Many viewers have submitted memories of Michael Jackson. Share your memory, and we'll select the best for publication.

Michael is only about a year younger than me. When he started singing I was just starting to listen to music. He has always been a part of my life. His music was the standard you judged all other music by. I will miss him and his music and I hope he has that rest and sleep he was looking for. All my sympathy to his family.

-Judy, Greensburg

There are so many memories. I grew up to Michael Jackson. I remember the Saturday morning cartoon "Jackson 5", when they were on Ed Sullivan, I was so young, but was amazed at Michael's voice! I also looked forward to anytime they would appear on TV.

In my neighborhood the debate was "who do you like better, the Osmonds or the Jacksons?" I was always a true Jackson fan! I was a junior in high school when "Rock With You" hit it big. I was truly excited to know that michael was re-entering the charts and he was going to do it big! Like the rest of America, I awaited the "Thriller" video on MTV. To see his talent of performing become so big, I saw a new generation attempt "moon walking!"

The first time my second daughter watched the "Thriller" video on TV, she covered her eyes, she was only 4 at the time, and was so scared. Just two years ago she performed with our high school marching band twirling a flag to the song "Thriller" with a huge smile on her face! Michael Jackson has been in my world of music from the beginning, and continued through my daughters' lives. He changed pop music songs to "performances" and I was a witness to it! I truly believe this man to be one for humanity and used his talent and donations to back it. His life has been one of public controversy, but to a fan from the beginning, such as myself, I lost an ICON, memories, and future contributions this man was yet to give to the world.

-Cindy, Monaca, Pa.

In 1972, I was 10yrs old. "TIGERBEAT MAGAZINE". We loved the Jackson 5 and loved the Osmond Brothers. Loved David Cassidy. It was a time of dreams. MICHAEL JACKSON became a LEGEND before our eyes. He broke the barriers between black and white with his MTV DEBUT. Sometimes, in life, we don't know why things happen that shouldn't. We do know that this man made a difference in this world -- for the better. God bless you, Michael.

-Mary Grace, Pleasant Hills, Pa.

I remember I was 12 years old when I attended his "Bad" concert in Pittsburgh in September 1988. My brother, cousin, mother and grandmother were present, also. I was so excited and I cried. I've never experienced anything like it in my life. I am 32 now and wished he would've came back. I've been a fan all of my life. I have always been faithful and defended him. I don't believe the things they say about him and I never will. I've always called him my "husband" and I love him as such. I've got all of his albums and know all the words to all of his songs. All my family and friends know that I've been in love with him for so many years. It's a shame he had to leave us so soon, but now he's in a place where he can get peace that he didn't get in his life. I love you, Michael. May you rest in peace. You are my King of Pop.

-Denise, Monessen, Pa.

I remember the first time I ever heard Michael on the radio in my mom's car. I was 5 years old at the time and the song was "Billie Jean." I instantly fell in love with it and ever since then I've loved Michael Jackson's music. I remember dancing to "Thriller" whenever it came on the radio. I am 16 years old now and I still love and cherish MJ's talent and love for his fans. We love you Michael. Your legacy lives on.

-Dalilah, Ontario, Calif.

I remember my first time seeing the "Thriller" video as a kid. I was so terrified, but I enjoyed it so much. I loved to watch the monsters dance! As I grew older I never missed a "MJ" video!

-Octavia, Michigan

I grew up listening to Michael Jackson's songs. We in our family held our own tribute to Michael. He was a very talented man. We never believed the things he was said to have done. Our deepest sorrow goes out to his family and children. The good lord has a great angel with him now.

-Kathy, Butler, Pa.

The first song I remember hearing was ABC. I used to literally drive my mother crazy, with that one. I would wander around snaping my fingers and dancing around (this was in 1970 at the tender age of 15) to that song. Michael was but a wee little boy and although the song is "cheesy", it is innocent and sweet, and that is the way I would prefer to remember Michael Jackson. Just a sweet little black boy, with the promise of a career in music coming far too soon.

