Detroit (WWJ/AP) -- More than 600 people Tuesday afternoon were watching the public memorial for Michael Jackson Tuesday at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.
WWJ's Marie Osborne reports at times there was rousing applause during the ceremony that featured Motown founder Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. At other times, the mood was solemn.
Many long time fans of the King of Pop stood in line at the museum for hours so as not to miss this historical homegoing. They were wearing Jackson t-shirts, and others were dressed as Jackson himself. One woman was clad in Jackson's trademark white socks and the famous Jackson mask.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Vickie Thomas talked with two Jackson fans that had been standing in line at the museum since 2 a.m.
"He cared about people and children and he wanted to make the world a better place," said Lorraine Halbert.
Another Jackson fan, Lorraine Chamberlain, was tightly clutching a photo that she took with Jackson at his '89 "Bad" tour.
"My mom took me to that tour when i was three and since then i've never missed a concert," she said.
Chamberlain developed a close friendship with the popstar who referred to her as 'Dianne', since her eyes resembled Dianna Ross'.
"He made sure we got tickets each time he came to Detroit, he was a charitable, normal guy," said Chamberlain.
"Let this be a day of closure, because it's been two weeks that the family and the family and public has been grieving," said David Easily of Detroit.
There was no admission charge for the gathering in Detroit.
Outside the museum, at least a dozen vendors sold Jackson T-shirts. Some of the shirts were stacked under tents. Others were piled on folding tables. Some vendors simply were strolling around shouting out the prices and showing off the designs.
Prices appear to range from the $3 being asked by Jonathan Contreras of Westland to $20 by Kitty Walker, a cosmetologist from Detroit.
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