To view this site, you need to have Flash Player 8.0 or later installed. Click here to get the latest Flash player.
Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans greeted Greg Boyd in front of Philadelphia International Records at 5 a.m. yesterday when he arrived to work security at the studio, where the family recorded two albums.
"I said, 'Wooooooow,' " Boyd said. "But in all reality, it wasn't any mystery it was going to be big. It's Michael Jackson."
The first people lined up around 2:30 a.m., Boyd said, after Radio One stations WPHI-FM (100.3 the Beat) and WRNB-FM (107.9) organized a promotion at the studio to pay tribute to the King of Pop. The Jacksons recorded two albums there with famed producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
"In New York, they have the Apollo. We wanted to have a place here to do a similar tribute," said Chuck Gamble, Kenny Gamble's nephew and executive vice president of Philadelphia International Records and Gamble-Huff Music.
Fans signed poster boards in the company's souvenir shop from 6 a.m. until near sunset. Radio One will send the cards to the Jackson family.
"It's a gift from Philadelphia to show them what he means to the city," said Tyree Gallimore, Radio One promotions assistant.
Karen Ndow brought her three children, her friend Kathy Harley, and Harley's two children to honor the artist who "took over the globe with his music."
"I feel like there's a hole in my heart," Ndow said tearily.
"He was the greatest singer I ever heard," said Harley's 13-year-old son, Rayquan, who said he had wept when Jackson died. "I liked his music videos better than any rapper."
Other fans packed the shop and filled the sidewalk on Broad Street between Cypress and Spruce Streets.
Also on the sidewalk, artist Mark Gaines asked fans to sign a massive canvas, on which he will paint a likeness of a young Afro-sporting Michael to send to the Jackson family.
Chuck Gamble said his company was searching its archives for never-released video and audio footage of the Jacksons' recording time in the Philadelphia studio.
Contact staff writer Traver Riggins at 215-854-5626 or triggins@phillynews.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS
Philly.com Promotions