-Marilyn, Runge, Texas

About 1969, I was allowed to go to my first Jr. High dance. I danced to the music of th Jackson Five and Michael singing "I'll Be There" truely one of those great memories. As a young adult in the 80's I was always in awe of the amazing talent of Michael Jackson. I still am and always will be. He is truly a legend. There will never be another.....

-Denise, Winslow, Ariz.

In the early 70s my mother took a girlfriend and I to a Jackson Five Concert at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, which is now where Georgia State University is housed. The girls were screaming Michael, Michael and just kept knocking the adjoined row of chairs on the floor. What a concert. Michael I love you and may God Bless your family during this tragic time.

-Caron, Atlanta

I remember watching Thriller and getting so scared I couldn't go to sleep. Then the next day going out and getting a white glitter glove for my left hand wearing it everywhere until it literaly wore out! Even while I tried to self teach myself the moonwalk!

-Alicia, Atlanta

I can remember at the age of 6 walking around Alameda, Calif., with a boom box blasting Thriller and my older brother and his friends would hide when they heard me coming. I will always be a fan. May God bless him.

-Kenneth, Jacksonville, Fla.

Michael Jackson has been apart of my life since day 1. My grandparents listened to his music, my mother, father, myself & now my 7 year old son does as well. That's four generations of memories & amazing talent he graced my family with. He was truly a musical genius, an inspiration & a LEGEND. He will be missed tremendously.

- Alicia, McDonough, Ga.

Michael Jackson was my generation's Miley Cyrus. Or at least that's how I explained it to my nephew yesterday when he asked me why I was so sad that Michael Jackson had died. As a child I was obsessed with Michael Jackson and his music. As part of the generation who witnessed the beginning of MTV, Michael Jackson's videos will leave an everlasting mark in my mind. He was a musical genius and part of my childhood came back to me yesterday hearing all of his music, watching his videos and seeing his images. I'm so saddened by the loss of this legend. My brother called me yesterday to see how I was upon hearing the news. My brother knew how much I adored Michael Jackson and reminisced with me of some very special memories. For my 6th birthday, my uncle bought me the red "beat it" jacket. My mom's best friend bought me the silver sequin glove and socks. I wore them to show & tell the next week at school. When we visited Disneyland and watched Captin EO my brother and I immediately ran to the Star Trader gift shop and purchased the Captin EO figurines and t-shirts. I'll never forget watching Thriller for the first time with my parents in our living room and my mom having to assure me that Zombie's were not going to attack me when I went to bed. Yesterday brought back my innocence. Thank you Michael for the memories. You will be missed so much by me and many.

Mandi, Santa Fe, NM

I remember went the Thriller video first came out and played on MTV at quarter after the hour and quarter of the hour. My Mom and daughter would rush to my room to watch it. My mom was around 61 years old, I was 26 and my daughter was 7. I bet you we watched it 500 times....To this day, I would never change the channel if it were on. Michael Jackson was amazing.

-Rosemary, Phoenix

My memory is back in the late 90s: When I was working at the Mirage, the white tigers were newborn and Michael Jackson came to see them. He passed by me and smiled and asked me how did I like the white tigers and I told him they were beautiful. He then smiled at me and said thank you. I then said that I love your music and he just smiled and giggled. I met him two times after that. He will be Dearly missed -- his music was a BIG part of my life. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE MICHAEL!

-Janet, Las Vegas

Mike is not Elvis but he has been as important to my generation as Elvis was to his. Like him or not, he dedicated his life to music and should be given that respect. He was an inovator and a dreamer and the world would not be the same had he not. I respect his talent and his personal sacrifices. He lived a life most of us can never truly understand.God bless him and his entire family and friends! Missed but never forgotten! On a personal note, I'm so sorry he was so severely judged all the time. "Walk a mile in another man's shoes". Good bye Mike. You'll be missed.

-Missy, Glendale, Ariz.

