brooke maury » eulogy http://www.brookemaury.org Because my wants to Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:50:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 R.I.P. Michael Jackson http://www.brookemaury.org/2009/06/25/r-i-p-michael-jackson/ http://www.brookemaury.org/2009/06/25/r-i-p-michael-jackson/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:02:54 +0000 brooke http://www.brookemaury.org/?p=168 photo courtesy of floetic_justice http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/floetic_justice/12-2.jpg

photo courtesy of floetic_justice @

Man – the King of Pop is dead. I did not think I would be writing that any time soon.

Like most people of my generation, Michael Jackson played a very big role in my pre- and early teens. We all loved his music, his mad dance moves and his larger than life presence.

But I’m pretty sure I took it to another level when it comes to fanaticism. I adored him as a kid. I still do. I had all the paraphernalia – a sequined glove (made by my mom), the thriller jacket, the beat it jacket, pins, posters, pictures and all of his records. I listened to Thriller everyday and cried when he caught fire during that commercial filming. I attended the Jackson 5 Reunion Victory Tour at RFK stadium with my mom when I was 11. As a “DJ”, I judge a song’s value by whether or not I can mix it with Billie Jean.

Despite all the things that have transpired since the height of his popularity, all the things that he has been accused of (the worst of which I don’t believe he is guilty of), and all the odd things he’s done or said to have done, he will remain in my mind that brilliant, massively talented and plainly bad ass performer of the 70′s and 80′s.

I’m personally saddened by his death. At least I know I’m in good company.

]]> http://www.brookemaury.org/2009/06/25/r-i-p-michael-jackson/feed/ 0 R.I.P. Max Roach (1924 – 2007) http://www.brookemaury.org/2007/08/16/rip-max-roach-1924-2007/ http://www.brookemaury.org/2007/08/16/rip-max-roach-1924-2007/#comments Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:59:29 +0000 brooke http://www.brookemaury.org/2007/08/16/rip-max-roach-1924-2007/ Max Roach

Max Roach was a jazz giant who consistently changed the rules of percussion and challenged listeners and fellow musicians alike. I love his work, with Mingus especially. He was one of those players who, when I see his name on an album, I know it’s worth owning before I even hear a beat or a note. His style was always fresh and refreshing. His passing slims the ranks of the original jazz masters to just a handful of folks. R.I.P.

]]> http://www.brookemaury.org/2007/08/16/rip-max-roach-1924-2007/feed/ 0