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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Friends and family members confirmed Thursday night that singer Michael Jackson passed away due to cardiac arrest.

He was discovered unconscious in his Los Angeles home around 3:30 PM EST. Doctors at the UCLA Medical Center pronounced him dead at 5:56 PM EST.

Jackson was sensationally gifted, blending lyrics, dance moves and 13 number one hits to earn himself the title “The King of Pop.” Within an hour of his death, fans worldwide were coming together to mourn his death.

Volunteer TV News spoke to three East Tennesseans on Thursday night who said they were deeply affected by Jackson’s death.

“The phones have been crazy all night long, people are just reflecting on the icon, from 60 year olds to 10 year olds,” said Matt Steel, a DJ at 102.1 Star FM. "They've been calling to reflect on trying to do the moonwalk and trying to listen to Thriller. It's the most popular song because in junior high, everybody's heard Thriller."

Michael Jackson has an avid following in East Tennessee which can partially be attributed to The Jackson’s 1984 Victory Tour.

Amanda Serpas was nine year’s old when the tour stopped at Neyland Stadium for three sellout shows on August 7th, 8th, and 9th of 1984. She considered herself a huge Michael Jackson fan, and was able to attend one of the shows.

“I just remember hearing the music start and screaming,” she said. “I left hoarse because I knew all of the songs I had always listened to."

Other East Tennesseans actually knew Jackson.

Jim Lara currently lives in Knoxville, but was senior vice president of Wherehouse Records in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Lara got to meet Jackson on the several occasions he stopped by the record store to shop for music.

"He was always very gracious,” Lara said. “He would call for an appointment to come into the store before hand. He would always ask, ‘what's new’, ‘what's happening’, what's selling’, ‘what's the buzz’, and ‘what are the kids listening to today?’”

Jackson’s musical taste apparently spanned several genres. Lara said he would typically buy about 30 albums ranging from classical to the British punk scene. He also stood out from the store’s other famous customers.

“He was an incredible eclectic consumer of music and importantly, unlike his contemporaries, he came in himself and not with an entourage,” Lara said. “He also purchased everything he bought."

Jackson’s death brought an end to his long, bizarre fall from grace. His sales were waning by the late 1990’s. In the mid-2000’s he was charged with several sexual molestation-related charges.
"It wasn't the Michael Jackson we knew," Lara said.

The King of Pop was eventually acquitted following a lengthy trial. He then moved to the Middle East and sold his world famous “Neverland Ranch.”

Jackson’s place in history is secured as a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV and dazzled audiences with dances like the Thriller and Moonwalk.

Legions of Jackson fan’s in East Tennessee will always remember August 1984. Nothing could take away their memories of those three summer nights the King of Pop spent on Rocky Top.

“He's a musical legend,” said Serpas. “No matter what others think about him, he was a musical legend."

How do you remember Michael Jackson? Leave your memorial in the comments section below.