Chicago Area Local News

GARY, Ind. (CBS) ― On Friday night in Gary, the focus shifted away from Michael Jackson's death to celebrating his life.

Fans gathered in Jackson's hometown for a tribute. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports that it wasn't as as big as the Los Angeles memorial but, as organizers say, Gary is Michael Jackson's hometown, and they want to pay tribute to him.

Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson showed up two hours into the service for the late pop singer but did not talk with reporters.

The memorial ran from 6 to 10 p.m. at U.S. Steel Stadium, the home of the Gary Rail Cats, located at 5th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street.

The event featured a show-stopping rendition of Jackson's famous "Thriller" dance video.

Some of the spectators dressed the part, including Chicago's own Michael Jackson impersonator Rico Michael Jackson.

"Just the way people are coming out, I mean, it's a lovely thing," he said. "I wish they would have done this for Michael when he was here."

His energy picked up by kids too young to know the music in its time, but hyped enough to copy the signature glove, hat and style.

"He's cool," Arnell Robinson said.

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. got a front row seat at the concert touched by all the support.

"The beauty of it is honoring the legacy in the birthplace of Michael but even greater is the talent that's still here," he said. "It never gets a chance to express itself."

Fans began arriving over night. A crowd of roughly 200 was gathered at the gates just before they opened at 4 p.m. Many waited outside in the rain; some with Michael Jackson tattoos and others wearing gloves.

The L.A. memorial earlier in the week was a star-studded tribute. Some of the fans in the Gary crowd say they couldn't be in California so they came here.

One fan awaiting the service said he expects it will be both a happy and sad event.

Peter Mata, 33, of Streator, Ill., was first in line at the stadium. He says he expects a celebration of Jackson's musical career, but sadness over his death.

People traveled to Gary from across the country. CBS 2 met people from New York, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.

"I got a flight last night at about 7:30 out of New York, got into Chicago about 11, stayed in the bus terminal all night till I was able to get out here," said Greg Packer of New York.

"Everybody says they love Michael Jackson, but if you are really from Gary, you're supposed to show your support because that's where he's originally from; 2300 Jackson Street, I've been there," said Raymond Neeley of Gary.

Cynthia Cooper traveled for five hours to get to Gary from Radcliff, Kentucky.

"Michael was my inspiration. He was my idol," Cooper said. "I loved him so much. I had like every CD. There's nowhere I'd rather be right now."

Gary officials describe it as "an evening of entertainment" with lots of Michael Jackson music and videos.

Singer Deniece Williams and former Miss Indiana Kellee Patterson will be among the performers at the event.

"You can expect thousands and thousands of people from all over the world," Gary Mayor Rudy Clay said.

Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Friday evening and some may turn severe. But Clay said in a telephone interview with CBS 2's Don Schwenneker that the rain won't stop the event.

"They've got the stage covered right now, so it's absolutely going to go on, if (sponsor) Southwest Airlines says it's on," Clay said.

Earlier Friday, CBS 2's Pamela Jones reported that a bomb threat was called in to the Post-Tribune newspaper for the stadium. The South Shore police sent a bomb-sniffing dog to the stadium Friday afternoon. There were no reports of schedule changes for the evening due to the threat.

Clay had requested that Jackson's body lie in state in Gary, but after the memorial in Los Angeles earlier this week, Jackson's golden casket was taken away. It is not known where Jackson's final resting place will be.

Jackson lived in Gary until the Jackson 5 struck it big in 1969 when he was 11 years old.

CBS 2's Vince Gerasole and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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