Philly's Young Jackos Celebrate The King of Pop

As the heavy strums of the electric guitar poured from speakers inside an old warehouse in Spring Garden, teen Dave Hooper steps up to the microphone. Wearing a leather jacket and skinny jeans, he grasps the stand with his white sequined glove (actually it was bejeweled but its the thought that counts) and begins to belt out the strong words to "Beat It."

Hooper and the rest of his band mates at The Paul Green School of Rock performed the song as a tribute to Michael Jackson, but before his death, they knew more about the song than the man who made it famous.

"When he was alive the music was more important, but after he died I realized how much of a musician he really was," student Michael DiCarlo said.

You see, all these rock students were just a glimmer in their parents eyes when the King of Pop released the single in 1983 and were not old enough to remember his last big hit. But the music has inspired them to become great musicians.

"He worked from childhood up until his death and I have to admire how hard he worked in the studio and also on stage," Hooper said. "He was the most inspirational performer I've ever seen."

So they play on using Jackson's legacy as a guide to motivate them towards their dream.

Over in North Philly, even younger kids at Francisville Recreation Camp sat in front of a big screen TV, watching circus that was the pop star's memorial. Many weren't sure who Jackson was before he died, but as America remembers the Elvis of our time, they are realizing the impact he had on music, dance and popular culture.

"I didn't really know him when he was alive, but I learned more about him after he died and thinking more about him," said camper Cyana Hicks.

And so the new generation of MJ fans is born.

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