Michael Jackson memorial: Singer's daughter Paris, 11, breaks down as she pays tribute to 'the best daddy ever'
To his fans he was their hero, but to his children he was simply 'the best daddy ever'.
And last night Michael Jackson's children stepped into the limelight to pay tribute to their father.
His tearful daughter Paris's voice broke as she told the millions watching the Los Angeles memorial concert: 'I just want to say... ever since I was born.... daddy has been the best father you can imagine. And I just want to say I love him so much.'
Breaking down: Paris cries after paying tribute to her father Michael Jackson at his memorial concert, surrounded by his family; (L to R) Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, Randy, Paris, Rebbie, Janet and Prince Michael
The 11-year-old paused as she spoke, struggling to get the words out through her tears.
Her genuine emotion filled the silent Staples Center, which had earlier shook with laughter, sobs and applause as some of the world's biggest artists lined up to perform and pay tribute to Jackson.
Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer and even Britain's Got Talent runner up Shaheen Jafargholi took it in turns to perform.
Close: Paris and Blanket are comforted by their aunts Janet (L) and LaToya (R)
Missing daddy: Paris (L) and Prince Michael Jackson I (R) watch the crowd while Their brother Prince Michael Jackson II hides between them
But after all the showmanship and glitz, it was unscripted Paris who summed up the man behind the headlines as she ended the memorial.
She and her brothers, shielded from public view at Jackson's insistence, shed their masks to commemorate their late father, who died aged 50 on June 25.
Throughout the event Paris sat in the front-row with her brothers, 12-year-old Prince Michael I, and Prince Michael II alongside her. She rested her head on her grandmother Katherine's shoulder as celebrities spoke about her father.
Prince Michael II, known as Blanket, clutched a doll in his father's image. At seven he is two years older than Jackson was when he started his singing career.
Tribute: Mariah Carey sang I'll Be There with Trey Lorenz at the Michael Jackson tribute concert
Paying their respects: Queen Latifah shared her memories of Jackson, before Lionel Richie sang Jesus Is Love
Jackson's brothers, each wearing one white glove, began the concert by wheeling his flower-covered gold-trimmed casket onto the stage at the Staples Center, where days before his death he was rehearsing for his O2 concerts.
The coffin sat under a spotlight throughout, in front of the thousands of fans.
Smokey Robinson opened the memorial with tributes from Nelson Mandela and Diana Ross, before Pastor Lucious Smith spoke on behalf of the Jackson family.
We Are Going To See The King: A spotlight highlights Michael Jackson's casket on stage at the memorial
The Jackson Five: Michael's coffin is wheeled onto the stage by his brothers
Brotherly love: Marlon Jackson gave a speech about his brother Michael as the memorial ended
'We come to this space where only days ago Michael Jackson sang,' he said. 'First and foremost, this man was our brother, our son, our father and our friend.
'In his very beautiful and very human heart, Michael Jackson wanted nothing more than to give love to the world.'
Mariah Carey was the first artist to appear on stage. Her voice quivered as she launched into a rendition of I'll Be There, accompanied by Trey Lorenz.
Emotion: Fans in the concert hall express their grief as the watch the concert
In a moving tribute actress Queen Latifah then shared her memories of Jackson, saying she was there to represent the fans who 'grew up loving Michael from a distance'.
'Somehow, when Michael Jackson sang, when he danced, he never felt distance,' she said. 'He felt like he was right there.'
She laughed as she remembered purchasing the Jackson 5 single Dancing Machine, before reading a poem by author Maya Angelou.
It was Jackson's skills on stage which were remembered next by Berry Gordy Jr, the founder of Motown Records, the label that signed the Jackson 5.
His last performance: The Jackson brothers escort their brother's coffin into the memorial service
All the glitz: Michael Jackson fans packed into the Staples Center for the memorial
'He studied the greats and then became greater. He raised the bar, and then he broke the bar,' he said. 'It was kill or be killed. The more I talk about Michael Jackson, the more I feel the King Of Pop is not big enough for him.
'I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.'
As fans cheered Gordy then reflected on Jackson's ability as an artist. 'Off-stage he was shy, soft-spoken and childlike. But when he took the stage in front of his fans he became a different person. A master. Awesome... totally in charge.'
Saying goodbye: The rose covered coffin holding the remains of Michael Jackson rests in the front of stage
I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived: Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr speaks
Stevie Wonder then serenaded Jackson's coffin with the song Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer, which featured in the movie Poetic Justice, starring Janet Jackson.
'This is a moment that I wish I didn't live to see coming. But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good,' he said.
'And I do know that as much as we may feel, and we do, that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more.'
Following Wonder were light-hearted reflections from Jackson's sporting friends Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.
The Jacksons: Wearing white gloves in tribute to Michael, his family applaud
Johnson remembered his first meeting with the superstar, who with his brother Marlon, was a season ticket holder for the Los Angeles Lakers.
After receiving a phonecall from Jackson he visited Neverland to discuss appearing in the video for Remember the Time.
On arrival Jackson's personal chef asked what he wanted to eat, and he recalled asking for grilled chicken.
'The chef brought me out the grilled chicken, but he brought Michael a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. That was the greatest moment of my life,' he said, to laughter from the crowd.
The two then shared the chicken, said Johnson.
Stevie Wonder serenaded Jackson's coffin with the song Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
Speaking out: Jackson's friends Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordon and Pastor Lucious Smith
Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson then gave a moving gospel performance of Jackson's Will You Be There, from the album Dangerous.
