Passings

July 1, 2009 - byGary Pearce
Could there be three more quintessential American stories than Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Billy Mays?
 
Jackson was the Elvis Presley of his day. He and Elvis were racial crossovers, bringing black music into white America. Someone told me Jackson was the first black performer on MTV back in the days when the network just showed music videos. Jackson married Elvis’ daughter, then died somewhat like Elvis.
 
For boys (now men) of a certain age, Farrah was the Marilyn Monroe of the day. Now dead of breast cancer, the scourge of women in our day.
 
Then there was Mays, the high-octane, motormouth salesman.
 
Three of America’s greatest products – and exports: sex, song and salesmanship.
 
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Gary Pearce

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Passings

July 1, 2009/Gary Pearce
Could there be three more quintessential American stories than Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Billy Mays?
 
Jackson was the Elvis Presley of his day. He and Elvis were racial crossovers, bringing black music into white America. Someone told me Jackson was the first black performer on MTV back in the days when the network just showed music videos. Jackson married Elvis’ daughter, then died somewhat like Elvis.
 
For boys (now men) of a certain age, Farrah was the Marilyn Monroe of the day. Now dead of breast cancer, the scourge of women in our day.
 
Then there was Mays, the high-octane, motormouth salesman.
 
Three of America’s greatest products – and exports: sex, song and salesmanship.
 
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Gary Pearce

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