I remember when my brother & I would cut out pictures of Michael Jackson from our Grandma's Inquirer magazine. We would trade pictures and had scrapbooks and wall collages of him. Also, when my brother and I were 7 and 8, we wrote a letter to Michael Jackson. Our Grandma gave us his "address" and we thought she sent the letters to him. "Michael Jackson" wrote us back and we thought that was so incredible! I remember dancing to his music in a school talent show and on the sidewalk during a family gathering many years ago as a child. Michael Jackson's music will always make me think of these childhood memories and I can never resist dancing when I hear a song of his. Michael Jackson will always be our favorite!

- Kristen B., Oscoda, Mich.

There was a time when I was travling thru CA. in the mid 80's,I was staying @ a motel in Venice when achild who lived @ this motel was hit by a car and the next vehicle to come by was M.J.'s limo,HE got out and put the kid and his mother in the limo and took them to the hospital and payed for ALL of the medical that the child needed.I was very impressed as was I when he came by to bring the family food the next evening.

- John B., Mesa, Ariz.

I remember riding in the backseat as a 8-year-old. Beat It was playing and we were headed to Myrtle Beach. I had a cassette player and asked my mother to give me the cassette and I listened to it over and over. I have all of his lp and cds which I listen to and share with my kids..I will always remeber the King Of Pop.

-Aaron, Anderson, S.C.

I may not have been alive when he made it huge but, I am 15 and one of the only teenagers with a Thriller jacket. I performed Billie Jean for my high school talent show and everyone loved it, I love Michael, the one and only.

Trevor, Hendersonville, N.C.

Everyone has loved him, more have hated him. Michael Jackson was a man of many gifts. I choose not to remember him for his shortcomings but for all the amazing gifts he gave to this world. Fist and foremost he brought three no doubt to be amazing children to life. He broke racist barriars, innovated music and inspired billions of young artists in the making. His dance moves defined gravity. His work for charities and his outreach to the less fortunate can be compared to no one else. He was at the aide of a dying child Ryan White who much like him needed a friend when the world seemed against him. There are few people in this world who in the 80's did not rock out to the phenomenal music this man has left us with. Songs like billy jean, thriller, beat it and my personal favorite I'll be there to name a few. We all owned a thriller jacket, leather pants and at some point wore a glove, grabbed our crotch in dance and attempted the moon walk. We all have done it. We all have dreamed it. And while he may not of turned out to be the person we had hoped him to be he was a human being with a huge heart and a gift that he shared with us all for 50 years. So let us not dwell on what he had done but what he was and what he made the music and entertainment industry to be. We would not have artists like usher, mariah carey and justin timberlake and so many others that not only idolized him but got their way because of him and his family. The Jackson five started the journey and from that became legends. Michael & Janet to name a few. I did cry yesterday because it is so sad to see someone who gave so much in his life die admist people riticuling & judging him. I am honored to have lived a life influenced in the arts by this man and no matter what he did you have to have sympathy for the ill. I am not in any way saying what he did was right or justifying it. We talk about people like elvis and frank and compare jackson to him but that is not even close. He was a global sensation. From Japan to London to Asia this man was idolozied by billions of people. It is truely a say day to lose someone so special. We judged him but he never judged us and he never failed us. Thank you Michael for the many gifts you gave to this world. No doubt to be over shadowed by you're faults but their are fans true fans who knows the good man that lived inside I just wish people had seen that all before he passed away. May he rest in Eternal Peace.

-Rachael, Saginaw, Mich.

When I first heard that Michael Jackson died, I could not move. I could feel my heart breaking! My eight year old daughter, said to me "Mommy I'm Sorry You're Sad" As I sit here at 1:30 a.m. I still feel my heart splitting apart. And what about his children!

-Dolly, Hollister, Calif.

Me an my sisters grew up listen to the Jacksons. Just the other day we were looking at the Jackson 5 movie but my favorite movie is the Wiz. I can sit an watch that all day. He will be truly missed.

-Manda, Spartanburg, S.C.

My parents always listened to Michael Jackson when I was growing up so it was no surprise I became hooked. I believe people will not remember him for being "wacko" and his legal troubles but as the amazing performer, singer and icon that he was.

-Brittany, Beaverton, Ore.