Fans queue to pay Jackson tribute

By Sima Kotecha
Newsbeat US reporter in New York

A hat, sunglasses and a glove appear on display at the theatre

It was 1967 and Michael Jackson was just nine years old. He and his brothers, aka The Jackson 5, won an amateur music competition at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York.

Many believe that night made Michael Jackson into a star.

Hordes of fans lined the street outside the Apollo Theatre for the first day of Michael Jackson's New York public tribute.

It was blazing hot and some had been there for more than 12 hours. But for them, it was a price they were willing to pay.

They were excited to be at the place where the singer had performed as a child and adult.

Victoria Campomenes is a 22-year-old shop cashier.

She travelled from Vermont, in the north-east of America, with her husband especially for the event. She described herself as a 'Mega MJ fan'.

Wearing the same outfit Michael wore in his Billy Jean video, Victoria moonwalked on the pavement across the street from the crowd.

She said: "I'm here to celebrate Michael Jackson with all these fans because we miss him so much and he meant so much to us.

"And having it at the Apollo Theatre is great because so many people feel connected with him here in New York and I bet some people here have even seen him here before."

Six hundred people were let in at a time to watch a video of Michael, and sing along to some of his greatest hits.

Some clutched onto their red velvet seats as the giant speakers belted out music. Others stood up and screamed with joy.

Victoria Campomenes travelled from Vermont to see the tribute

But for 23-year-old Randice, it was just too much. She couldn't stop crying.

With her head in her hands, she told Newsbeat: "Michael was everything to me. He was everything. He moved me.

"He was not bad and his heart was so good and wonderful. Why was he taken away from me?"

At 5.26pm New York time, a minute's silence was held. It was the exact time Michael Jackson was pronounced dead last Thursday.

Michael Jackson was last at the Apollo Theatre in 2002. He was invited by the former US President Bill Clinton, who was hosting a Democratic National Committee fundraiser there.

Reverend Al Sharpton, the black rights activist, led the event. In a grey suit, he told the audience to continue loving and remembering Michael.

He said: "Today we're at the Apollo. When James Brown died, we came to the Apollo. Michael's spirit is here. He's bad, he's bad, he's Michael Jackson."