The eight-months pregnant star, whose mother, brother and nephew were murdered late last year, belted out the track.
In a musical interlude a recording of Jackson's near-tearful voice could be heard, reading out the lyrics.
Touching goodbye: Usher performed at the casket
Tears: Actress Brooke Shields broke down as she recalled the happy times she spent with Jackson
Actress Brooke Shields, who once attended the Oscars with Jackson, broke down as she paid tribute to her friend.
'To us it was the most magical and easiest of friendships. I was 13 when we first met and from then on our friendship grew.
'We had a bond. And maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very young age.
Goodbye: Michael Jackson's family say their farewells on stage
'Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together we were two little kids, having fun. We never collaborated together, we never performed together or danced on the same stage, although he did try to teach me the moonwalk... but what we did do was laugh...
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'When he started wearing the glove, I was like "What's up with the glove?" He just loved to be teased... He was a lover of life.'
Moving: Although eight months pregnant Jennifer Hudson sang Will You Be There, from the album Dangerous
Biggest gig of his life: Britain's Got Talent's Shaheen Jafargholi performs
Next to offer their condolences were Martin Luther King's children - Martin Luther King III and Bernice King.
King said that his father constantly urged them to be their best.
A fan holds a rose as she watches the memorial service
'Michael Jackson was truly the best of what he was,' he said.
Usher also performed, singing Gone Too Soon. He walked towards Jackson's casket as he sang the line:'Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight. Here one day, gone one night.'
For the show's finale This Is It Tour director Kenny Ortega came out to introduce Shaheen Jafargholi, who had been due to join Jackson onstage at the O2.
The Welsh Britain's Got Talent runner-up's voice shook as he performed the biggest gig of his life.
'I love Michael Jackson,' the 12-year-old told the appreciative crowd.
Ortega then introduced a piece that would have appeared at the London This Is It shows, a performance of We Are The World featuring Jackson's backing singers.
For the song's finale Jackson's chiildren, Smokey Robinson, Usher and Brooke Shield went on stage to sing the chorus.
A memorial programme handed out to fans inside the Staples Center contained tributes from Michael's siblings Rebbie, LaToya, Tito and Jermaine.
Marlon Brando's son Miko, a close friend of the late pop star, also wrote a short memorial piece.
The Jackson family collectively thanked well-wishers for their support, dedicating the traditional funeral poem Perhaps You Sent a Lovely Card to Michael Jackson's fans.
The show's finale: Jackson's backing singers and a children's chorus sang We are the World
Los Angeles had earlier come to a standstill as Jackson's golden casket made the 11-mile journey from the Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The 18-car motorcade was given a huge police escort along roads closed to rush-hour traffic as the city pulled out all the stops to give the singer a VIP sendoff.
The traffic snarls and logistical nightmares that had been feared by officials had not materialised as the thousands of fans with tickets began filing in early and encountered few problems.
Jackson's family and close friends paid their respects at a short funeral service, before heading to the memorial concert.
Joe Jackson travels to his son's funeral
Twenty helicopters circled over the Staples Center, transmitting pictures and video footage of the event around the world.
More than 1.6million people registered for free tickets to the memorial, with 8,750 people receiving two each.
Those with the 'golden tickets' dressed in tribute shirts, as if for a Jackson concert, while others copied Jackson's famous white glove.
Mourners gather at Jackson's private funeral service at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles
The Rolls-Royce motorcade makes its way to the Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Speculation is continuing over where Jackson will finally be laid to rest, with sources saying the family are now hoping to bury him at Neverland - although they have yet to receive permission from authorities.
Following the memorial his coffin was expected to return to Forest Lawn, where it has been held for the last few days, while a final decision is made.
In a surreal start to the day, 11 elephants and seven horses paraded past the Staples Center, waking fans sleeping on the roofs of their cars outside.
Waiting for Jackson: Fans look through their programmes before the memorial service
The golden tickets: Lucky fans with tickets pass through security to get to the memorial service
The animals were from the Ringling Bros Circus and were making the traditional journey from the circus train to the performance arena - taking advantage of a bit of free publicity along the way.
Street vendors lined the roads surrounding the Staples Center, selling a vast array of memorable - some may say tacky - souvenirs.
The goods on offer included T-shirts, and baseball caps with Jackson's picture and date of death on the front.
MJ Lives: These vendors are selling shirts with a cheeky caption
Some of the more unusual items included white gloves, similar to those worn by the singer in his hey day, badges and glass bottles of soft drinks with a 'King of Pop' label on the front.
One woman, selling badges, said she expected to make $5,000 from the occasion.
Standing just outside the large police cordon around the venue was a Jackson impersonator, posing for pictures with fans.
Security: Mounted police patrol outside the Staples Center
A few girls sat weeping on the pavements, the occasion too much for them, while others frantically asked passers by if they had spare tickets for the service.
Barack Obama interrupted his visit to Moscow to say: 'There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people's imaginations. And in death, they become even larger
'Now, I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable.'
Meanwhile, BBC2 cleared its schedule to screen the Michael Jackson memorial service live.
Tribute: Eleven Asian elephants and seven horses (not seen) from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus walk past the Staples Center
Making a quick buck: A recent immigrant from Lima, Peru, wades through the early-morning crowd selling T-shirts near the Staples Center
Link :http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1198105/Michael-Jacksons-funeral-memorial-service-place-Staples-Center-Los-Angeles.html
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