Death Comes in Threes

Image via Wikipedia

I am a preacher’s son and because of that, I have attended many more funerals than the average kid.  Most of them of people that I never knew.  I learned very quickly that you must be polite at such times and to be helpful.  Since I was not part of the family I could not look happy or too sad. 

I believe that it was at a funeral that I first heard the term “Death Comes in Threes.”  My father has done sermons where he points out that the number three is important in the bible and sets of three occur a lot in that book.  I wanted to track down the origin of this old adage.  But apparently such is allusive.  I’ve come across at least four explanations, but they aren’t old enough to be it. 

This month we have had three famous people die.  First was Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett and suddenly Michael Jackson.  I was in the middle of writing about Farrah when I thought about the “Death Comes in Threes.”  I actually wondered who it might be.  I can certainly say I was not prepared for the news I got soon after. 

I first knew there was trouble with Michael Jackson when I saw a notice on my AOL that he was taken to the hospital.  I immediately did a search to see what I could find out.  I first looked at the Michael Jackson news page and it said the same thing.  I checked a few other sources and then came back to his news page and it was now on there that he died.  Part of what was shocking to me is that he is only two years older than I am.  To me he was too young to die.

In the 70’s Ed McMahon was on top as co-host of “ The Tonight Show,”  Farrah Fawcett was on top with “Charlie’s Angels” and her pin up poster and Michael was leading the “Jackson 5” on a long road of success.  They were certainly a part of my teen years.

Michael was born the seventh child on 29 August 1958 in Gary, IN.  I used to watch the Jackson 5 Saturday morning cartoon in the 70’s.  I loved the music and I have been a fan of his ever since. 

He began his musical career at the age of 11.  He and his brothers took the hearts of the American youth very quickly.  Michael’s singing and dancing talents were amazingly strong and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of “The Jackson 5.”  By 1969 the boys were producing back-to-back hits as Motown artists.  In the 70’s they emerged as one of the most accomplished black pop/soul vocal groups in music history.

By the 80’s he was a solo success and more popular than his brotherly group.  Record sales orbited out of sight.  Culminating in the biggest-selling album of all time, “Thriller.”  Confirmed sales of 47 million worldwide.

Michael’s famous moonwalk was copied from Marcel Marceau in “walk-against-the-wind” pantomime techniques.  He took these and adapted them to dance.  Something not seen before.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 (as a member of the Jackson 5) and 2001  (as a solo artist).

I know that there is much controversy over Michael and his life.  This is not the time to dwell on such.  He should be remembered for what he strived for most.  And that was to entertain and make people smile.  Many artist come and are gone long before they die.  Michael never left us for almost fifty years.  He may be gone, but his music will live on many many more years.