Together with millions of fans around the world, I am saddened, I am shocked, by the tragic death of Michael Jackson. Elvis was the King of Rock, but Michael was the King of Pop — perhaps the most famous celebrity on the planet. Known all over the world for his best-selling albums, groundbreaking performance style, and larger than life personality, he had incalculable influence upon our culture, not only here in America, but worldwide. Because any country he ever visited, Michael Jackson was the news that day.

Michael grew up here in Indiana, where CMG is headquartered, and where another Hollywood icon that shocked the world with his death was born and buried…James Dean. Back in 1997, Michael asked a mutual friend for a good book about James Dean, so I sent over a copy of “James Dean: American Icon.” Michael was understandably fascinated by Dean and the legacy he left behind. It was James Dean who said, “If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, I mean live on after he has died, then he was a great man.”

Even though, incredibly, none of them got past age 50, there is no doubt that Michael Jackson will live on in the same vein as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, John Lennon and James Dean. Future generations will look back on the “King of Pop” and realize that he was indeed “A Great Man.” As he said, as he sang, “We are the world, we are the people,” and all of us, everywhere, together, we extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

Mark Roesler

Mark Roesler speaks to the German American Law Association in Cologne on June 5th and urges greater protection for celebrities throughout Europe.

Roesler spoke at the American House In Cologne Germany, as well as in Hamburg and Munich on the two previous days.