Mojo - The Music Magazine

The sign on the marquee of the Harlem Apollo reads 'In Memory Of Michael Jackson: A True Apollo Legend 1958-2009', remembering the man who, with his brothers in the Jackson 5, won an amateur night competition there in 1967. In Detroit, meanwhile, the Motown Historical Museum became a de facto shrine to one of the label's greatest stars as fans gathered to pay their own tributes. In his hometown of Gary, Indiana, the faithful also gathered outside the singer's former family home while Mayor Rudy Clay described meeting Michael Jackson as "a high point in my life".

Jackson's incredible impact and talent was also eulogised by friends and musicians who worked with him or were inspired by him. These are just some of the many tributes that emerged in the hours that followed his tragic death....

Quincy Jones: "I'm absolutely devastated at this news. I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together and allowed us to do what we could do through the '80s. To this day that music is played in every corner of the world, and the reason is because he had it all - talent, grace, and professionalism. I've lost my little brother today and part of my soul has gone with him."

Martin Scorsese (director of the Bad video): "Michael Jackson was extraordinary. When we worked together on Bad, I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion. He was wonderful to work with, an absolute professional at all times, and - it really goes without saying - a true artist. It will be a while before I can get used to the idea that he's no longer with us."

Eddie Van Halen: "I am really shocked; as I'm sure the world is, to hear the news. I had the pleasure of working with Michael on Beat It back in '83 - one of my fondest memories in my career. Michael will be missed and may he rest in peace."

Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas/Jackson producer): "I am so grateful to have worked with the King (and always will be King) of the music industry. He was a gift to the world, he is a bright light and I wouldn't be surprised if the world stopped spinning tomorrow."

Lisa Marie Presley (Jackson's former wife): "I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."

Madonna: "I can't stop crying over the sad news ... I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats but his music will live on forever. My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."

Keon Gamble & Leon Huff: "Michael was a great, wonderful artist and performer. We were privileged and honored to record him and his brothers...we are very honoured to have been a part of Michael Jackson's music and creative career in helping to write and produce his own music with his brothers. We know his music and legacy will live on for a very long time."

Sean 'Diddy' Combs: "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!"

Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman, CEO and President of the Sony Corporation): "Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him."

Ludacris: ""If it were not for Michael Jackson I would not be where or who I am today. His music and legacy will live on forever. Prayers to the family."

Jerry Dammers (The Specials): "The thing that sometimes seems to get overlooked about Michael Jackson is what an absolutely phenomenal singer he was. He had one of the greatest gospel shouts of the 20th Century, quite possibly the last of it's kind. The outros of some of his songs especially, such as Wanna Be Starting Something, were ecstatic, and, or, full of pain, like the one about the environment (Earth Song), which Jarvis Cocker attacked him for (at The Brits in 1996). I like Jarvis, but I personally didn't really understand the reason for that. "

Reverend Al Sharpton: "As a friend of Michael's for the past 35 years, I call on people from around the world to pray for him and his family. We've marched together, we've fought together, I've watched him do shows.

Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of colour way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama. Michael did with music what they did in sports, in politics, and in television. No controversy will erase the historic impact. He learned how to sing and dance past unfair criticism.

Michael Jackson was a trailblazer, to say an icon would only give these young people in Harlem a fraction of what he was. He was a historic figure that people will measure music and the industry by. He has sold more single products than any other artist and no one could drag him down for that.'

If he had shortcomings, they didn't equal his strengths. And if he brought days that we all hoped were days that would never come again, they didn't measure up to the many days that he gave us of joy and pleasure."