GARY, Ind. (AP) — The mayor of Michael Jackson’s hometown says he and other Gary residents are deeply saddened by the death of the city’s most famous son.
Gary Mayor Rudy Clay says “our hearts are full of tears” following the news that Jackson died Thursday in Los Angles at the age of 50.
Jackson was 11 when the family moved out of Gary after the Jackson 5 recorded their first album in 1969. Jackson last visited his gritty northwestern Indiana hometown in 2003.
Clay said Jackson was dear to Gary residents because his rise to superstardom made the city world famous and made residents proud of their roots. The mayor said, “We loved him before he became famous and we still love Michael Jackson and always will love Michael Jackson.”
