It's been a while since I've had that pit in my stomach, like when something bad is happening and there isn't anything you can do about it. I had that feeling last week when watching the eerie television coverage that announced music icon Michael Jackson had died.

For those of us old enough to remember, we first got to know MJ on Saturday morning TV. The year was 1970, and Dick Clark featured this amazing band from Gary, Indiana, called the Jackson Five, on his TV show.

I'd like to share this little piece of magic with you all; here is the youtube video of that memorable performance of "ABC" back in 1970.

Looking back on it now, I realize that it was a pretty ground breaking musical performance; the country was still raw from the Civil Rights movement, the murders of Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King and the violent, emotional coverage of the Vietnam War. Airing a show on Saturday morning television with a family of black kids from Gary, Indiana singing such unique pop music wasn't exactly mainstream at the time. But it was so much fun that it broke right into the mainstream with the Jackon's own variety show in the 70s.

The music was great, and the family made it work very well. We all saw a little bit of ourselves in the Jackson family. It just made you feel so good inside to see them having fun up there, and that is what music is all about.

There is a lot of negativity surrounding the Michael Jackson story, but I prefer to remember the pure enjoyment and entertainment he and his family brought to so many of us back in the day.

ABC, 123, Baby you and me...

Thanks for the memories...

Best,
Michael Brickman