Jul 2, 2009 6:07 am US/Eastern
Apollo's Amateur Show Turns Into Jackson Tribute
Young People From All Over Climb On Famed Harlem Stage To Moonwalk, Sing And Dance To King Of Pop's Classics
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Joe Jackson, father of the late singer Michael Jackson arrives at the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009, in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Joe Jackson (R), the father of Michael Jackson, and the Rev. Al Sharpton speak at a news conference in front of the Jackson family compound in Encino, Calif., on June 29, 2009.
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Michael Jackson and his mother Katherine leave the Santa Barbara County Courthouse the US pop icon was acquitted of all charges in his child molestation trial on June 13, 2005, in Santa Maria, Calif.
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Candles pictures and a teddy-bear sit next to a poster of Michael Jackson as Israeli fans pay tribute to the pop legend in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 30, 2009.
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Tributes to the King of Pop continued Wednesday at the Apollo Theater, where the weekly Amateur Night turned into a Michael Jackson celebration, with impersonators emulating his outfits and mimicking his dance moves.
Teenager Mike Rios was the first to demonstrate his Jackson jinks and jukes when the Harlem theater's doors opened Wednesday night. The Elizabeth, N.J., boy wore a Jackson-inspired red jacket and pants and grooved to the 1987 hit "Bad."
Rios gave a delighted crowd one of the show's many highlights -- his mastery of Jackson's best known signature dance move – the moonwalk.
"It never gets old," the 16-year-old said. "I still use it even at parties. People go crazy."
The crowd cheered on the 16-year-old, and a female audience member, 19-year-old Alison Hector of Parkchester, jumped on stage with Rios. Later she spoke of what Jackson's music means to her.
"It is an emotion I can't explain. His music, I feel it so deep and I know there will be no one like him," Hector said.
Celebrity impersonator C.P. Lacey paid homage to the pop legend, who died last week at age 50. Lacey arrived on stage dressed as Jackson of the latter years, sporting a black suit, white socks, black wig and sunglasses. As the crowd roared, he performed "Man In the Mirror" and "Billie Jean."
Hundreds of people had lined up outside before the Amateur Night show, which also featured a moonwalking contest.
Brooklyn resident Marlene Villalona, 21, said she loved Jackson's "style, his moves, his music." She said she was excited about her first visit to the Apollo, where Jackson performed as a child.
Several young moonwalkers -- too young to remember Jackson in his heyday -- slid across the stage, showing off their best Jackson moves.
A young singer named Zaccheus, an Apollo regular, performed "Who's Loving You" in honor of Jackson, who sang the Motown hit on the night the Jackson 5 won Amateur Night in 1967.
"I'm honored every time somebody says I sound like Michael," Zaccheus said. "I get chills. I get chills."
The event followed Tuesday's Apollo memorial service. Thousands of fans including director Spike Lee watched a video tribute to Jackson and danced to his songs, including "Thriller."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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