"He's giving the world a gift, his talent, and, in return, the world tries to crucify him."
-- Enid Jackson

"This is a person who has seen a lot of hurt and a lot of pain suffered by -- and caused by -- people he loved dearly and deeply. And he's the most popular entertainer in the world to boot. How can he ever be a truly joyful person? His hurt is too overwhelming, too consuming. He's built a wall around himself to protect himself from more hurt."
-- Joyce McCrae

"He dances with the breathtaking verve of his predecessor James Brown, the beguiling wispiness of Diana Ross, the ungainly pathos of Charlie Chaplin, the edgy joy of a man startled to be alive."
-- Jim Miller (Newsweek)

"What is a genius? What is a living legend? What is a megastar? Michael Jackson -- that's all. And when you think you know him, he gives you more...I think he is one of the finest people to hit this planet, and, in my estimation, he is the true King of Pop, Rock and Soul."
-- Elizabeth Taylor

"He's the most natural, loving person I've ever known, a very good person, as corny as that sounds."
-- Seth Riggs

"He wasn't ever really interested in money. I'd give him his share of a night's earnings and the next day he'd buy ice cream or candy for all the kids in neighborhood."
-- Joe Jackson (father)

"Michael's a natural. He's a very hard worker and a super performer. But most of all, he's a real human being."
-- Stevie Wonder

"He was like a sponge. Michael showed a curiosity for everything. It was unbelievable in someone so young. I appreciated watching it work."
-- Quincy Jones

"I've never seen anybody like Michael. He is an emotional star child."
-- Steven Spielberg

"If the media would just tell it like it is about Michael, without destroying it and twisting it, maybe he would be more cooperative with the press. But he has been hurt a lot by the media. Even when he gives an interview and the story comes out all right, someone else will inevitably twist what he said. Michael can't win, really. That hurts him. He's not stupid. He knows how to avoid getting hurt by this vicious cycle."
-- Enid Jackson

"He's not afraid to look into the worst suffering and find the smallest part that's positive and beautiful."
-- Frank Dileo

"Sure he's a little afraid of people. When you have people that from the time you're a little kid want a part of you, they want your clothes, they want your hair -- you're going to get a little nervous around people."
-- Vince Patterson

"Michael Jackson is the most gifted entertainer to come down the pike since, I guess, James Dean. He's a brilliant actor and dancer, probably one of the rarest entertainers I have ever worked with. His talent is awesome."
-- Sidney Lumet

"We were singing the song, and all the time I was showing it to him I was wondering, 'Can he reach those high notes?' finally we took a try at it -- and he just reached it first time, no effort at all."
-- Freddie Perren (producer)

"Whatever it took to get the song done right, he was willing to go the distance. And that was impressive, since he was still just a little kid."
-- Hal Davis

"He has redefined the term professional entertainer."
-- James Earl Jones

"He's giving the world a gift, his talent, and, in return, the world tries to crucify him."
-- Enid Jackson

"This is a person who has seen a lot of hurt and a lot of pain suffered by -- and caused by -- people he loved dearly and deeply. And he's the most popular entertainer in the world to boot. How can he ever be a truly joyful person? His hurt is too overwhelming, too consuming. He's built a wall around himself to protect himself from more hurt."
-- Joyce McCrae

"He dances with the breathtaking verve of his predecessor James Brown, the beguiling wispiness of Diana Ross, the ungainly pathos of Charlie Chaplin, the edgy joy of a man startled to be alive."
-- Jim Miller (Newsweek)

"What is a genius? What is a living legend? What is a megastar? Michael Jackson -- that's all. And when you think you know him, he gives you more...I think he is one of the finest people to hit this planet, and, in my estimation, he is the true King of Pop, Rock and Soul."
-- Elizabeth Taylor

"He's the most natural, loving person I've ever known, a very good person, as corny as that sounds."
-- Seth Riggs

"He wasn't ever really interested in money. I'd give him his share of a night's earnings and the next day he'd buy ice cream or candy for all the kids in neighborhood."
-- Joe Jackson (father)

"Michael's a natural. He's a very hard worker and a super performer. But most of all, he's a real human being."
-- Stevie Wonder

"He was like a sponge. Michael showed a curiosity for everything. It was unbelievable in someone so young. I appreciated watching it work."
-- Quincy Jones

"I've never seen anybody like Michael. He is an emotional star child."
-- Steven Spielberg

"If the media would just tell it like it is about Michael, without destroying it and twisting it, maybe he would be more cooperative with the press. But he has been hurt a lot by the media. Even when he gives an interview and the story comes out all right, someone else will inevitably twist what he said. Michael can't win, really. That hurts him. He's not stupid. He knows how to avoid getting hurt by this vicious cycle."
-- Enid Jackson

"He's not afraid to look into the worst suffering and find the smallest part that's positive and beautiful."
-- Frank Dileo

"Sure he's a little afraid of people. When you have people that from the time you're a little kid want a part of you, they want your clothes, they want your hair -- you're going to get a little nervous around people."
-- Vince Patterson

"Michael Jackson is the most gifted entertainer to come down the pike since, I guess, James Dean. He's a brilliant actor and dancer, probably one of the rarest entertainers I have ever worked with. His talent is awesome."
-- Sidney Lumet

"We were singing the song, and all the time I was showing it to him I was wondering, 'Can he reach those high notes?' finally we took a try at it -- and he just reached it first time, no effort at all."
-- Freddie Perren (producer)

"Whatever it took to get the song done right, he was willing to go the distance. And that was impressive, since he was still just a little kid."
-- Hal Davis

"He has redefined the term professional entertainer."
-- James Earl Jones