come
June 28th, 2009 at 5:43 am
I love you Michael. I’ll never forget you. I’m still in shock. I’m miss you so much. I can’t belived. I all the time ask: why?, why Michael? It was too early. I’m 39 years old, and I now see, how much you are important person for me. Goodbye Michael…Rest in peace
June 28th, 2009 at 5:47 am
Gone is the lost boy, but the world will always remember him.
I hope you found your Neverland Michael. I love you.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Micheal jackson is the best singer and dancer around the world .
your stay in my heart for ever
and I don’t forget you.
your made a great history that is not Repeated by another one .
June 28th, 2009 at 8:08 am
i loved micks talent and im i did not see any of his live perfomance what a sad thing for me its really bad and upsetting, will miss much of the talent
June 28th, 2009 at 8:36 am
If your an 80’s kid like me you are probably an Michael Jackson Fan. Thats right before hiphop took over we had Mike. He was our first Superstar. He was the MAN. All I know is people use to always compare Mike and Prince to see who was the best of the 80’s. Now I’m a Prince fan too but MJ had magic. Just something about him..Its like your eyes let you know you are watching or hearing greatness. It has to be divine.
On the flip side his spirit is Free Now…No More cameras,no more pressure. Things happen for a reason. God sent him here to do a job. If anything Hollywood and the Mainstream Music Industry needs to look in the mirror and watch the examples and cultures that they are setting for the kids. Pampering stars and giving in to their every wish is not right. Someone should have stepped in a long time ago and helped this man. But instead of seeing the signs we called him wacko jacko…
Its time we look in the mirror and for the sake of humanity lets start building people up instead of tearing them down.
Name another african american that has people in other countries crying for them. Hands down he is one of the greats. One of the most popular human beings in the world EVER!…
The Music industry will never be the same. Pop and R&B music will never have another megastar like MJ. Join me and Hundreds of MJ fans on http://underworldmixradio.blogspot.com/
June 28th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hello, this is Paul Warner, and I just wanted to correct a couple of things in Mark’s article.
While my family has lived just down the street from the Jackson house, we did not live here when they were still living in the neighborhood. I was born in Gary, in the same house as Michael and Janet, but I went to school and lived in hammond, which sits inbetween Chicago and Gary. We moved to Gary in late 1982. Some of the employees at our funeral home went to school with the Jacksons.
But I am 44 and I was there during the Jackson boom, but not living in Gary, just the city next door. All of my relatives live in Gary, and family lore has it that I have a aunt who was their seamstress before they hit it big. But I was close enough for the “boom” as Mark talked about.
And I would hope the quality of my drumming was a little better than “amateur”.
But no, I did not live down the street (were at Washington and 23rd, the Jackson home is at 23 and Jackson, so just count the presidents) when they lived here and I really needed to make that clear.
Thanks for coming out to Gary Mark,
Paul Warner
June 28th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Dear moderator, please make this correction, I WAS NOT born in the same house, but the same hospital, Gary Methodist hospital. Really sorry.
June 28th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Micheal you will always be mis, thank you for the pride and the memories. For who you are and what you did in life. You are still that great kid I watch years ago at the Gary talent shows, Who grew up into something great through his music, let all of us remember that of Micheal Jackson. God bless his parents who brought this young man into this world that all of us had a little time to enjoy his message through his music. I miss you man-rest in Place!!